This is a step-by-step howto to record your desktop and then save it as animated GIF using free software. The resulting file will be very small compared to video files, e.g. a 2 minutes long screencapture of a webpage browsing can be less than 1MB.
Requirements:
- Windows
- CamStudio
- VirtualDub
- Gimp
- Gigabytes of free space in the destination drive for the intermediate video screencapture
How to:
- Install CamStudio
- Install VirtualDub (if you have a 64bit OS install the 64 bit version)
- Prepare the window you have to screencapture
- Capture the video
- Open CamStudio
- Options > Video Options > Codec Intel IYUV (lossless) and then OK
- Select Region > Windows (or other as needed)
- Press the record button and select the Window to record
- Press stop to stop recording
- Select a destination directory and filename: make sure you’ve enough free space
- Convert to GIF
- Decompress VirtualDub and launch the Veedub64.exe (user interface) or equivalent
- File > Open video file and then select the previously generated file (step 4.6)
- Video > Frame rate > Frame rate conversion
- Select Convert to fps and specify a low value like 2 and then OK
- Video > Color Depth
- From Output format to compressor / display select 16 bit RGB (555) or greyscale (0-255): it will downsize the output GIF file
- File > Export > Animated GIF
- Select Play once, infinite loop or specify a loop number
- Save the resulting file
- Edit the GIF
- Launch GIMP
- Optional: Select Window > Single window mode to keep all tools in one window (useful for PhotoShop users)
- Open the generated GIF (step 5.9)
- Crop, rescale and alter the image as you like
- Optional: Image > Mode > Indexed to change colors reducing filesize
- File > Export as… > Animated GIF
- Check the “As animation” flag
- Export
The GIF can now be published on forums, WordPress.com or any image hosting provider.
2 responses to “Screencapture to GIF: how to record desktop and save screencast as animated GIF”
Thank you for these instructions, really helpful!! I always create screencast with a free web-based software calls Acethinker Online Screen Recorder, it can export the screencast as GIF file. Share it here as an alternative method to camstudio.
Hi Berti, I never tried it but I keep your comment for users are looking for a web-based solution. Thank you for visiting.