How to Make Gifs on Instagram

Instagram, which started from its simple roots as a photo-sharing platform, has embraced many more content formats. Sure, static images are still trendy on the social media app, but short, eye-catching GIFs can add a touch of personality and humor to your content.

But how do you create these bite-sized animations and share them on Instagram? Instagram’s library of stickers is quite expansive, but what if you want to make something a bit more personal?

In this article, we’ll show you a few methods of creating GIFs for your Instagram.

Leveraging Giphy’s Power

Instagram itself doesn’t offer native GIF creation functionality. However, it seamlessly integrates with Giphy, the go-to platform for online GIFs. This is where their extensive library comes from.

For a more personalized touch, Giphy offers a user-friendly online GIF creation tool that you can use. Here’s the process:

1. Visit Giphy.com and create an account.
2. You can only create with the Giphy app, so you would have to download it on your device.
3. Click the “Create” button on the bottom left corner. You can upload short videos (MP4 format, under 15 seconds, and less than 100 MB) or capture a new video with the in-app camera.
4. With the editor tools at the bottom of the screen, you can add text to the GIF in various colors and styles. You can also add stickers and trim the video to your desired length with the cutting tool. You can also add some basic filters to the video. Once satisfied, hit the arrow icon at the bottom right of the screen.
5. On the next screen, you can choose to save your GIF on your device or upload it to Giphy. Remember to add some tags to your creation so it can be found quickly.
6. Only uploads from Brand or Artist accounts will be found on Instagram’s sticker library and you need at least five GIFs uploaded to Giphy to be considered for a Brand or Artist account.
7. Once you’ve uploaded five GIFs, apply for the Brand or Artist account by filling out a form.
8. Once you’re verified, your GIFs will now show on Instagram for you to add to your posts.

Sharing Your GIF Creation on Instagram

Now that you’ve found or created the perfect GIF and your Giphy account has been verified, it’s time to share it on your Instagram:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap on the “+” icon or Swipe right and tap on “Post,” “Story,” or “Reel.”
2. Capture a photo or video to post or choose one from your camera roll.
3. Tap on the sticker icon at the top to access the sticker tray.
4. Select the “GIF” sticker icon.
5. Here, you can search for your GIF using the tags you added before uploading to Giphy.
6. Tap the chosen GIF to add it to your post. You can resize and reposition it as desired.
7. You can add other creative elements like text, drawings, or additional stickers, then share when you’re satisfied.

By following these steps, you can create engaging and fun GIFs that elevate your Instagram stories and make them stand out from the crowd. Just keep your creative juices flowing and get to work. You’ll wow your audience in no time.