Skip to main content

GIF Download Formats

Learn the difference between static and animated GIF downloads and when to use each format.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

When exporting your designs, you’ll find two GIF format options: Static and Animated.
Each serves a different purpose, and choosing the right one ensures your content looks and performs as intended.

Static GIFs

Static GIF downloads result in a file with a .gif extension, but they behave like a single image file.

  • Only the first slide of your design will be visible

  • Animations and transitions are not included

  • Works similarly to JPG or PNG, but uses the GIF format for compatibility

When to use:

  • For lightweight, non-animated graphics

  • When animation isn’t needed or isn’t supported by the platform (e.g., some email clients)

Animated GIFs

Animated GIF downloads preserve all slide animations and transitions in your design.
They display multiple frames in sequence, creating motion — ideal for visually engaging content.

When to use:

  • To retain motion and animation effects

  • For ads, email campaigns, social media posts, and landing pages that support animation

Animated GIF Export Presets

When exporting an animated GIF, you can choose from several presets optimized for specific platforms and use cases:

Preset

Frame Rate

Best For

Notes

Google Ads

5 fps

Banner ads, display campaigns, and retargeting

Small file size, fast loading, Google Ads compliant

Social Media

12 fps

Instagram Stories, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

Balanced quality and file size for social sharing

Website

24 fps

Website headers, product showcases, and hero sections

Smooth, high-quality animation for visual impact

Custom Settings

Adjustable

Advanced users

Manually adjust frame rate, colors, compression, and optimization

GIF – Image

Static

Single slides or thumbnails

Exports only the first slide, without animation

Tip:
Lower frame rates (5–12 fps) are ideal for ads and quick-loading visuals.
Higher frame rates (24 fps) deliver smoother motion for on-site or portfolio displays.

Download with Custom Settings

Selecting Custom Settings opens advanced export options for complete control over your animated GIFs:

Basic Controls:

  • Frame Rate (FPS): Adjust playback smoothness (lower = smaller file).

  • Lossy Compression: Balance between file size and visual quality.

  • Loop Count: Choose infinite looping or set a specific number of loops.

Advanced Controls:

  • Max Colors: Define how many colors are used (fewer = smaller file).

  • Dithering Algorithm: Choose between speed and visual quality.

  • Palette Mode: Select how color palettes are generated.

  • Color Quantization: Optimize how colors are grouped for efficiency.

  • Optimize Transparency: Reduce file size by 20–40% for static backgrounds.

  • Frame Differencing: Save only changed pixels per frame.

  • Remove Duplicate Frames: Eliminate identical frames for cleaner output.

Choosing the Correct GIF Format

When downloading your design:

  1. Go to the Download Format list.

  2. Select Static GIF if you only need the first frame as an image.

  3. Select Animated GIF to preserve full motion.

  4. Choose the preset (Google Ads, Social Media, Website, or Custom Settings) that best fits your project.

Always double-check your selection before exporting to ensure the final file meets your intended use.


Ready to start designing?

👉 Sign up for a free Bannersnack account – it only takes a minute.
👉 Already have an account? Log in here to continue where you left off.

Did this answer your question?