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Workflow guide

Make a GIF or MP4 from selected video frames

Extract frames, choose 2–60 useful stills, then turn them into a silent short video or animated GIF on Mac, iPhone or iPad.

App StoreHelp

Updated:

Selected-frame MP4 and GIF export requires Dig It 1.4.5 or later on Mac, iPhone or iPad. Check the version available in your App Store before downloading for this feature.

Getting started

  1. Import a video and extract its frames. Select 2–60 images in the results page.
  2. Open Export and choose Create Short Video or Create GIF. Preview the sequence, choose the time per frame and maximum edge, and optionally reverse playback. GIF also offers a loop switch.
  3. Export and save or share the file. Frames play in source-time order unless reversed. Use Save separately to keep the project in History.

Timing, dimensions and export limits

Choose 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2 seconds per frame. MP4 maximum-edge options are 720, 1280 and 1920 pixels; GIF options are 320, 480 and 640. The export preserves aspect ratio, fits stills on a consistent canvas and never upscales them. Use 2–60 frames per export. This workflow is in the graphical app, not the separate CLI.

Real GIF export settings with four selected video frames. English Mac interface shown.
Real GIF export settings with four selected video frames. English Mac interface shown.Sample video: Big Buck Bunny. © 2008 Blender Foundation. Frames arranged in Dig It. Big Buck Bunny · CC BY 3.0

Does the GIF or MP4 keep the original motion and audio?

No. It displays the selected still images for the chosen duration. MP4 is silent; GIF has no audio. Dig It does not restore the source video's continuous movement, interpolate frames or generate AI motion. Use the result to share key moments or a process, not as a full-motion video conversion.

Export cover images and printable PDF contact sheets

Frame sampling, source-resolution export, cropped covers and PDF contact sheets require Dig It 1.4.3 or later. Sampling and source-resolution export are Mac-only; covers and PDF contact sheets are available on Mac, iPhone and iPad.

On Mac, iPhone or iPad, select one result and choose Export → Export Cover. Choose the original ratio, 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 or 4:3, adjust the crop position and maximum edge, then save PNG or JPEG. JPEG can be limited to 2 MB; if it cannot fit, choose smaller dimensions. Images are never upscaled. For a printable overview, choose Export → PDF Contact Sheet, A4 or Letter, and 2–4 columns. Up to 120 selected frames are ordered chronologically and paginated automatically, with the video name and timestamps. With no selection, all remaining results are used. A PNG contact sheet still accepts at most 40 frames.

What is different on Mac, iPhone and iPad?

Mac

Mac adds a batch queue, folder import, extraction presets, automatic PNG/JPEG export and nearby source-frame review. Choose an output folder before enabling automatic export.

iPhone / iPad

On iPhone and iPad, choose one video from Photos or Files, review the extracted images, export selected PNGs or a contact sheet, and explicitly save results to History.

Save a frame set you can return to

Use Save to keep the full current result set and available timestamps in local History. Reopen a saved project to review, delete, export and save changes to the same record. The source video is not stored with the history record; older metadata-only records cannot recreate missing images.