The satisfying un-spill
Reverse a pour or a splash and the liquid seems to leap back into the glass.
Reversing clips and making boomerangs
Play something backwards and it tells a different story. Spilled coffee jumps back into the cup. Someone lands a jump before they've taken off. A boomerang goes forward and then back, which is exactly why it loops so smoothly: the end leads straight back into the start.
Both effects need the whole selection held in memory while it's flipped, so there's a limit. By default it's about 40 seconds at 15fps, or 60 at 10fps. You'll rarely get near it, because the best reversed clips are two to four seconds long anyway.
With a boomerang, the turning frame isn't shown twice, so there's no little stutter where it changes direction. You can also mix direction with speed. A slowed-down reverse looks surprisingly dramatic.
- 1
Add your GIF or video
Drop it in or paste it, then trim it to a short moment.
- 2
Open the Edit tab
Under Direction, pick Reverse. Or Boomerang, if you want it to go forward and back.
- 3
Adjust the speed
Slow it down or speed it up if you like. The result length updates as you go.
- 4
Convert
Check the estimate (a boomerang has twice the frames) and download.
Settings that work for common jobs
Treat these as a first try, not a rule. The size estimate tells you quickly whether to nudge them up or down.
| If you're making | Try | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Classic backwards clip | Reverse · 480px · 15fps · 2 to 4 seconds | Short, punchy, and still small. |
| Seamless loop | Boomerang · 480px · 15fps · 1 to 2 seconds | Doubles into a 2 to 4 second loop. |
| Dramatic reveal | Reverse · speed 0.5× | Slowing it down really sells the effect. |
| Small and shareable | Boomerang · 320px · 10fps · Smallest | Keeps a doubled clip light enough to send. |
Where this comes in handy
Fixing a loop that jumps
A wave or a jump that ends far from where it started looks jarring on repeat. Boomerang it and the jump disappears.
A slow-motion reveal
Put Reverse together with half speed and an object looks like it's building itself.
Common mistakes, and what to do instead
- Picking a clip with text or a clock in itBackwards writing gives the trick away instantly. Choose a moment with nothing readable in it.
- Boomeranging a long clipThe result is twice as long. Trim it to a second or two first.
- Forgetting that the preview plays forwardsThe preview can't show the reversal. Convert it, then check the result.
Common problems and quick fixes
I get a message about the length limit
Reverse and boomerang have a frame limit. Shorten the selection or drop the frame rate.
The boomerang jumps at the turn
Fast movement right at the turning point makes it more obvious. Trim to a calmer moment.
The file is twice as big
A boomerang has twice the frames. Trim it, or lower the width and frame rate.
The preview isn't reversed
The preview always plays forwards. The export is reversed, so check it once it's converted.
What it looks like
These are real screenshots from this site, taken with a demo clip. Your own file will give different sizes, but the controls are exactly these.
Which format to choose
A boomerang doubles the number of frames, so the format you pick makes a bigger difference here than usual.
| Format | For this clip | Typical size | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| WebPSuggested | Loops on its own and keeps a boomerang small and colourful. | About 5× smaller | Full colour, animated, loops |
| GIF | Plays everywhere, but a doubled clip gets big quickly. Keep it short. | Largest | 256 colours, up to 720px and 20fps |
| MP4 | The smallest, though you'll have to loop it in the player. | About 15× smaller | Up to 1080px and 30fps, no loop flag |
| APNG | Lossless but heavy, and a boomerang doubles that. | Larger than GIF | Lossless, full colour, loops |
Reverse GIF questions
Can’t find yours? The converter explains problems in plain language as they come up.
What's the difference between reverse and boomerang?
Reverse plays the clip backwards once. Boomerang plays it forwards and then backwards, which makes a smooth loop that never seems to end.
How long can a reversed clip be?
By default, about 40 seconds at 15fps or 60 at 10fps. Short ones look better though.
Will it still loop?
Yep. Loop forever is on by default.
Can I reverse and slow it down?
Yes, pick a speed in the Edit tab as well as the direction.
Does it work with videos as well as GIFs?
It does. MP4, MOV, WebM and GIF can all be reversed.
Other conversions
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