How to create an animated GIF using GIMP software

Posted on 08 September 2015 by Admin

1. Find an image

Before making our GIF, we need to make sure the content we are animating is copyright-free. Using search services such as DigitalNZ, the Digital Public Library of America, Europeana, and Trove, are easy ways to access copyright-free photographs, videos, and huge range of other material. These services will also allow you to search by usage, so you know that you are only returning results which can be changed and edited.

For example, on digitalnz.org, click the 'Usage' tab, and then click 'Use Commercially' to return remixable results:

Screenshot showing 'Usage' and 'Date' tabs, and 'Share' and 'Use commercially' results

2. Download your image

Once you've found a reusable image you'd like to work with, click through to the collection it is part of and download your selected image, then save it to your desktop.

NOTE: Take note of the attribution information too. When reposting or sharing our GIF we must include the correct attribution to the source material


3. Edit your image

Open up GIMP, and open your image from the menu under File.

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing 'open image file' selected.

Create a duplicate layer from the menu under Layer.

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing 'duplicate layer' selected.

You should now have two layers. Your toolbox should look like so:

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing 'opacity' selected.

Select the Free Select Tool (lasso) from the toolbox.

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing the lassoo tool icon selected.

Select the area you want to animate, making sure the ends join.

An illustration of a moth with one wing outlined with a dotted line.

Copy the selection using Ctrl+C. Unselect the area by right-clicking and selecting None from the Select menu.

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing 'select > none' highlighted.

Using the colour picker tool to get match the background colour or use the clone stamp tool paint over the area you want to change.

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing the icon for 'colour picker' selected.

If you are using the colour from your colour picker, select the brush tool:

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing the 'brush tool' icon selected.

And colour over your selected area:

Illustration of a moth with half of one wing rubbed out.

Now paste the copied area onto your layer using CRTL+V.

Choose the Perspective tool:

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing the 'perspective tool' icon selected.

Slightly adjust the image to distort it and select Transform:

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing the 'transform' button highlighted and a mesh shape covering the selected wing.

Right click and select Layer, then click Anchor Layer.


4. Animate your image

Repeat above steps for as many elements as you like. View the animation by selecting filters from the menu, then Animation and then Playback. Voila! Here is your GIF.

Animation of five moths with moving wings.

Source material: Internet Archive, page 716 of "Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute" (1904), no known copyright restrictions.


5. Save your image

Export and save your file as a Gif image.

GIMP window with dropdown menu showing 'save as a gif'.


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