How do I make a GIF?

[Sundancer]

wI need a dialogue with someone...searching the Web is getting confusing. I want to make a GIF like in the GIF thread.

I have QuickTime Pro and video clips. I know how to select part of a clip and loop it to play but not how to save it as a separate file. I have no idea if that's part of the process or not.

Can anyone break it down for me in dummy, detailed terms? Please and thanks!

 

[X-Ray]

I use virtualdub to extract the frames from video.

Use a program called Easy GIF Animator if it's under 60 frames or GIMP if it's more than 60 frames and I want to add special effects to it. EASY GIF crashes on me when there's more than 60 frames.

vdub & GIMP are freeware. EASY GIF can be.

 

[Sundancer]

I'm not technical enough to understand the help index in virtualdub. I managed to crop the selection I wanted and export it as a gif.

There it is. How do I re-size it or make the file size smaller? Easy Gif had trouble installing (Windows 7). I may try GIMP when I have time.

 

[Dave McFly]

most of the time the program that makes your gif can also resize them too, animation shop (which is what I use for all my gif making) has that feature.

 

[conan69]

I uses ulead GIF animator 5.

VERY simple to use.