Custom spinning vinyl GIF from your cover art
A spinning vinyl GIF is the format that plays where video will not: Discord, Slack, forums, Reddit, blog posts, README files and email signatures. Upload one square image and get a custom, looping record GIF with your artwork on the label — free with an account, no card, no plan.
It is the same engine as the vinyl video maker, tuned for GIF: shorter clips, smaller pixel sizes and a loop that repeats forever by design.
How to make a spinning vinyl GIF
- Upload your cover. 800×800 px is plenty for GIF — larger files are simply downscaled. Separate art can go on the record label.
- Style the record. Layout, background, shadow and speed. Keep it simple: flat backgrounds reproduce best in GIF’s 256-color palette.
- Pick a size. 320 px for Discord and email signatures, 480 px for most posts, 720 px for crisp desktop viewing.
- Set the length. Up to 10 seconds — shorter means a smaller file, and GIF grows fast.
- Create and download. Free with an account, unlimited GIFs, each saved to your Downloads automatically.
GIF or MP4 — which should you use?
| Spinning vinyl GIF | Spinning vinyl video (MP4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best places | Discord, Slack, forums, blogs, email | Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook |
| Sound | × Never — GIF has no audio | ✓ Your MP3 clip, muxed in |
| Length | Up to 10 s | Up to 60 s |
| Colors | 256 per frame (dithered) | Full color |
| File size | Larger for the same clip | Much smaller, sharper |
| Price | ✓ Free with an account | Plan from €4.99/mo |
Short version: if the platform accepts video, use MP4. If it does not — or you want something you can paste into a chat with no upload flow — GIF wins. A spinning CD GIF works the same way for Y2K releases.
Free tool, Studio polish
Everything needed for a clean GIF is free with an account: all layouts, formats, sizes, palette backgrounds, shadows, speed and the perfect loop. The extras that make a release look designed — mesh gradient backgrounds, plastic shrink-wrap, your own logo, and the Glossy, Color wax and Marble pressings — are Studio, marked with a crown in the editor. Try them in the live preview before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GIF maker really free?
Yes — create an account and make unlimited spinning vinyl GIFs at no cost, no card and no plan. Studio effects (gradients, plastic wrap, logo, Glossy/Wax/Marble finishes) are marked with a crown and need a Studio plan; everything else is free.
Why do I need an account for a free tool?
The account holds your Downloads archive, so your GIFs are still there when you come back — and it lets us keep the tool free without per-session limits. One click with Google.
How long can a GIF be?
Up to 10 seconds. GIF is a heavy format — a 10 s clip at 480 px already weighs several megabytes. For anything longer, render an MP4 instead.
Which size should I pick?
320 px for email signatures, avatars and Discord; 480 px is the sweet spot for most posts; 720 px looks crisp on desktop but the file grows fast — keep those to 3–5 s.
How do I keep the file size down?
Three levers, in order of impact: shorten the duration, drop to 320 or 480 px, and prefer a flat background over a photo. A 5 s, 480 px GIF typically lands between 2 and 5 MB.
Does the GIF loop seamlessly?
Yes — GIFs loop forever by design, and Perfect loop snaps the speed to whole rotations so the last frame lands exactly on the first.
Can I add music to a GIF?
No — the GIF format has no audio track at all. That is the format, not the tool. For sound, use the vinyl or CD video maker, which mux your MP3 clip into the MP4.
Can I make a spinning CD GIF too?
Yes — switch the disc style at the top of the editor and the same GIF export gives you a spinning disc with rainbow shine instead of a record.
Why do colors look slightly different in the GIF?
GIF supports only 256 colors per frame, so smooth gradients get dithered. Flat, punchy backgrounds reproduce best; for perfect color fidelity, export MP4.
What resolution should my cover art be?
800×800 px is plenty even at 720 px output. Larger will not hurt (it is downscaled) but brings no benefit. Save as sRGB JPG or PNG.
Where does my GIF go after it is made?
Straight into My downloads on your account, automatically — make several in a row and collect them all there. You can delete any file yourself at any time.
What are the background textures?
Studio overlays laid transparently over any background — film grain, speckles or dust — found in the Look section. Pick one of the numbered tiles (hover to preview) or the ✕ tile for none. They render into the video exactly as previewed.
Can I use the GIFs commercially?
Yes — releases, promos, client work and merch pages. You must own or have licensed the artwork you upload.