Guides · Convert video to GIF

# Convert video to GIF

Cut the part you want with `-ss` and `-t`, then make a palette from it and apply it, in one filter. The response holds the GIF’s download URL.

## The request

Request

```bash
curl https://media.logicboostkit.com/ffmpeg/process \
  -H "Authorization: Basic $MEDIA_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "task": {
      "inputs": [
        {
          "file_path": "dir_pi23jgy1yxlmigi873bz/source.mp4",
          "options": [
            "-ss",
            "2",
            "-t",
            "3"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "file": "clip.gif",
          "options": [
            "-vf",
            "fps=10,scale=480:-1:flags=lanczos,split[a][b];[a]palettegen[p];[b][p]paletteuse",
            "-loop",
            "0"
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  }'
```

Response

```http
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
X-Request-Id: job_0mv6io8lccjzfdcme0rft6oj

{
  "ok": true,
  "result": [
    {
      "file_name": "clip.gif",
      "size_bytes": 2516582,
      "download_url": "https://…"
    }
  ],
  "usage": {
    "time_sec": 4.2,
    "input_size_gb": 0.048828125,
    "output_size_gb": 0.00234375,
    "gb_sec": 0.214921873
  },
  "request_id": "job_0mv6io8lccjzfdcme0rft6oj",
  "amount_usd": 0.002862759
}
```

The input is a file you uploaded ([POST /file](https://media.logicboostkit.com/docs/post-file)). The full reference is [POST /ffmpeg/process](https://media.logicboostkit.com/docs/post-ffmpeg-process).

## The options, explained

What each option does

- `-ss 2 -t 3`: On the input: three seconds from second 2.
- `fps=10`: Ten frames a second: smooth enough, and a smaller file than the source’s rate.
- `scale=480:-1:flags=lanczos`: 480 pixels wide, proportions kept, with a sharp scaler.
- `split, palettegen, paletteuse`: A GIF has 256 colours. Making the palette from the clip itself keeps its colours true.
- `-loop 0`: Loop forever.

## Variations

### Smaller file

Fewer frames and fewer pixels.

```
In the output: "options": ["-vf", "fps=8,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos,split[a][b];[a]palettegen[p];[b][p]paletteuse", "-loop", "0"]
```

### Animated WebP instead

Usually much smaller than a GIF, with full colour.

```
In the output: "file": "clip.webp", "options": ["-vf", "fps=10,scale=480:-1", "-c:v", "libwebp_anim", "-quality", "70", "-loop", "0"]
```

## What it costs

A short GIF from a 50 MB clip: (0.05 GB + 0.012 GB) × 8 s = 0.496 GB-seconds, which is USD 0.0066 at USD 0.01332 per GB-second.

The seconds are an example; every response reports the job’s own. Failed jobs are not charged. See [Pricing](https://media.logicboostkit.com/pricing).