011 min
A short history of the GIF
From CompuServe in 1987 to the looping reaction image, and why a format with 256 colors refused to die.
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Blog
Short pieces on where the GIF came from, why platforms turn it into video, and what to make with one.
- 021 min
“Jif” or “GIF”? The pronunciation debate
The inventor said jif. Dictionaries accept both. The peanut butter joke is older than most of the memes.
Read → - 031 min
Why social platforms convert GIFs to video
A GIF is a stack of paletted images. A silent MP4 of the same frames is smaller, sharper, and cheaper to send.
Read → - 041 min
The heart locket GIF trend and how to make your own
Two photos, a heart that opens, a loop people send to someone specific. How the trend works and how to build one.
Read → - 051 min
10 creative ways to use GIFs in messages and marketing
Practical loops: replies, emoji, banners, changelogs, and the few places a GIF still beats a video.
Read → - 061 min
How GIF compression works (explained simply)
Palettes, dithering, disposal methods, and why two frames that look alike can still cost you.
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