3 free tools for creating animated GIFs

Subtle use of animated images can add interest and style to your course design. There are many tools and mechanisms out there to allow you to create these images.

Here are 3 free tools you can use to do this:

1. Screen to GIF

This is a free screen, webcam and sketchboard recorder with an integrated editor. You have 3 ways of recording your content: Screen, Webcam and Sketchboard. You can edit your recording or even edit gifs from other sources. You can export as Gif, Video or save as a project to edit later. It has active development, integrated with users needs.

• Download S>G app from their web site

Key points on this tool:

• easy to use

• capture is presented as frames for easy editing

• saves animated gifs in continuous loop

2. Openshot - Video editing tool

Openshot is open-source and free forever. It is easy to use, quick to learn, and a surprisingly powerful video editor. The OpenShot Library has very powerful animated GIF reading and writing built in. With just a few lines of code, you can create an animation with any size, any framerate, and loop it as many times as you want.

• Download Openshot from their web site

Key points on this tool:

• moderately easy to use

• capture is presented a video in a timeline for editing

• saves animated gifs looped as many times as you want

3. GIMP - Image editing program

GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Simple to use for animated GIFs, using same size images as layers.

• Download GIMP from their web site

Key points on this tool:

• moderately easy to use

• capture is derived from images in layers

• saves animated gifs in continuous loop