How to Change the Color of a .GIF File

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Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) image files do double-duty. They're a common choice for standard image saving, but GIFs may also be animated, such as in collections called "blinkies" and "sparklies" used for icons and avatars. After creating a GIF, you're not locked into its appearance. As long as you maintain an original copy of the image file, you can change a version of it to suit your new color preferences as much as desired. A variety of software programs provide quick ways to change GIF colors.

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With Photoshop

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Step 1

Open Photoshop, click "File" and click "Open." Pull down the "Files of type" menu and select "CompuServe GIF" to narrow the search. Double-click the GIF to change color.

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Step 2

Pull down the "Image" menu. Click "Adjustments." Click "Hue/Saturation." Slide the "Hue" bar to the left and right to cycle through the colors of the rainbow.

Step 3

Click "OK" when satisfied with the new GIF color.

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With Word

Step 1

Open Microsoft Word. Click the "Insert" tab. Click the "Picture" button on the ribbon. Locate the GIF and double-click the name of the file.

Step 2

Click once on the GIF to open the new pink "Picture Tools" tab at the top of the workspace.

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Step 3

Click the "Recolor" button on the left side of the "Picture Tools" ribbon. Without clicking, hover the cursor over all of the recoloring options to see them reflected in the GIF. Click an actual option to commit the color change.

With Paint

Step 1

Open Paint. Click the Paint button. Click "Open." Navigate to the GIF and double-click it.

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Step 2

Choose a small colored box in the "Colors" section of the ribbon. Click the "Brushes" button and click the first button, "Brush."

Step 3

Position the brush over part of the picture to recolor, such as the sky. Paint the area a new color with the brush. If desired, switch to a new color in the "Colors" section and continue recoloring the GIF.

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