Looking for a way to liven up your PowerPoint presentation content beyond just text and images? How about using a GIF? Animated images are practically ubiquitous on social media these days. Harness the power of GIFs for your own content!

Animated images are sure to capture your audience's attention. Presented as a fun and engaging visual element, they allow you to convey your key messages in a relaxed and engaging way. Furthermore, GIFs have smaller file sizes than videos , saving you loading time. Learn how to create GIFs and seamlessly integrate them into your presentation!

What is an animated GIF?

The abbreviation GIF stands for "Graphics Interchange Format." These files are a special graphics format with the file extension .gif. GIF files can only display 256 colors. They are therefore suitable for images with low color depth and animations . Furthermore, the file size is usually smaller than that of JPEG files.

In most cases, a GIF file is animated. This means it doesn't display static images like JPEG files, but rather repeats automatically after a few seconds. However, there are also GIFs that only play once and stop at the last frame.

What are the advantages of GIFs?

Even though you might think at first glance that a GIF is nothing more than a picture, it has some other advantages that you can use during your presentation.

#1: Attention

Presentations with a lot of text and few images can quickly lead to you trying to convey too much information to your audience in too little time. This often means that the audience simply tunes out and starts to get bored. GIFs, on the other hand, add variety to your presentation and thus help you keep your audience's attention at a high level.

For more tips on how to secure the full attention of your audience, see our blog article on "Control your audience's attention!".

#2: Key message

Do you think about the core message of your presentation before you give it? No? Then now's the time to consider how to package that core message in an engaging way and convey it to your audience. Using GIFs allows you to do this in a playful and captivating manner, and you can be sure that your viewers will remember your key message even after the presentation.

Want to learn more about key messages? Feel free to check out our blog article on "Key Message" .

#3: GIF instead of video

Even if you think GIFs are the same as videos, we'd like to point out that you can achieve the same effect with GIFs as with a video, but with significantly less effort . Because GIFs have a smaller file size , they are easier to insert into your presentation than videos.

What are GIFs suitable for?

GIFs are not only suitable for use instead of video; there are a number of other ways to use GIFs:

• Animated logos: Instead of static logos in foil corners
• Animated pictograms: Add movement to your presentation
• Slideshows
• Illustration of trends, data, processes
• Etc.

Always use GIFs appropriately. Since GIFs are always eye-catching, they should be chosen carefully so as not to distract from the content of your presentation.

To use GIFs effectively, it's advisable to use them sparingly and strategically at the right points in the presentation . Ideally, GIFs should be placed at key moments to emphasize important points or visualize complex concepts. Furthermore, it's recommended to use GIFs that have a clear connection to the presentation's message and support the topic.

GIFs in various industries

GIFs can be used in a variety of industries and professions to enhance presentations and make content more engaging.

In the marketing industry, animated logos or GIFs can be used to illustrate trends and statistics. Furthermore, GIFs can reinforce brand messaging.

In education, GIFs can visually represent complex concepts and support the learning process. Even in technical or scientific presentations, GIFs can be used to clearly explain procedures or processes. The versatility of GIFs allows them to be used effectively in a wide variety of contexts.

In relaxed, informal presentations, humorous or entertaining GIFs can be used to amuse the audience and lighten the mood. In sales or business presentations, GIFs can be used to vividly present products or services and capture the interest of potential customers.

How to create a GIF

Have you decided to insert a GIF into your PowerPoint presentation? Then you've come to the right place. There are several ways to create a GIF, which we will explain below.

a. Create GIFs directly in PowerPoint

GIFs consist of a sequence of images played back so quickly that an animation is created. To create these in PowerPoint itself, you can use a transition or, as explained below, the Morph slide transition.

1. Determine the shape and size of your GIF before you begin creating it. If you use a standard widescreen slide, the resulting GIF will also have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
2. Open the PowerPoint slide where you want to insert the GIF.
3. Under the "Design" tab, you can set the desired size using the "Customize" button. To do this, click on "Slide Size" and then "Custom Slide Size" within the "Customize" button.
4. Now insert your desired object, in our case a pictogram, via the "Insert" tab and the "Illustrations" button , then click on "Pictograms" . (Tip: You can find more professional pictograms from PresentationLoad for your business here .)

