Adobe · Platform not recorded
Create and Export an Animated GIF in Photoshop
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Create or open a timeline animation, preview the frames, then use Photoshop’s export workflow for an animated GIF. Check the result in a browser because GIF colour and transparency limits can change the appearance.
Prepare and identify the exact scope
Plan the final pixel dimensions, frame count, duration, loop behavior, transparency, and file-size target. Save an editable PSD with layers before converting or deleting frames.
Open the timeline animation
Open the Photoshop file and create or review the timeline frames for the animation.
Preview the frame sequence
Use the timeline playback controls to verify timing and the intended frame order.
Export the animated GIF
Use Photoshop’s documented export workflow, choose the available GIF settings, then test the exported file in a browser.
Verify the supported result
Preview the complete animation at normal speed and inspect the first-to-last transition. After export, open the GIF in at least one browser and confirm looping, timing, dimensions, transparency, colour, and file size.
Understand limits and consequences
GIF supports limited colour and transparency and no normal audio. Reducing colours, dithering, dimensions, or frame count changes quality; Photoshop's timeline preview may not exactly match browser playback.
Use the safest supported follow-up
In Export > Save for Web (Legacy) or Adobe's current GIF workflow, choose GIF, compare colour and dither settings, set looping deliberately, and save to a new filename instead of overwriting the PSD.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the export is static, confirm multiple frames exist and the animation export option is active. If it is too large, reduce dimensions or unnecessary frames before destroying colour; keep the PSD so changes remain reversible.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Platform not recorded.
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