Convert or render gif to mp4 to make a looped video with CS6

[Cole Slow]

This is the very first time making a gif image and a video using photoshop CS6. I have created a simple gif image with 2 layers. It was a no-brainer since it has an option of "forever"loop count. However, when I exported (export - render video) it to mp4, the result was not the same as the gif file. It was quclky showing 2 layers and that was the end of the video without looping. How can I make a mp4 video file that works just like gif? At the moment, I can only think of adding more frames(layers) manually. Is that the only way? Thanks in advance.

[Mylenium]

Yes, video has no built-in looping. It's all up to the players to jump back to the start and play the clip again. You have to actually duplicate frames. Depending on what you want to do you should consider rendering a snippet of e.g. ten repetitions and re-import this or else things get long in the tooth very quickly.

Mylenium 

[Cole Slow]

Thanks for your answer. Maybe I didn't follow your instruction correctly? I didn't get the desired result. The problem is there are still only 2 frames in the timeline even after saving the gif file with 20 loop counts. I thought there would be at least 20 frames created by setting the loop counts. Did I get the wrong idea? Is it even possible to increase repeating frames in the timeline automatically? 

[Conrad_C]

I think it is because GIF saves the loop counts as metadata, similar to how frame durations work. So instead of actually rendering out 20 loop counts, it loops two frames 20 times.

Again — it’s important to remember that GIF and video formats have different capabilities and limitations. GIF is a low-res 1990s graphics format with only 256 colors that was optimized for animation, not video playback; while video formats are optimized for continuous tone HD video playback. So, they work differently in many ways. For example GIF lets you make the player loop the animation, while video will not loop unless the player at the user's end is set to loop it. As another example, GIF has no frame rate but can set every frame to a different duration, while video formats derive frame duration from an overall frame rate.

[Cole Slow]

Thanks for more detailed information.

[Mylenium]

You need to actually duplicate the frames in the timeline.

Mylenium

[Cole Slow]

Thanks for your replies.