How to Compress a .GIF File in macOS

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How to Compress a .GIF File in macOS

Compressing a .gif file in macOS can significantly reduce its size, making it easier to share or upload online. GIF files are widely used for animations and short clips due to their simple format and web compatibility. However, they can sometimes become large and unwieldy, especially if they contain many frames, high resolutions, or a broad colour palette. Luckily, macOS provides several native tools and third-party apps to help compress .gif files.

Ways to Compress a .GIF File in macOS

Before we start, if you want to compress .gif files online, you can easily compress your files using XConvert’s GIF compressor. You can resize, reduce quality, colour palette and drop frames to reduce your GIF image size.

To compress a .gif file, you can employ several techniques:

  1. Resize the GIF to reduce its dimensions.
  2. Reduce the number of frames to decrease the overall file size.
  3. Lower the color palette to limit the number of colors used in the GIF.

Each of these methods has its own pros and cons, which we will explore in detail.

1. Resize the GIF

Resizing a GIF involves reducing its pixel dimensions (width and height). This is one of the most effective ways to lower file size, as smaller images require less data to display.

How to Resize a GIF in macOS Using Preview:

  1. Open the GIF in Preview: Locate the .gif file, right-click it, and select Open With > Preview.
  2. Resize the GIF:
    • Go to Tools > Adjust Size.
    • Enter the new dimensions you want (e.g., 50% of the original size).
  3. Export the Resized GIF: Go to File > Export, and save the resized GIF.

Pros:

  • Significant reduction in file size: Shrinking the dimensions of the image greatly reduces the amount of data needed to display it.
  • Fast and easy: Resizing can be done quickly and doesn’t require advanced editing skills.

Cons:

  • Loss of quality: Reducing the size too much can result in a lower-quality GIF, especially if it is viewed on larger screens.
  • Less detail: Fine details and text within the GIF may become harder to see after resizing.

2. Reduce the Number of Frames

GIF files are composed of multiple frames, which create the illusion of motion. By reducing the number of frames in a GIF, you decrease the amount of data needed to animate it, thus compressing the file.

How to Reduce Frames in macOS Using Third-Party Tools:

macOS doesn’t have a native tool to remove frames, but you can use third-party apps like GIMP or xconvert.com (an online tool) to reduce the frame count.

Steps with ezgif.com:
  1. Go to xconvert.com and upload the GIF.
  2. Use the drop frames: Scroll down to DROP FRAMES section and select the Drop frames option.
  3. Remove Frames: Select either every 2nd, 3ed or 4th frames.
  4. Save: Click on red Compress button and once completed download it.

Pros:

  • Drastic file size reduction: Reducing the number of frames can significantly shrink the file size without affecting the overall resolution.
  • Simpler animation: Fewer frames can make the animation loop faster, which might be a desired effect for certain uses.

Cons:

  • Choppy animation: Reducing too many frames can make the GIF look less smooth, creating a jerky or stuttering motion.
  • Loss of content: Important details in the animation may be lost if you remove the wrong frames.

3. Reduce the Color Palette

GIF files support a maximum of 256 colors. Reducing the color palette—i.e., using fewer colors—can significantly compress the file size without drastically affecting the image quality.

How to Reduce the Color Palette Using GIMP (Third-Party Tool):

  1. Open the GIF in GIMP: Download and install GIMP, a free image editing tool, then open the .gif file.
  2. Reduce Colors:
  • Go to Image > Mode > Indexed.
  • Set the Maximum Number of Colors to a lower value (e.g., 64 or 128).
  1. Export the GIF: Save the file by going to File > Export As and choosing the .gif format.

Pros:

  • Smaller file size: Reducing the color palette can make the file size much smaller, especially for GIFs with subtle color gradients.
  • Minimal impact on certain GIFs: If the GIF doesn’t have complex colors, you might not notice any significant loss in quality.

Cons:

  • Loss of color detail: Reducing the color palette can cause banding or dithering, where the GIF looks less smooth and color transitions appear harsh.
  • Unsuitable for complex GIFs: GIFs with complex animations or detailed color variations may look significantly worse with a reduced palette.

Why Use a GIF Instead of a Video File?

While video formats (like MP4) are more efficient in many cases, GIFs have specific use cases that make them preferable in certain situations.

Advantages of Using GIF Files Over Video:

  1. Browser Compatibility:
    • GIFs are supported by all major web browsers and are incredibly easy to embed in websites, emails, and social media platforms. They can be embedded as images, making them accessible in places where videos may not be supported natively.
  2. Auto-Looping:
    • GIFs automatically loop without needing any user interaction. This makes them ideal for short animations or repeating sequences without requiring a video player.
  3. Small, Simple Animations:
    • GIFs are perfect for short, low-complexity animations, such as memes, instructions, or product demonstrations. They don’t need the overhead of audio codecs, which video files often use.
  4. No Play Controls:
    • Unlike video files, which often require user interaction to play, pause, or adjust settings, GIFs are passive, making them ideal for quick-view content.
  5. Quick Loading:
    • GIFs generally load faster than video files, especially when optimized, making them suitable for users with limited bandwidth.

Disadvantages of GIFs Compared to Videos:

  1. File Size:
    • GIFs can become much larger than video files for the same length of content. Modern video codecs like H.264 or H.265 are much more efficient in compressing complex motion while maintaining quality.
  2. No Audio:
    • GIFs don’t support sound, making them unsuitable for situations where audio is necessary or helpful.
  3. Limited Color Palette:
    • GIFs can only support a maximum of 256 colors, while video files can handle millions of colors, offering richer detail and quality.
  4. Lack of Advanced Compression:
    • While videos benefit from advanced compression techniques, GIFs use a simpler compression method that is less efficient, making them larger and lower in quality for longer animations.

Conclusion

Compressing GIFs on macOS is a simple process that can be done using native tools like Preview and third-party apps like GIMP or xconvert.com. The most common methods to reduce GIF file size include resizing, reducing the number of frames, and lowering the color palette. Each of these options has its own trade-offs between quality and file size, so the best approach will depend on your specific needs.

While GIFs may be less efficient than video formats like MP4, they remain popular for short animations due to their universal browser support, ease of use, and auto-looping capabilities. For anyone looking to compress a GIF without sacrificing too much quality, using a combination of the methods above can significantly reduce file sizes, making them more efficient for web and social media use.

Featured photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash

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