What is Cinemagraph Maker?

Cinemagraph Maker turns a video clip into a cinemagraph — a still image where only a selected region moves in a seamless loop. Use them for social media posts, website headers, or anywhere a subtle animation stands out.

The masking workflow is what makes this work. You scrub through the clip, freeze a single sharp frame as the still backdrop, then paint over the part you want to keep moving (steam, hair, water, flickering neon). Everything outside the mask stays frozen forever; everything inside loops cleanly. Export as GIF for inline use or WebM when you need smaller files and longer clips.

How to use

1. Upload a short video clip (ideally shot on a tripod so the background stays still).
2. Paint a mask over the area you want to keep animated — everything outside the mask freezes.
3. Set the loop duration and export as an animated GIF or WebM video.

When to use

• Product shots where you want steam, water, or wind to draw the eye without distracting motion.
• Email or landing page hero images that need to feel alive without autoplaying a full video.
• Social posts that loop in-feed and catch the eye between static photos and 15-second reels.

Result

A coffee shop owner uploads a 3-second clip of a latte with steam rising. They mask only the steam area, freeze the rest of the image, and export a looping GIF for their Instagram post.

FAQ

How long should the source clip be?

Two to four seconds works best. Long enough for the moving part to feel natural, short enough that the loop point isn't obvious. Anything beyond six seconds becomes a heavy GIF and the looping motion starts to feel mechanical.

Why does my background look slightly different in each loop?

The camera probably moved during the recording. Cinemagraphs need a locked-off shot, so use a tripod or set the phone on a stable surface. Even a millimetre of drift makes the frozen area wobble against the moving region.

GIF or WebM, which export should I pick?

GIF if you need it to play inside email, Slack, or Twitter without a player. WebM if the destination supports it (Discord, modern websites), because the file is roughly five times smaller at the same visible quality.

My mask edges look harsh. How do I soften them?

Lower the Hardness slider to feather the brush rim, and drop the Opacity slider to build the mask up gradually. Hard, full-opacity edges suit clear silhouettes (a coffee cup, a window frame); soft, low-hardness edges blend hair, smoke, and water cleanly.

Is there a file size limit on uploads?

Up to 500 MB per clip. The video is decoded inside your device for masking and export, so nothing is uploaded to a server. Bigger files mean longer decode times on phones.

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