slack-gif-creator_skill

Overview

This skill is a toolkit for creating animated GIFs optimized specifically for Slack message and emoji use. It bundles validators that check Slack size and dimension constraints, composable animation primitives (shake, bounce, spin, etc.), and helper utilities for text, color, and optimization. Use it to produce Slack-ready reaction GIFs or compact emoji animations from high-level descriptions.

How this skill works

You assemble frames using provided primitives (shake, bounce, spin, pulse, explode, move, kaleidoscope, etc.), then feed frames into the GIFBuilder which performs color quantization, duplicate-frame removal, and aggressive optimizations for emoji mode. Validators check dimensions, frame count, duration, color limits, and final file size so you can iterate until the GIF meets Slack’s limits. The save and validation APIs return metadata (size_kb, frame_count, duration_seconds) and boolean pass/fail flags.

When to use it

• Creating message GIFs for Slack channels (480×480, up to ~2MB).
• Producing Slack emoji animations that must fit under 64KB and small dimensions.
• Rapidly prototyping animated reactions from text prompts or design sketches.
• Composing complex motion by combining primitives (bounce + shake, spin + fade).
• Optimizing existing GIFs to meet Slack upload constraints.

Best practices

• Start with the target mode (message vs emoji) to pick dimensions, FPS, and color budget before building frames.
• For emoji GIFs, be aggressive: 10–12 frames, 32–48 colors, solid colors (no gradients), and optimize_for_emoji=True.
• Compose motion via small primitives rather than heavy frame-by-frame drawing to retain clarity and compressibility.
• Validate often during iteration using validate_gif or check_slack_size to avoid wasted rendering time.
• Use text outlines and large contrast when adding text; consider removing text for emoji-sized outputs.

Example use cases

• Make a 1–2s pulsing reaction emoji (128×128, 10–12 FPS) for use as a Slack emoji.
• Create a 3–4s looping message GIF (480×480, 15–20 FPS) demonstrating a product feature for a channel post.
• Combine bounce + shake + particle burst to make an impact animation for celebration messages.
• Optimize an existing GIF by reducing colors, removing duplicate frames, and lowering dimensions to pass the 64KB emoji limit.