Animated gif not importing

[zaphodikus]

I created an animated gif in another program - and wanted to import it into my timeline

When you choose "import video..." CS says it cannot import the file, with the normal error message that really gives you no clues.
When you drag-drop the file to timeline, it imports it, but seems to me like it imports as an image, but also in a way that VS pretty much hangs for about half a minute and still only ever imports the 1st frame in the gif. Trying to ecit the clip in the timeline results in VS hanging for almost a minute, so easy to reproduce the problem.

I created this using ffmpeg, so no idea why it's a struggle as it's only a 268x172 image animation

[lata]

No problem importing that video to 2021, to the library or timelines
Plays without error.

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, I also have no trouble either importing or playing that animated gif. I first saved your file to my Videos folder. Then, in VS, right clicked in the library window, went to Insert Media Files, and browsed to the Videos folder. Selected your file, and it opened normally. Then I dragged and dropped it into the timeline, where it played normally. I also tried right clicking in the timeline by itself, and selected Insert Video File. Browsed to Videos, selected your file and it opened in the timeline and played normally.

[rwernyei]

You need QT or QT alternative software that installs codecs so VSP can identify and support animated GIF.
https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/qt_lite.html

[Ken Berry]

That may be so, but I am using a brand new computer which is two days old. It has no QT or equivalent on it as yet, and indeed the only Corel product is Video Studio 2021. I have not had time so far to install any other video editing programs from other companies, though will do so in coming days. Yet, as I say, the animated gif inserts and plays properly in my VS.

EDIT: Mind you, thinking about it, one of the first things I *did* install on this new computer was VLC player. That does a wide variety of things, and can play just about anything. So I wonder if that has provided the link...?

[rwernyei]

As with most new desktops and laptops, retailers bundle bloatware which may have installed the necessary codecs for VSP. Media players, third-party codec packs, etc. too! If the OP tries and installs QT or an alternative and it works then it would only suggest VSP needs QT. If it does not work for him, he can simply delete it. I'm a betting man and past Ulead/Corel products required QT for animation GIF support. In this case I'm pretty confident I'm right. Let's see how this plays out.

[Ken Berry]

Just to note, this is not a retail computer. I got a tech in Wellington to build me a computer to spec. And no bloatware was installed, just an unlicensed version of Win 10 Pro. I bought a licence when I first started the computer on Monday... But yes, I agree Zaphodikus should try installing the version of QT which only installs the codec and not the player which is said by Apple to cause problems.

[rwernyei]

Yes he should install QT to get animated GIF support. Regarding your scenario, best to install a third-party application to check all installed codecs. You'll find you got QT codecs installed somewhere.

[Ken Berry]

Yes, I've already tested it in VS and easily produced a new .mov clip in Share. So pretty obiously VS has access to the QT codec...

[rwernyei]

Then why did you try to represent that you were able to play animated GIFs magically without the codec installed on your new custom build? The point is, you do not know how you got QT installed on your system but it exists AND VSP is using it. So again I am right, QT or an alternative needs to be installed for animated GIF support in VSP just as it has always been in the past with Ulead products. That's my Moderator knowledge kicking in.

[zaphodikus]

Wow.
That is cool, that so many people tested this. Good to know this should work. A thing to note, this gif plays fine in a browser, but the bottom 10% was chopped in Windows media Player, that was another clue something was not quite good. That had me mystified while I was building the gif.

Based on my last issue with the PNG files I re-installed on a new SSD just before Xmas day, so I "probably" do not have the QT codecs, and I did suspect some codec/decodec might be omitted. I'm going to give that angle a good try right now.

[zaphodikus]

Solved!
Installed https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/qt_lite.html ,thanks @rwernyei
imports the gif instantly now. Aha! I did not install VLC yet, that I believe would have installed the QT codecs as well, I normally install VLC because VLC often loads videos much quicker than MediaPlayer does even with analytics and online disabled.

[Ken Berry]

Glad to hear it, Zaphodikus!

Robert -- I've taken up your suggestion an installed a couple of third party programs to scan what codecs are on my new computer. I attach a large one from Installed Codecs, which seemed to be a recommended program. I also used Sherlock which gave much the same result. But I would value your comments on which of the listed codecs might have permitted me to play that animated gif. I don't see anything from QT, Apple, .mov or even Sorensen which I believe the QT codec is occasionally known by... There are a handful of other codecs below the bottom of this shot, starting with V and W, though they also don't appear to be relevant here. The W ones appear to be related to WMV video.

[rwernyei]

Zaphodikus,
Glad to hear the QT Lite install worked for you.

Ken,
Without knowing what your tech did, your new edit including VLC install and a full screenshot of all codecs it's hard to say where you received the necessary codecs for VSP to correctly identify and properly use animated GIF. What we do know is that exists on your system and it is required to get the most out of Ulead/Corel products. POOF!

[Ken Berry]

You can't make the InstalledCodecs screen any larger, but I thought you might want to see everything, so I do have the remainder of that page showing the remaining V's and W's (which as far as I can see relate to WMV...)