Have you found a humorous YouTube video and want to make it into a viral GIF? Using Clipchamp’s online video editor, you can create and share your new GIFs in no time.
From iconic Friends moments to hilarious dancing babies, GIFs can convey your mood in seconds, and most of the time, are used to make others smile. They’re used on almost every social media platform, found on blogs, and are the perfect way to connect with friends via instant messaging apps. So how can you make a GIF from a YouTube video? Let’s explore how to make a GIF from a YouTube video using Clipchamp’s free online video editor.
What is a GIF?
GIFs are animated images popular on social media, blogs, and instant messaging. First created in 1987, GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format and can be used as an emotive reaction. The top source for the best and newest GIFs, GIPHY, boasts over 700 million daily users and has integrations set up with social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and even Clipchamp.
How to make a GIF from a YouTube video
Learning how to make a GIF from a video on YouTube is quite an easy process. Follow these steps below to quickly make a GIF from a YouTube video using Clipchamp’s free online video editor.
Tip: Before you get started on how to make a GIF from a YouTube video, you will need to download the YouTube video you would like to use. There are many different ways to download YouTube videos including having YouTube Premium, using third-party applications, or using Clipchamp’s online screen recorder.
Step 1. Log in to Clipchamp or sign up for free
Log in to your Clipchamp account or sign up for free. Once you have logged in, click on the + Create a video button at the top right corner of the editor homepage. The video editor will automatically open.
Step 2. Upload your YouTube video
Click on the + symbol on the left sidebar. A pop-out window will appear with uploading options.
Either drag and drop your YouTube video file into the editor, select from your computer files, or upload using one of Clipchamp’s many integrations like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Zoom, Box, or Google Photos. You can also upload directly from your phone.
Your YouTube video file will now appear under the My media tab.
Step 3. Drag and drop YouTube video onto your timeline
To start editing your YouTube video into a GIF, drag and drop your media file onto your timeline.
Step 4. Edit your YouTube GIF video
It’s now time to edit your YouTube GIF video.
Trim your video
To trim your video, drag the green sidebars left and right to shorten your clip. If your clip is not at the start of your timeline, simply drag and drop the clip back to zero seconds.
Transform the appearance of your video
To change your YouTube video’s appearance, click on your clip. Six different options will appear above your video preview. Here you can transform your video’s size, color, add filters, adjust the speed and fade.
Change aspect ratio if desired
Videos are automatically edited in the 16:9 aspect ratio. To change this, click on the 16:9 aspect ratio button on the right side of your screen. Select from 9:16, 1:1, 4:5, 2:3, and 21:9 aspect ratios. Your video will be automatically cropped to fit your chosen aspect ratio dimensions.
We have chosen to stay with the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio for this tutorial.
Step 5. Add text
Adding text to your GIF is completely optional. If you would like to add a caption, click on the Text tab on the left sidebar. Select a suitable text style, then drag and drop it onto your timeline. Make sure your viewers can easily read the text style.
To add your text, click on the Text tab above your video preview. Add in your personalized text. Change the location of your text under the Transform tab, and alter the text color using the Color tab.
Step 6. Save your YouTube video as a GIF
Once you have finished editing your YouTube video, it’s now time to export your YouTube video as a GIF. Click on the purple → Export button at the top right corner of the editor. A pull-out tab will appear with saving options. Click on GIF, then click Save.
Your GIF will begin its saving process. You can directly save or share your new GIF with friends, family, or colleagues via Clipchamp’s sharing integrations like Pinterest, LinkedIn, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Alternatively, save directly to your computer.
FAQ 1. Can I add an existing GIF to my video?
Yes. GIPHY is integrated with Clipchamp, providing users with thousands of ready-to-use GIFs and Stickers to add to videos. All you have to do is click on the Graphics tab on the left sidebar, then drag and drop your chosen GIF onto the timeline.
FAQ 2. Do GIFs have sound?
No. A GIF file doesn’t support sound.
FAQ 3. Can I use GIFs in video marketing for my business?
Yes. GIFs are preferred by almost all online users. They're extremely easy to make and easy to embed. So depending on your target audience, GIFs might be a great asset to your video marketing strategy.
Check out your YouTube GIF
Hopefully, you now have a great understanding of how to make a GIF from YouTube. Video editing is as easy as that. In a few simple steps, you can turn any regular YouTube video into a viral GIF.
Start creating and sharing fun, humorous GIFs with Clipchamp’s free online video editor.
