Using GifBuilder

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GifBuilder is a scriptable utility that is used to create and/or edit animated GIF files on a Macintosh. To download a copy of this freeware utility, click here. This utility will also handle TIFF and PICT files, as well as GIFs. You can also export QuickTime movies as GIF89a. 

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What is a GIF89a?

• CNET Features - GIF89a

Using an existing GIF89a on your Web page

• There are many sites on the Web where you can find animated GIF's for your use.
• The 1st Internet Gallery of Animated GIFs
• Icon BAZAAR
• Stepping Stones Animation Gallery
• GIF Animation Station A large selection of indexed GIF animations
• Lots of LInks to Animated GIFs
• Animations by Cyber-Guide
• Animated GIFs
• Danny's Little Collection of Animated GIFS
• Midnight Madness-Animation Central
• You can use a GIF89a just as you would a GIF on your Web page. Using Claris Home Page just drag the GIF89a onto the page where you want it. When viewed with Netscape 2.0 or higher, the animation will play.
• If you want to change the number of times the animation plays or loop the animation you can do this very easily using GifBuilder.
• I put the GifBuilder program on my desktop.
• Drag the GIF89a you want to edit onto the icon for GifBuilder.
• The Frames Window will open and all of the frames from your GIF89a will be listed.
• Under Options, drag down to Loop. You can choose No looping, Forever, or fill in the number of times you want the animation to play.

Making an existing GIF89a transparent

• Drag your existing GIF89a onto the icon for GifBuilder.
• Shift-click or Select All to highlight all the frames in the window.
• Under Options, drag to Transparent Background. You will be given four choices:
• No
• White
• Based on First Pixel
• Other
• I used "Based on First Pixel" to make the background transparent.

Creating your own GIF89a

• Prepare your series of images, saving them with a numbered sequence (image1.gif, image2.gif...). This will help you know the order for your animation.
• You can use any drawing program to create your pictures. They can be saved as PICTs, TIFFs, or GIFs.
• Drag each image onto the icon for GifBuilder and it will load them into the Frame Window. You can arrange the order by just dragging.
• Select All and then Save As...
• Creating an animated gif