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Animated images or GIFs have taken over the Internet. Although it is not exactly a new file type, its usefulness has been systematically tested. They did it with the web a couple of decades ago. They are also used more and more regularly in applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram. And, of course, social networks are not alien. Although Facebook allows posting, there is now a way to create your own GIFs from within the mobile app.
Of course, at the moment it seems that the function is arriving in stages. For now some iPhone users may find the feature among the new Facebook Stories. It is a matter of time before the function lands on Android phones and we see how the animations starring our friends conquer Facebook.
How to create your own GIFs
The operation is really simple. And it is that the steps of the Facebook Stories themselves are followed. The first thing is to access the Facebook camera from the icon on the main wall of the application. Another option is to swipe from left to right on the home screen.
From the latest versions of Facebook, and currently only on iPhone, a new way of shooting appears. To date there was only the normal photo and the direct one. The GIF is the new addition in this case, so you just have to slide your finger or click on the word to access this shooting mode.
This is a short video or a quick succession of images. Something like a Boomerang, for the connoisseurs of Instagram. In this way, an animation of a few seconds is generated to highlight a movement, a gesture, a quick situation or a reaction. Something that loops several times to add more fun and drama to the scene.
The result ends up being added to Facebook stories like any other content when it is published. Of course, it can also be downloaded directly to the terminal or be shared as a regular post on the wall.
GIFs packed with effects
Of course, Facebook has not forgotten about compatibility with the huge number of effects, masks and filters that this function already has .And it is that Facebook Stories can boast of extra content to give dynamism and fun to the content, and all this can be applied directly to GIFs.
You can do it before, if you want to select masks to apply directly on the face. Thus, you can choose scenes with masks and record a GIF-selfie with a reaction. Or do it afterwards to apply different scene filters or effects to the final result. Something that can help encourage user creativity and improve the resulting content.
Facebook on iOS now lets you create your own GIFs pic.twitter.com/UpJANRfCfG
- Matt Navarra âï¸ (@MattNavarra) July 14, 2017
You just have to move through the lower bar of effects, selecting the one you want before recording or before publishing. Don't forget you also have drawing tools to write or doodle freehandAnd you can also apply text directly on top of the animation. In the end, Facebook offers all the tools so that only your creativity is the limit.
Only for iPhone at the moment
As we say, it seems that Facebook is still polishing this feature. So only some iPhone users have started enjoying it. However, and as usual, it is a matter of time before it is extended to the rest of the platforms. Of course, without an official announcement, it's hard to guess if this process will take days or weeks
Facebook has made a clear commitment to GIFs. It has been noticeable since a few weeks ago it added the possibility of replying to publications and even comments with them. Something that gives much more dynamism and fun to the publications, posts and content of the social network.
