How to import a gif to after effects?

[sthreet]

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.

[Mylenium]

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

[Todd_Kopriva]

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.

[sthreet]

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.

[Szalam]

If you don't understand how to animate the end points of the Advanced Lightning effect, you should definitely start here to learn After Effects.

[sthreet]

Thanks, found the section and bookmarked that page for future reference.

Is thier a way to hide the start/direction points from previous keyframes?

Didn't see it in the section in the video on animations, and wasn't sure where else to look, google didn't help. It seems like something that should be a simple toggle on/off thing though.

[Szalam]

sthreet wrote:

Is thier a way to hide the start/direction points from previous keyframes?

I don't understand the question. Could you try explaining a bit more thoroughly what you are trying to do? Pictures might help.

[sthreet]

Actually they aren't past keyframes, they are a pathing for the lightning, but If possible I'd rather edit one frame at a time and they get in the way.

Mostly because the lightning isn't going to follow one path.

[Szalam]

You can change how much of the motion path you see in the AE preferences.

[sthreet]

Thanks, found it.

Sorry for the slow reply, don't have anything else to ask right now, but I felt like posting the end result, just because. This lightning is a lot of fun, even if it takes editing each frame, I think i'm going to screw around with affect effects effects more often. (Looks like you have to open gifs in new tab to view though.)

[jonathanthom87]

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!

[Szalam · Accepted solution]

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.

[bogiesan]

Szalam wrote:

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.

Nothing ever dies on the Net, not even legitimately dead formats. Not even formats that have had a wooden stake driven through them.

GIF is ALIVE!

There's a sudden resurgence in the popularity of GIFs as decorative web doodads. We get the request often these days form our web people to hand them short video clips that they can process out as little GIF movies. They're cute. Like mice. They're vermin. Like rats.

Remember Favicons?

[Szalam]

I didn't say GIF was dead. I just said you shouldn't make one UNTIL the last step. I'm on reddit (heck, I'm one of the folks in charge of the /r/AfterEffects subreddit), so I know all about the GIF's second life.

[gxramirez]

hi, i was intrigued by this thread because i want to create a couple of animated GIFS. so..

does after effects NOT IMPORT animated GIFs? who can give a definitive answer because i have seen some contradictory answers.

thanx!

also if you had a series of images: lets say 25 that you pulled from an mpeg via opening it in after effects. would the work flow be to then open that series of elements in photoshop? and then make them an animated GIF. if possible and lastly, i'd like to get a quick summary of which programs export animated GIFS. so here goes please correct me if i'm wrong:

exports animated GIF format:

photoshop: YES!

flash: YES!

after effects: YES?

imports animated GIF format:

photoshop: YES!

flash: ???

after effects: ???

thanx in advance,

george

[irrevocable]

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?

[anujs21100321]

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

[krassimirs24768430]

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

[Szalam]

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.

[patrikk49456211]

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

[vijaybharath]

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

[JNSStudios]

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

[Roei Tzoref]

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.

[JNSStudios]

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

[Szalam]

You could try it, but I'm always suspicious of online converter tools.

You could try a lighter touch on the Extract effect or you could use the "obsolete" Luma Key effect.

If it still grabs the white in the middle, you could just roto that back in.