How to convert video to GIF 

Want to turn a gaming epic fail or a funny video of your pet into a GIF to easily share on social media?

Express your creativity, personality, and relate to your audience by creating bite-sized GIFs with Clipchamp. Just add your video to the timeline, trim away excess footage to 15-seconds, then save your video as a GIF. You can even customize your GIF with royalty-free stock videos, text animation, and unique video effects.

Explore how to convert any video into a GIF online for free with Clipchamp.

How to convert video to GIFs

Step 1. Import videos or select stock footage

To import your own videos, photos, and audio, click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar to browse your computer files, or connect your OneDrive.  

You can also use free stock media like video clips, video backgrounds, and stock music. Click on the content library tab on the toolbar and click on the visuals drop down arrow, then videos, or GIPHY. Search through the different stock categories using the search bar as well. 

Drag and drop your videos from the your media tab onto the timeline.

If you want to edit the aspect ratio of your video to suit a social media platform, click on the 16:9 aspect ratio button on the right side of the editor. Choose between the 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:5, 2:3, and 21:9 aspect ratios.

Step 2. Trim your video to 15-seconds

To trim the length of your video, click on the video on the timeline so it’s highlighted green. Move the green handles to the left of the timeline to trim the video length. If you trim too much footage off your video, just drag the green handle back to the right to recover your footage. 

Step 3. Preview and save your video as a GIF

Before saving your new meme video, make sure to preview by clicking on the play button. When you’re ready to save, click on the export button and select a video resolution. We recommend saving all videos in 1080p video resolution for the best quality or saving as a GIF to share on social media. Paid subscribers can save in 4K video resolution. 

For more help, check out our how to convert videos to GIFs YouTube tutorial.

How to convert YouTube videos to GIFs

To convert YouTube videos to GIFs, you’ll need to download your YouTube video. Ensure video files are MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, DIVX, FLV, 3GP, WMV, VOB, DCM, and MKV format to be compatible with Clipchamp.

Converting YouTube videos to GIFs follows the same steps as the above video to GIF tutorial.

1. Upload your YouTube video to the your media tab

2. Drag and drop your video onto the timeline

3. Trim it to 15-seconds or less

4. Export your video as a GIF

How to create a GIF using your webcam 

Creating GIFs from reaction videos and gaming videos is a fun way for creators and gamers to connect with their audience. Just start editing by uploading your webcam recording or record using the screen and camera recorder for free in Clipchamp.

Converting webcam videos to GIFs follows the same steps as the above video to GIF tutorial. If you haven’t used our webcam recorder before, you'll need to grant Clipchamp access to your camera by selecting the allow button when the popup window appears. 

1. Upload your webcam video to the your media tab or record it directly in your browser

2. Drag and drop it onto the timeline

3. Trim it to 15-seconds or less

4. Export your video as a GIF.

Add special effects to your GIF

Merge different videos together to create one GIF

If you have more than one video clip you would like to use in your GIF, merge the video clips with fun transitions. Just make sure to keep your GIF under 15 seconds.

Personalize GIFs with text

To turn your GIF into a meme, just add the meme text to your video. Click on the text tab on the toolbar. Scroll down until you find the meme title. Drag and drop the title onto your timeline above your video, then personalize the text.

Customize GIFs with your logo or watermark

Create brand consistency by uploading your channel name, social media handle, or business name to the editor brand kit. Add your logo, watermark, or various texts in different fonts, colors, sizes, and positions anywhere in a GIF.

Edit the speed of your GIF

Easily adjust the clip speeds to change the pace of your video footage. If your clip is longer than 15-seconds, but you don’t want to trim it, try speeding up your clip to make it faster and have a shorter duration.

Read more ways to create videos for social media in how to make fancam videos, or further edit videos using frame and border overlays.

Create scroll-stopping videos today with Clipchamp or download the Clipchamp Windows app.