How to turn a screen recording into a GIF on Windows
Make a GIF from a screen recording on Windows: the right length, width and frame rate for a small file, and when an MP4 is the better choice.
Updated · 2 minute read · By the Sceed team
To make a GIF from a screen recording, keep it short, narrow and at a low frame rate, then export it as a GIF. In Sceed, record and edit as usual, choose GIF in the export dialog, and pick a width from 480 to 1080 pixels and 10, 15 or 20 frames a second. The GIF loops forever and has no sound.
When a GIF is the right file
Pull requests, issues and READMEs, where a GIF plays in place.
Documentation and help articles that should show a short interaction without a player.
Chat messages and emails, where it plays without a click.
Use an MP4 instead for anything longer than about fifteen seconds, anything with sound, and anything where quality matters. A GIF holds at most 256 colours per frame and compresses poorly, so the same clip is often several times larger as a GIF than as an MP4.
What makes a GIF large
| Setting | Effect on size | A sensible choice |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Size grows with every second | Three to ten seconds |
| Width | Halving the width cuts the size to roughly a quarter | 480 to 800 pixels for docs and chat |
| Frame rate | Fewer frames, smaller file | 10 or 15 frames a second |
| Movement | More change between frames, larger file | Keep the background still; avoid long scrolling |
| Colours | Gradients and photos compress badly | Solid backgrounds work best |
Making one in Sceed
The GIF export uses the same edit as the MP4: cursor, zooms, frame and effects are all in the GIF. Each frame gets its own colour palette for the best match. For a GIF, a solid background compresses better than a gradient, and less padding leaves more pixels for the interface.
Other tools on Windows
ShareX and ScreenToGif are free tools that record straight to a GIF. They capture the screen as it is, cursor included, with no zoom or frame. See Sceed vs ShareX.
With Sceed, step by step
- 1
Record the moment
Record a few seconds of the thing you want to show in Sceed.
- 2
Cut it tight
Trim the start and end so the loop is as short as it can be.
- 3
Choose GIF
Press Export and switch the format from MP4 to GIF.
- 4
Pick width and frame rate
Choose a width and a frame rate. Smaller and slower makes a smaller file.
- 5
Export
Save the GIF and drop it into the pull request, the doc or the message.
New to Sceed? Install to export in five steps.
Questions
Does a GIF have sound?
No. The GIF format has no audio. Use an MP4 if the clip needs sound.
What frame rate should a screen GIF use?
10 to 15 frames a second is enough for interface demos. 20 is smoother and larger.
Why is my GIF so big?
It is too long, too wide or has too much movement. Cut it shorter, export it narrower, and lower the frame rate.
Is GIF export free in Sceed?
Yes. The free plan’s mark and three-minute limit apply to GIFs as they do to MP4s.