GIF image files can only contain 256 colors, making them unsuitable for high-resolution photographs from digital cameras. JPEG files are a more popular option for photographs containing sharp details due to their ability to display millions of different colors.
Many GIF memes shared on social media sites contain snippets of copyrighted material — such as images from films or photography agencies. It’s not common for copyright holders to take legal action against people creating memes for non-commercial use, but it’s better to error on the side of caution. Businesses using animated GIFs for commercial purposes, however, should abide by their local rules and regulations when selecting GIF images.
Many online GIF creation tools limit the size of the files you can make. The top limit tends to be 200MB. Time limits apply too, with some tools curbing the length of an animated GIF at 15 seconds. Limiting the number of images — or frames — within your file will also make it easier to manage.
Because they aren’t true video files, GIFs are unable to carry sound. Popular video file formats such as AVI, MP4, and WEBM can contain sound and images simultaneously.
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PNG format is newer than the GIF file but offers similar benefits, including lossless compression. One key difference is that only GIFs support animation. Some people prefer PNGs over GIFs for static website graphics because they can display more than 16 million colors, instead of just 256.