How to make GIF stickers from your photos

A still sticker is fine. A sticker that bounces, wiggles or takes a bow is better. This guide shows how to make GIF stickers from your own photos with PAPLO, what files you get, and the built-in animated option on iPhone.

How do I make a GIF sticker from a photo?

Cut out your photo as a sticker first, then pick it in PAPLO’s GIF tool and give it a motion. PAPLO is a phone app for iPhone (iOS 15.5 or later) and Android (7.0 or later). It is on the App Store and Google Play.

1. Make your stickers. Tap Import photos or Take a photo, and let PAPLO cut them out on your phone.
2. Open the Make menu and choose GIF. Its hint reads “Make stickers move”.
3. Choose 1 to 12 stickers. They play in the order you pick them.
4. Open the Motion tab and set a motion for each sticker. Apply to all gives every sticker the same one.
5. Open Effect to add an effect to the whole GIF.
6. Open Background to pick a color, a photo or a scene.
7. Open Text to add a caption. If you write 2 to 3 lines, they take turns.
8. Open Settings for Play, Speed and Layout.
9. Preview the GIF, then tap Send.

What do the GIF tabs do?

• Motion. Each sticker can have its own motion and intensity.
• Effect. One effect applies to the whole GIF. You can choose None.
• Background. Colors, a photo or a scene. Clear is there too.
• Text. A caption of 2 to 3 lines that take turns.
• Add-ons. Little extras you place on the GIF, each with its own motion.
• Settings. Play, Speed for the whole GIF, and Layout. Re-arrange stickers re-deals the layout and clears any pins.

PAPLO may suggest backgrounds for your sticker. If you pick a clear background, note that some apps show transparent GIFs on white.

What is the difference between Together and Take turns?

In Settings, under Play, Together shows all your stickers at once. Take turns shows one sticker at a time in the middle, each with its own motion. Use Together for a group shot where everyone dances. Use Take turns for a roll call or a reaction sequence.

How do I send or save the GIF?

Tap Send when you are done. You get three choices:

• Send to chat sends the GIF to a chat app.
• Save GIF saves it as a GIF file.
• Save video saves an MP4 video.

The GIF is 480 pixels wide. How a particular chat app plays or loops a GIF is up to that app, so test with one chat before you send it to a big group.

Does PAPLO make animated WhatsApp sticker packs?

No, and it is better to know up front. PAPLO exports GIF and MP4. It does not make animated WhatsApp sticker packs. The packs PAPLO sends to WhatsApp and Telegram are still stickers. If you want a moving reaction, send the GIF to the chat instead.

Is there a built-in way on iPhone?

Yes, for Live Photos. A Live Photo is a short moving clip. In iOS 17 and later you can turn one into a sticker from the Photos app, and Apple says you can make animated stickers from them.

1. Open a Live Photo in Photos.
2. Touch and hold the subject, then let go and tap Add Sticker.
3. Choose how the sticker looks. Live Photos keep their animation, and the options depend on your iOS version. Check Apple’s guide for the current steps.

Apple’s guides are in Sources. This route is quick, but it is limited to Live Photos on iPhone. PAPLO lets you make a moving sticker from any still photo, put up to 12 stickers in one GIF and add captions. See the iPhone guide for more on Live Stickers.

For caption ideas on a moving reaction, browse Skill Issue, a 24-sticker pack that is part of PAPLO Plus; the pack itself is still stickers, not GIFs.

What does it cost?

Making GIFs is free and unlimited. Each catalog has free items, and the rest are part of PAPLO Plus. That includes some GIF effects and scenes. Plus is a single optional purchase with no subscription. Sending is always free. PAPLO has no ads, no account and no watermark. For the full picture, read the no-subscription checklist.

Tips for a good GIF sticker

• Start from a clean cutout. If the edge is rough, use Erase and Restore under Cut-out in the sticker editor first. The cutout guide explains how.
• Keep it to a few stickers. Three or four read better than twelve.
• Keep captions short.
• Use a plain background if you want people to see the motion.

Need help? Visit support or browse all guides.