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How to import a gif to after effects?

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I want to edit a gif in after effects, but when I try to import it I get an error that says this gif is damaged or unsupported. I googled my error, but didn't get anything.

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SzalamCorrect answer

Community Expert

Todd_Kopriva wrote:

After Effects can import animated GIF files. It is exporting animated GIF files that relies on Photoshop.

As Mylenium says, it would help to know more about what you're trying to import. If you point us to the file that you're trying to import, we can give it a try.

Hi. I have the same question as the original author I believe. Here is my file: Desktop\sanders-spiff-gif2.gif. It's a GIF that I exported from Photoshop and I want to use it in After Effects. I get the same error as the OP. Do I need to export the file as something else? If so, what? Thx!

First of all, sharing a link to a file on your desktop isn't going to help since we don't have access to your desktop.

Secondly, the usual workflow is to go from a video file in AE and then take the resulting file into Photoshop to turn it into a GIF.

GIF is a terrible format to export anything in unless it's at the final step. It is not a good intermediate file type. TIFF would be better. Heck, even a high quality JPEG would be better.

H

harrys71662102

Participant

for anyone looking for a simple answer and not a lecture about fidelity- you need to import gifs using the file menu, its only dragging and dropping them into the project window that throws

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rajeshkunchey

Participant

Hello there!

You can export your Gif file as video from Photoshop and use that video file in After effects

example: Import your Gif to Photoshop and export as video (i.e., file>export>Render video).

And finally you can use that video in the aftereffects. Repeat the video, expand the length by duplicating layers and putting it side by side in Aftereffects.

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JNSStudios

Participating Frequently

Hey.

(Quick disclaimer: I'm using AE CS3, so if that's not supported anymore, just tell me what you would do for the version you use and I'll try it. If it doesn't work, I'll just try to figure it out on my own.)

So I'm having some gif trouble too. It imports fine, but the transparent background is replaced with plain white. I tried using a linear color key to remove the white, but it also removed the other white parts of my gif. What is the issue? Is it something with the formatting of the gif? I've included a zip with the aep file and the gif.

Thanks,

ViralVillager_YT

Files: Dropbox - Archive.zip

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Roei Tzoref

Legend

What is the issue? Is it something with the formatting of the gif?

drag the GIF into photoshop, and use export->render video to render a Quicktime Animation with Alpha.

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JNSStudios

Participating Frequently

Hey, thanks for the quick response!

Here's the thing. The only adobe products I own are AE CS3, Photoshop Elements 13, and Premiere Elements 13. I put the gif in Photoshop Elements 13 and found the export thing, but its blocked.

Do you think maybe an online gif to mov converter could work?

-ViralVillager_YT

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patrikk49456211

Participant

So I found the easiest solution for this GIF-problem. Simply download and install quicktime, restart after effects and throw your gif in to your composition any way you like.
Apple - Support - Downloads

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vijaybharath

Participant

Awesome, It really helped me.

Yessssssssssssssssssssss, Installing Quick time player is the solution. This helps us to import GIF without any error.

Thank you so much

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krassimirs24768430

Participant

Unsupported GIF format -Cannot immport gifs in AE CS3 Pro with windows 7 - any help is useful thx

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Szalam

Community Expert

Geez. I don't have CS3 on any machine. Although, I might be able to dig up AE version 7 on an old machine that's in storage if I absolutely had to...

Does the other advice in this thread to convert it to a video not work for some reason?

If nothing else, open it in Photoshop and re-save it.

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A

anujs21100321

Participant

Use Adobe encoder to convert gif into video its so so easy

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irrevocable

Participant

Why won't this gif import: http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv115/tconn89/dot-command.gif

Does it have anything to do with quick time not being installed?

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Mylenium

Legend

And what GIF? AE doesn't support animated GIFs in any way and for static GIFs has relied on Quicktime which at best is/ was a fragile thing.... That being so, you better convert it in Photoshop or anotehr app first to something AE actually can use.

Mylenium

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Todd_Kopriva

Inspiring

After Effects can import animated GIF files. It is exporting animated GIF files that relies on Photoshop.

As Mylenium says, it would help to know more about what you're trying to import. If you point us to the file that you're trying to import, we can give it a try.

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S

sthreetAuthor

Participant

the gif I'm trying to import is: https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/testery.gif?w=AAD56XWD32PcPyRKt0gZKHjMmkrFDdKP5A0VGCLhYdzAIw

I tried converting to .mov, but I got the same error with that one.

EDIT: Nevermind the original question, I figured out how to crop a video and download it directly so I can screw around in after effects. Can't figure out how to move lightning start/end points in one frame without moving them in other though.

Also how to export it to photoshop to export as a gif would be nice as well.

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