Reason behind GIFs having a larger file size than the original video
In the digital age, creating and sharing GIFs has become a popular pastime. However, one challenge that often arises is the size of the GIF files, which can be significantly larger than the original video file due to the less efficient compression methods used by GIFs. This article will guide you through the steps to make your GIFs smaller on Kapwing, a versatile platform for editing and exporting content.
GIFs, unlike modern videos, only support up to 256 colours and do not use advanced video compression algorithms such as H.264 or HEVC. This results in more raw frame data being stored, inflating file size despite lower colour depth. Additionally, GIFs store each frame separately, unlike videos that use inter-frame compression, which stores changes between frames. This greatly increases data for longer or complex animations, contributing to the larger file size.
Furthermore, GIFs do not contain audio streams, and higher frame rates and resolutions in exported GIFs also increase file size. To combat these issues, Kapwing offers several solutions.
To make a GIF smaller on Kapwing, you can start by reducing the dimensions of the exported GIF by resizing it to smaller width and height. Trimming the video segment before GIF export can also help reduce the number of frames. If available, reducing the frames per second in the GIF export settings is another effective strategy.
Kapwing exports videos in MP4 format by default, which uses efficient compression. If the GIF size is an issue, consider exporting as a compressed video or converting your GIF back to a video format for smaller size.
The compression level feature on Kapwing allows you to adjust the file size by dragging the slider to be smaller in size or to have a better quality export. You can also reduce the size of the image by using the custom Canvas size in the canvas setting menu.
It's important to note that GIFs are different from MP4s. While a GIF can move like a video, it is an image file that can be either a still image or an animated image. The size of a GIF can grow significantly beyond the size of the original video file due to the multiple frames it contains. This growth in size happens even when the GIF is trimmed or cropped.
Kapwing supports GIFs that are 60 seconds in duration, but the frame rate of GIF files cannot be adjusted. The larger size of the GIF is due to the increased number of frames, not the visual appearance after trimming or cropping. GIFs do not have playback options (play, pause, seek) or sound.
For those seeking further guidance, there are YouTube tutorials available on how to reduce video size online and maintain quality. With these tips, you can now create and share smaller, more manageable GIFs on Kapwing.
[1] https://www.kapwing.com/ [2] https://www.kapwing.com/blog/make-a-gif/ [3] https://www.kapwing.com/blog/how-to-make-a-gif-on-kapwing/ [4] https://www.kapwing.com/blog/how-to-compress-a-gif-on-kapwing/
Technology in data-and-cloud-computing platforms like Kapwing offers solutions to reduce the size of GIF files, which are larger due to their less efficient compression methods and method of storing frames compared to modern videos. Besides resizing the GIF, trimming the video segment, and adjusting the frames per second, Kapwing provides options to export as a compressed video or convert the GIF back to a video format for a smaller size.
