Filee GIF, WebP and APNG: keep the animation moving
Keep animated GIF, WebP and APNG frames when converting with Filee. Choose lossless WebP, avoid still-image targets and check timing and transparency.
On this page
Choose an animated target
Filee preserves frames and timing between animated GIF, WebP, APNG and MNG. An ordinary PNG or JPG target receives a still frame. For a moving sticker or demonstration, check that the result plays rather than judging it from a thumbnail.
If animated GIF-to-WebP output is still on an old installation, update to 1.2.2 or later, which fixes a first-frame-only bug. Then check the target preset and playback as described below.
Match the output to the destination
| Destination | Start with | Check |
|---|---|---|
| A website that accepts animated WebP | WebP | Animation, timing, transparency and quality |
| A service that specifically asks for GIF | GIF | Color loss, edge quality and file size |
| An animation requiring PNG-style alpha | APNG | That the receiving application actually animates APNG |
| A static thumbnail | PNG or JPG | That you intentionally wanted one frame |
| A video player | MP4 or another offered video route | FFmpeg availability, playback and background |
A format supporting animation does not mean every image in that format is animated. Check the source in a viewer that plays it, and check the destination service's current requirements. Renaming .webp to .gif does not convert the contents.
Convert a short sample first
- Copy one animated source into a test folder.
- Drop it into Filee and select an animated output preset, such as WebP or GIF.
- For WebP, inspect the preset's lossless option. A lossy preset discards some image detail; enable lossless if you need to preserve the source pixels.
- Convert, then open the output in a browser or application that supports that animated format.
- Watch a complete loop and inspect a frame with fine edges or transparency.
Lossless WebP describes image encoding, not a promise that the result is smaller than the input or that an earlier lossy source regains detail. GIF also has a different color model from full-color WebP. When comparing, look at gradients, semi-transparent edges and text rather than only whether something moves.
Why did I get one still picture?
First check the selected preset's target, not only the input filename. Non-animated image targets get the first frame. Ordinary PNG output and APNG output have different purposes, even though an APNG can sometimes have a .png filename.
Then check Filee's version. A report from before 1.2.2 can describe the old GIF/WebP bug. Update from official releases if that is your case, but do not assume every remaining problem shares that cause.
Finally, open the exported file in another animation-capable viewer. A thumbnail or unsupported preview can show the first frame even when the file itself contains an animation. If the output still appears static, keep a shareable short example and record source type, target preset and version for a report.
Transparency and video are separate choices
JPG cannot retain alpha. EPS/PS to PNG transparency was fixed in 1.6.0. Use PNG when alpha matters. For logos, inspect both light and dark backgrounds so a flattened edge is visible.
Converting animated images to video uses FFmpeg. Converting an ordinary photo to a video does not animate its subject: the output is a five-second still picture. When you need a demonstration extracted from an existing video, read video conversion and frame extraction; that route has its own frame and disk-space considerations.
A useful output check
Play the whole animation, compare its speed and final frame, and test one loop in the receiving app. Inspect transparent borders and small text at actual viewing size. Check bytes only after those checks pass. Keep the source until the uploaded or embedded copy behaves as intended.