5. Select a pictogram and create a duplicate of the slide in the thumbnail view using Ctrl + Shift + D (for a morph transition you need two slides that have an identical object).

6. Now, on the duplicated slide, modify the pictogram according to your wishes. This could include, for example, changing its position, color, or text .

7. Now click on the duplicate and select the "Morph" option via the "Transition" tab and the "Transitions"/"Transition to this slide" button.

8. In the "Transition" button, select "Effect Options" . Here you can specify how the transition should work.

9. Select the "Objects" option, as in the example above.

10. In the "Transitions" tab, click the "Preview" button to preview the Morph transition.

11. Now, in the "File" tab and under the "Export" option, select "Create animated GIF" .

12. In the window that opens, select the size and click on "Create GIF".

13. If no display duration for the slides has been set yet, you can set it under "Display duration" and the "Duration" option.

14. In the status bar at the bottom, you will see a progress bar for the creation of your GIF file. Normally, this only takes a few seconds.

Our finished GIF looks like this:

b. Creating GIFs with Photoshop

Do you want to design your content entirely yourself and use custom-tailored images for a GIF that conveys your key messages? No problem! With the help of Photoshop , you can create GIFs from your own photos. Here's how:

Please note that this tutorial requires you to have Photoshop image editing software and ideally some experience with it. We are working with the English version, so you will find the English names for the selection options.

1. To begin, it's important to use a tripod when taking your pictures. This ensures that all images are taken from the same perspective and can be played back sequentially. Additionally, after taking each picture, adjust it to how you want it to appear in the final GIF, making sure all images have the same pixel count.
2. Upload the images to a Photoshop file under File > Scripts > Load Files Into Stack . A window will open. Click "Browse" to import your images and then "OK". Your photos are now uploaded in different layers.
3. Now you will design a frame animation . To do this, click on Window > Timeline at the bottom of your workspace. Then, select "Create Frame Animation" from the middle button. Your first photo will now be inserted into the timeline.
4. To insert all layers into the timeline, select the menu icon on the right. Then select the "Make Frames From Layers" option.
5. If your images are displayed in reverse, you can reverse them by clicking on “Reverse Frames” in the menu on the right.
6. In the next step , you adjust the playback time of the images. To do this, click below each image and change the number of seconds as needed. A transition of one to five seconds is ideal.
7. If you want to set your GIF to loop continuously, copy the images, paste them, and flip them. Before copying and pasting, set the playback time so you don't have to adjust it again for each copy. To copy the images, click the first image, hold down the Shift key, and click the last image. Then go to the right-hand menu and click "Copy Frames." In the same menu, switch to "Paste Frames."
8. When the "Paste Frames" window opens, make sure to select "Paste After Selection" . Here you can now reverse the images.
9. Go back to the menu and click on "Reverse Frames" (as in step 8). Now two identical frames should appear in the middle . Delete one of them so that your GIF doesn't have a time delay.
10. You can preview your GIF by clicking the play button at the bottom of the timeline window.
11. Now save your file as a GIF. To do this, make sure the loop setting is set to "Forever" (in the bottom left corner). Then select File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) to save.

This quick guide is also available as a video here .

c. Finding animated GIFs on the web

Want to insert a GIF into PowerPoint but don't want to use your own files? Then you can use GIFs from the web or search for suitable GIFs using PowerPoint's online image search .

Select the "Insert" tab and then the "Online Images" or "Insert Clip Art" option. In the search field, enter "animated GIF" and choose a suitable GIF from the desired category.

Tip: There are numerous online tools and resources that allow you to create and download GIFs. These tools often offer ease of use and various editing options to customize your desired GIF. Some tools also provide features to optimize GIF file size to reduce loading times.

