We've all heard the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words." Sometimes, an image alone isn't enough. In those cases, some folks might add text, or substitute a video. And sometimes, an animated .gif captures things quite nicely.
"Hush, Fred. Just ... Hush."
But for a rather unique, sometimes fun / sometimes biting effect, a morph might be just the way to go.
There are free software packages that enable you to take two similarly-sized images and add special effects or create morphs - as well as a variety of distortions, animations, amalgamations and whatnots.
This isn't going to be an exhaustive post about it - just a quick hit, and an invitation for people to chime in on any other tools they use (tho please let folks know what platforms you're using - Windows, Linux, MacOS, etc.).
Ready?
The image morph above was created using a program called SqirlzMorph by xiberpix. There are several really cool programs they offer to help create a variety of effects - check out their site here to take a look and try 'em out.
I've used Sqirlz Morph for years - there are quite likely some online alternatives and quite probably a zillion or so competing options and alternatives now, but this program's easy to use for quick yet effective morphs.
With regard to simply animating .gifs, there's an even larger set of ever-expanding options - I used a Microsoft freebie called Microsoft GIF Animator to create this image animation:
I've seen other online .gif reproductions, too, tho you can see the original set of non-animated images (which include more mugshots than those I put into the .gif) as they originally appeared
here and read an article about the exhibit
here.
There are basic programs many folks have access to - either at home or at libraries - that can also produce animations - I posted a short tutorial not long ago on the topic, and even created a short animated slideshow for a fellow Kossack to serve as an example of how these neat graphic options can be simply and effectively put to use for anyone in the Kos Katalog (or anywhere else for that matter).
Chime in below to tell us what programs (and associated platforms) you've used, esp. if they're little-to-no cost to the user and easy to learn & create with.
Help spread the magic and knowledge a little bit further.
Thank you.