How to Split a GIF into Frames (Save as PNG or JPG)
Extract every frame of a GIF as a full PNG or JPG image — pick the frames you want, see their timing, and download them singly or as a ZIP. Free, no upload.
3 min read ·
To split a GIF into frames, open the GIF Splitter and add the GIF. Every frame appears as a full picture with its timing. Choose PNG or JPG under Save as, tick the frames you want (or Select all), and press Download … frames (ZIP) — or download any single frame with its own button.
Split a GIF step by step
- Open the GIF Splitter.
- Add the GIF — or an animated WebP or PNG.
- Check the GIF details: size, number of frames, length, frame rate and how many times it plays.
- Choose Save as: PNG (keeps transparency) or JPG (smaller, white background).
- Pick frames: Select all, Select none, tick them one by one, or choose Every 2nd / 3rd / 5th / 10th frame for long GIFs.
- Press Download … frames (ZIP), or use Download frame N for a single one.
Full frames, even from optimised GIFs
Many GIFs store only the pixels that change from frame to frame, to save space. Opening those frames in some programs shows strange fragments. The splitter rebuilds every frame exactly as it appears in the animation, so each image is complete.
What people use GIF frames for
- The perfect still from a reaction GIF — for a profile picture, a thumbnail or a meme.
- Editing frames in a drawing app, then rebuilding the GIF with the GIF Maker.
- Video editing — import the frames as an image sequence.
- Stickers and emojis from a single frame.
- Studying animation — see exactly how an animation is built, frame by frame, with timings.
- Documentation — screenshots of each step of a tutorial GIF.
PNG or JPG?
| PNG | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Exact | Very good |
| Transparency | Kept | White background |
| Size | Larger | Smaller |
| Best for | Editing, stickers, pixel art | Sharing, thumbnails |
Reading the GIF details
The details panel is useful on its own:
- Frames and Length tell you how long the animation really is.
- Frame rate shows how smooth it is — around 10 frames a second is typical; 25 or more is video-smooth.
- Plays shows whether it loops forever or stops after a number of plays.
- Size is the width and height in pixels.
If a GIF seems slower than it should be, check the frame rate: frames shorter than 0.02 s are slowed down to 0.1 s by browsers, which the details reveal.
Tips for long GIFs
A 10-second GIF at 25 frames a second has 250 frames — more stills than you'll ever need. Choose Every 5th frame or Every 10th frame to pick a manageable set, then untick any blurry ones before downloading.
The reverse: frames back to an animation
- Pictures to a GIF: the GIF Maker (put them in order, set the timing).
- A sprite sheet (all frames in one grid image) for game engines and CSS: the Sprite Sheet to GIF converter goes both ways.
Editing frames without exporting
If you only need to delete, reorder or retime frames, the GIF Frame Editor does it directly — no export needed.
Privacy
The GIF is decoded in your browser and the images are made there; nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How are the files named?
By the GIF's name and a three-digit frame number — party-frame-001.png, party-frame-002.png — so they sort correctly in any folder or editor. The ZIP is named party-frames.zip.
Can I split a video into frames?
Use Video Screenshot to save frames from a video at full resolution.
Is there a frame limit?
Very long or large GIFs are limited by your device's memory; for those, choose "every 2nd" or "every 5th" frame.