FOR REFERENCE

Screencapping:

I follow the instructions on screencapping from this post (#1), except that I use the latest version of MPV and I incorporate the additional lines for the mpv configuration file from this post (#2). Several times I tried checking for duplicate frames, as per the instructions from this post (#3), and each time the first frame was duplicated but no others. (As far as I can tell, none were missing?)

Gif-making (basic):

I have been following a mishmash of the instructions from this post (#4) and this post (#5) for basic GIF-making and initial colouring.

For making the initial GIF, I wanted to stick with the load files into stack method that most people seemed to use, so I mostly follow the instructions from this post (#4) for steps 4 (importing to Photoshop), 5 (cropping & resizing), 6 (animation), and 8 (sharpening) but with some alterations based on the instructions from this post (#5):

I add a few extra pixels to my initial crop size then after the initial GIF-making reduce the canvas size by that number of pixels, to eliminate the small white border that seems to show up otherwise. (See this post (#5) for much more detailed information.)

I do not play around with the initial GIF speed. (Again, see this post (#5) for more information.) The caveat on that is that, for whatever fun PS reasons, my initial frame has a 5-second delay while the others have no delay, so I change the initial frame to have no delay as well. Then at the very end, when I am exporting the GIF, I use the second action from this post (#6), which gets everything ready for export and puts all the frames to a nice 0.05 second delay. The downside is that, while I am preparing the GIF, it looks faster than it will upon export.

I use the following smart sharpening settings (sharpening twice): (1) amount: 500%, radius: 0.3 px; (2) amount: 10%, radius: 10 px. (Initially my first smart sharpen was at 0.4 px, but I found that was too sharp for some GIFs, so now I start with 0.3 px as the default and occasionally remember to check whether 0.4 px would work.)

Actions:

When I first started, I did not use any actions apart from the save action mentioned above because I wanted to understand what was going on/what I was doing. Once I had that memorized to the point that it was becoming tedious, I made my own action—which, it turns out, is really, really easy and makes the initial process way, way faster (like, almost instantaneous)! (You basically hit record, go through all your steps, then hit stop—super, super easy. But go check out this post (#7) for more detailed information/instructions.)

Colouring (initial):

This is for initially getting the colours to the right spot (i.e., something realistic).

I started by generally following the guidance from this post (#5), and I made myself a psd based on that, and then I make other adjustments from there. I have tried some other suggestions from other tutorials, but mostly I end up going back to that psd with adjustments for the particular scene/GIF.

Fonts + typograph:

After I had made my first GIF, following these initial steps, I tried adding some text, and my GIF looked... terrible. So I downloaded a bunch of fonts recommended in various places on this website then tried some different text options.

The following resources below were helpful for fonts, typography, text colouring, etc.: #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13.

Blending:

Though it is not what I used, this post (#14) looks like a good tutorial. This post (#15) also gives a tutorial on some gorgeous blending.

Colouring (fun!) and key frames:

This is for when you want, e.g., everything to be tinted in purple.

I really love the colouring method from this post (#17). This post (#16) talks about colouring with gradient maps and how to use key frames (for adjusting the placement of masks—for when you want Sara Sidle to have bright purple-tinted hair but not bright purple skin!), so it is also excellent.

Effects + special effects:

For clipping masks and putting multiple images in one, see this post (#10), this post (#20), and this post (#21).

For a tutorial on how to use overlays, see this post (#19).

Resources I have found particularly useful (or essential!):

gif tutorial by kylos

additions to mpv configuration file by castiel

duplicate frame deletion by laurabenanti

gifmaking for beginners by hayaosmiyazaki

giffing 101: a comprehensive guide by redbelles

action pack #2 by anyataylorjoy

actions (how-to-make) by hayaosmiyazaki

text/subtitles by hayaosmiyazaki (I have not actually made subtitles yet, only fun text—yes, the dopamine quest continues)

typography by momentofmemory

kate’s quick text styles tutorial by aubrey-plaza (which also very helpfully taught me about clipping masks)

basic gradient text by anya-chalotra

gradient text with blending options by anya-chalotra

difference/exclusion text colouring effects by yenvengerberg

how to: gif blending tutorial by delphines (not what I used but looks like a good basic intro)

double exposure/blending tutorial by yenvengerberg

how to: coloring gifs with gradient maps by delphines (taught me how to use keyframes for masks—actually very easy, even though I kept putting it off—don’t put it off!)

becca’s mega coloring tutorial by yenvengerberg (have used this a lot for making fun colourful gifs—both obviously colourful and less obviously so)

a few little tricks and tips to really make those colours pop by yenvengerberg

new & improved overlay tutorial by rosamundpkes

tutorial on how i use layer masks and clipping masks to get ‘multiple gifs in one’ by yenvengerberg

grid overlay effect by thereigning-lorelai

how to fix grainy gifs by kangyeosaang (have not used this yet but want to try it)