It can sometimes be useful to make a video of what is happening on all or part of your computer screen… demonstration, explanation, troubleshooting, etc… I am sure you already have a use in mind. There are several solutions that allow you to do this, but Screen To Gif stands out from the competition by offering a free solution which instead of generating a video, creates an animated Gif.
A screenshot in animated gif with ScreenToGif
Screen To Gif comes in the form of a small software (69.4 MB) for Windows which exists in a portable version (without installation) or in an installable version. The software is completely free and regularly updated since 2013!
When you launch it, a small window will open that represents the area of your screen you are going to record. Because in fact, you can film all or part of your screen by adjusting the size of the window. Screen To Gif. Several buttons give you access to a whole series of settings that are not necessary for ordinary mortals (Gif settings and other application settings). You can also determine the number of frames per second that will be recorded to play on the fluidity of the animation (and inversely proportionally on the weight of the final file).
Once your settings are ready, you just have to press the "Record" button to start recording. You can then pause at any time to move the area to be recorded, for example.
Once your recording is complete, you have the option to do some editing by adding filters, text, adding or removing images…
Feature-wise, while easy to use, ScreenToGif is not without options; here's everything you can do:
- Record your screen and save directly as a animated GIF endlessly
- Pause and resume recording
- Move the window to record whatever you want
- Add text, subtitles, title images
- Edit images, add filters, change image speed, add borders, add progress bar
- Exporting images
- resize
- Working while the program is recording
- Delete images you don't want
- Preselect a folder to automatically save the Gif
- Whether or not to show the mouse cursor during your recording
- Press F7 to start or pause
- Save in full screen
- ...
ScreenToGif even hasa whiteboard mode which allows you to record what you are drawing. This is a very handy feature if you are trying to explain something to someone through your Gif!
The only limitation to this system is that it only allows you to record the image and not the sound (Gif format required)! But beyond this constraint, Screen To Gif is one of those small software programs that is very easy to use and yet comprehensive enough to keep carefully in your toolbox!
