Hy Local Guides, 
Have you noticed the dynamic, animated banners on Connect lately? Adding a bit of movement to your posts is a brilliant way to highlight your adventures or make your valuable posts stand out.
Have you seen this animation of the old Local Guides logo transitioning into the fresh new look? It is a perfect example of how animation can make an announcement feel more alive!
We talked about adding GIFs on Connect in a previous post, but a lot has changed since then. The process has become much more user-friendly & you no longer need to loop the GIF manually to get it to play automatically in the feed.
Create a GIF 
You don’t need specialized software to make an animation; most modern tools and devices have these features built-in.
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Directly from your Camera
: Most modern mobile devices now have a feature to capture GIFs directly within the camera app. This is a great way to quickly share a “live” moment from a meetup or a beautiful location. -
Add Animation
: Alternatively, you can insert pre-animated graphics into your design or take a static photo and animate the text or elements within it. Most editing applications have features to upload animated assets or apply motion to a graphic. -
Export File
: Once you are finished editing, download the file specifically in .gif or GIF format. -
Manage File Size
: The maximum file size for a GIF on Connect is 10 MB but maximum size for GIF for a smooth loading on our device is 4 MB. -
Pro-Tip for Quality
: Remember that more animation means a larger file size. To avoid downloading in lower quality just to stay under the limit, you can download your file as an .mp4 file first and then convert that video into a GIF. Most editing applications include a feature to convert MP4 to GIF directly, which often results in a cleaner animation for the platform.
Using Short Videos 
If you have a quick clip you want to show the community - like a short pan of a landscape or a brief moment from a meetup, you can also upload videos as GIFs (if you don’t want sound) directly if they are under 10 seconds. This is a great option if you want to show a visual moment where you don’t need sound.
Where Can You Use GIFs? 
Animations aren’t just for post. You can add them to:
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Meetup Banners
: Make your meetups stand out in the community calendar. -
Profile Header
: Personalize your profile page with a bit of motion. -
Signature
: While local guides are currently reporting issues with signature GIFs not showing up, it is a great way to leave a memorable media with your signature, once the issue has been resolved.
The New Playback Experience 
Previously, we had to use specific edits to ensure a GIF would play automatically in Connect. Currently, the platform’s updated interface recognizes the format instantly. Once uploaded, your GIF will play on a loop without any extra manual settings required.
Adding the GIFs to your Post
Adding an animation is just as easy as adding a standard photo:
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Upload
: In the post editor, click the Insert Image icon. -
Select
: Choose your file from your device. -
Size & Caption ©️: Choose the size of your GIF after uploading & add captions (as same as for photo/video).
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Positioning
:- As a Banner: If you place the GIF at the very top of your post, it will act as the “Cover Media” on the Connect homepage.
- In-Body: Place them between paragraphs to act as visual “milestones” for your story.
Important Guidelines 
When sharing any media (photo, video, and/or GIF) on Connect, please ensure you are following the official community standards:
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Connect Community Guidelines
: Ensure your content aligns with the guidelines of Connect. -
Media Sharing Guidelines
: Always review the specific guidelines for media to ensure your content is helpful, relevant & high-quality.
Have you tried using animations or direct camera GIFs in your meetup banners or posts yet? I love to see how you are using them to bring your stories to life 
.