Furthermore, there are websites that offer a wide variety of high-quality, royalty-free GIFs that can be used in presentations. Using such resources saves time and makes it possible to find or create engaging GIFs for presentations.

How to insert a GIF into PowerPoint

Now that you know how to create GIFs, we'll show you how to insert them into Microsoft PowerPoint:

For Windows:

1. Select the slide on which you want to insert the GIF in PowerPoint.
2. Now click on the "Insert" tab and select the "Pictures" option.
3. In the window that opens, you can search for the desired file and insert it into your slide by clicking "Insert" (sometimes also "Open").

For Mac:

1. Select the slide on which you want to insert the GIF in PowerPoint.
2. Click on the "Home" tab and under "Insert" select "Pictures" and "Pictures from File".
3. In the window that opens, you can search for the desired file and insert it into your slide with a click on "Insert".

Play GIFs

You have now embedded the GIF in your slide. However, it currently appears as a static image. To play the animation, only a few clicks are needed:

For Windows:

1. Select on the "Slide Show" tab.
2. Under "Start slideshow", click on the option "Start from current slide".
3. The GIF file will now play in an endless loop.

For Mac:

1. Select on the "Slide Show" tab.
2. Click here on "Play from current slide".
3. The GIF file will now play in an endless loop.

How to adjust the animation playback frequency

Your GIF is now inserted into PowerPoint and is playing in an endless loop. Do you want to adjust how many times it plays? Then you can use the online editor "ezgif.com" .

Upload your GIF file to the editor. Then you can set the loop count using the commands Split to frames > Edit animation > Loop count > Make a GIF! Save the new file and insert it back into the presentation.

When you should use GIFs—and when you shouldn't

Since GIFs always attract attention, it's important to use them appropriately . Choose carefully when and how to use them so that they don't distract from the content of your presentation.

Especially when presenting important data and facts that require your audience's full attention, it's advisable to avoid using GIFs on these slides. The animation can quickly distract your audience , causing them to only half-heartedly listen to your presentation. However, to convey your core message, it can be helpful to provide your audience with small mnemonic devices, which you can present in the form of GIFs.

Restrictions on the use of GIFs

GIFs have many advantages and can usually be easily integrated into your presentation. Nevertheless, there are a few things you should keep in mind when using GIFs.

• The GIF will start playing automatically as soon as you switch to a slide. A mouse click is therefore not possible; please keep this in mind during your presentation.
• Since GIFs only have 256 colors , the image quality of photos may be slightly worse.
• You cannot create transparent areas in a GIF.
• You cannot crop a GIF.
• Large file size: To make the most of GIFs in presentations, it's crucial to optimize their file size . Large GIFs can slow down loading times and negatively impact the presentation. By reducing the color palette, using compressed images, and limiting the animation duration, the file size of GIFs can be reduced without significantly affecting visual quality. An optimized file size ensures smooth playback of GIFs and thus improves the user experience during the presentation.

Conclusion: GIFs liven up your presentation

If you want to create a visual highlight in your presentation, choose a GIF! This is guaranteed to capture your audience's attention .

It doesn't always have to be an elaborate video. Even a GIF, which you can create in simple steps, can illustrate a process or a diagram to convey your key messages.

Furthermore, the file size of a GIF speaks for itself; long loading times are eliminated. With the option to adjust the number of repetitions , you can also customize the GIF to your individual needs.

Use a GIF, you won't regret it!

Do you have questions about presenting with storytelling ? Feel free to contact us by email at info@presentationload.de . We're happy to help!

Are you looking for professionally designed slide templates to enhance your presentation? Feel free to browse our shop. We have numerous slides on a wide variety of (business) topics available for you to download . Visit us today! ► To the shop

Other articles you might also like:

• Use PowerPoint animations to create a striking effect!
• Control your audience's attention: 9 useful tips for capturing attention from the start!
• Key message in PowerPoint presentations: How to develop and deliver your key message correctly!
• Animations and triggers on the slide master: The professional guide!