A desktop tool for compositing multi-layer animated GIFs. Combine background layers, foreground effects, and sprites into a single animation with precise control over timing, positioning, and transparency.
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Multi-layer compositing -- Stack multiple animation layers with independent timing, visibility toggles, and per-layer transparent color selection. Layers are automatically synchronized so animations with different frame counts blend correctly.
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Drag-to-position layer offsets -- Click and drag layers in the preview to position them on the canvas.
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Frame browser -- Reorder frames via drag-and-drop, duplicate or delete individual frames, and hide frames from the output without removing them.
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PSD import -- Import Photoshop files with full layer hierarchy. Choose to import selected layers/groups as animation frames on one layer or as separate compositing layers.
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APNG import -- Import animated PNGs with frame selection. Supports all disposal and blend modes. Choose to import selected frames as animation frames or as separate layers.
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Animated preview -- Real-time preview of the composited animation with checkerboard transparency visualization.
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Chromakey removal -- Click colors in the palette panel to mark them as transparent per-layer. Useful for keying out background colors from indexed-color sprites.
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GIF export -- Export with 1x--16x upscaling (nearest neighbor, bilinear, or bicubic interpolation) and built-in optimization for global color tables where all frames share the same palette.
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| PNG sequences | Numbered files (1.png, 2.png, ...) loaded in natural sort order |
| APNG | Animated PNG with frame selection dialog; preserves embedded timing |
| GIF | Extracts frames with correct disposal handling; preserves embedded timing |
| PSD | Layers and groups via Photoshop import dialog |
| BMP, JPEG | Single frames or multi-select |
| TIFF | Single or multi-select |
| WebP | Single or multi-select |
| TGA | Single or multi-select |
| ICO, CUR | Single or multi-select (via BMP plugin) |
| ICNS | Single or multi-select |
| PCX | Single or multi-select |
| PICT | Single or multi-select |
| PNM (PBM, PGM, PPM, PAM, PFM) | Single or multi-select |
| SGI (RGB) | Single or multi-select |
| HDR (Radiance RGBE) | Single or multi-select |
- Java 21+
./gradlew :app:run
Download the latest release zip, extract it, and run:
composegif.bat
The release includes a bundled JRE -- no separate Java installation required.
./gradlew :app:jar
Produces app/build/libs/composegif.jar (fat JAR with all dependencies).
Requires JRE_TARGET environment variable pointing to a JDK 21+ installation:
export JRE_TARGET=$JAVA_HOME
./gradlew :app:dist
This creates a jlink custom runtime alongside the fat JAR under app/build/.
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.