stick or twist, baby

STEP ONE: SCREENCAPS

ALWAYS download the highest quality video. That's the number one ingredient to make HQ gifs. Don't use less then 1080px (use 2160px if you can get it).

I use KMPlayer to make the screencaps which you can download for free. However some 4K formats KMPlayer can't read but nevertheless try to get the highest quality videos that it can play.

Open video, press "CTRL" + "G" when you want to make screencaps. Here are my settings. I usually aim for about 40 screencaps per gif but your gifs need to be under 10MB each or tumblr will lower the quality so I usually end up deleting some especially for bright gifs (the more white/brighter the scene the higher the MB)

STEP TWO: LOADING SCREENCAPS INTO PHOTOSHOP

(note; my photoshop is from 2012 so you might have a newer version!)

"FILE" > "SCRIPTS" > "LOAD FILES INTO STACK"

"IMAGE" > "CANVAS SIZE"

I usually change the canvas size rather than the image size so that the screencaps are little bigger than the canvas and I can move them around a bit but it's up to you! Press "EDIT" > "FREE TRANSFORM" in order to change the size of the screencaps to fit in the canvas. Alternatively press "IMAGE" > "IMAGE SIZE" which is simpler.

HOT TIP: I make my gifs 810px wide. If you google what is the best size for tumblr gifs it will say 540px but I've experimented and 810px makes them look better (at least on my laptop). The height can vary, mine are usually 460px if I am trying to have a many screencaps in one gif as possible.

If you don't have a timeline open in photoshop press "WINDOW" > "TIMELINE" Some people use another method but I use timeline.

At the end of the timeline on the right press the little symbol (marked with a red circle below) Then press "MAKE FRAMES FROM LAYERS".

Press that little symbol again and reverse frames (if they're in the wrong order: they should be left to right)

Highlight all the frames in the timeline, then press the duration button under one of them and change the duration to 0.06. This is the speed I use for 99% of gifs.

STEP THREE: SHARPENING

Press the little symbol again and press "FLATTEN FRAMES INTO LAYERS". This is to be able to sharpen using a pre-saved 'action'. This allows you to sharpen each frame without having to do it laboriously one by one yourself. An action is a recorded series of steps you can create to save you time so you only have to do it once and never again. I might upload my sharpening action here sometime if it's helpful.

Here's what the action looks like. You have to make sure both the frames on your timeline and layers (on the right) are at the first image "1" in the timeline and "Frame 1" in layers. Then you press the play symbol to load the action (you might need to add it to the panel). Then you press the play button at the bottom to start the action that will sharpen each frame for you. Here are the play buttons highlighted in red:

If you are creating your own action or sharpening each frame by hand here are the sharpening settings. Press "FILTER" > "SHARPEN" > "SMART SHARPEN". You highlight "Frame 1" then "Frame 2" etc in layers to do it one by one.

Sharpening settings:

STEP FOUR: COLOURING

Now for the fun part! Colouring is an art form and everyone has their own preferences and ways of doing things. This part of giffing is probably the hardest in terms of it being not just about steps to follow but about having a creative eye. My early gifs were terrible but it was the only way to learn. You have to experiment. There are so many options in photoshop it can feel overwhelming but I have narrowed down the settings I like and use pretty much for every gif. I usually open a new file to make the colouring (using a few of the sharpened screencaps) and then save it so that I can go back to it if I need to.

Press the little adjustment symbol on the bottom right under layers (highlighted in red in this image:)

Press "ADJUSTMENT SYMBOL" > "BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST"

Here's the settings for this gif but every gif is different.

"ADJUSTMENT SYMBOL" > "EXPOSURE". Again this changes depending on the gif but I usually put the "OFFSET" level to "-0.0040"

"ADJUSTMENT SYMBOL" > "SELECTIVE COLOR"

This is an important one, I change the "BLACKS" and "NEUTRALS". Sometimes "YELLOWS" or "REDS" if needed. Or if I want to highlight a colour like "CYANS" to make it stand out more.

"ADJUSTMENT SYMBOL" > "COLOR LOOKUP"

I almost always use two "COLOR LOOKUPs" but you can experiment with more! (see images to know where to find opacity and blend mode)

filmstock (I change the "OPACITY" to 20%)

2strip (I change the blend mode to "SCREEN" and the "OPACITY" to 20%: more if the scene is darker)

STEP FIVE: SAVING YOUR GIFS

"FILE" > "SAVE FOR WEB"

Here are my settings for saving my gifs. Remember to make sure they are under 10MB in size or tumblr will lower the quality (or not upload them at all).

TLDR: IF YOU ALREADY MAKE GIFS

Only use HD videos at least 1080px in size.

I make my gifs 810px wide which make them look sharper (at least on my laptop). If you upload 540px tumblr widens them and you lose quality.

I use a sharpening action (I might upload it here in the future). These are the settings:

Adjustments I use: BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST, EXPOSURE, SELECTIVE COLOR (black, neutrals), COLOR LOOKUP (filmstock (20% opacity) & 2strip (20% opacity, screen blend).

Make sure your gifs are under 10MB or you'll lose quality.

Save settings:

GIF WITHOUT / WITH SHARPENING/COLOURING:

Hope this help even one person. I have read many great tutorials on tumblr over the years they have helped me so much :)