How to Create Animated GIFs in LA Photo Party (Basic & Advanced)

Animated GIFs are a fun way to bring motion and style to photo booth captures. In LA Photo Party’s Photo Booth Upload module, you can configure both simple and advanced GIFs — with background images, overlays, and frame-by-frame settings. Below is a complete guide to walk you through the process.


1. Open the GIF Settings Panel

  1. Launch Photo Booth Upload.

  2. Press S on your keyboard to open the Settings menu.

  3. Go to the GIF tab.

Here you’ll find the controls for creating new GIFs or editing existing ones.



2. Start a New GIF

  • Click “Make New GIF.”

  • A configuration dialog will open with several setup options.




3. Name & Import Assets

  • Name your GIF with something descriptive.

  • If you want to include backgrounds and/or overlays:

    • Click Load Bulk to import all background JPEGs first, then your overlay PNGs.

    • The system will organize them into a folder under your GIF in the Green Screen tab.

  • If you are using only backgrounds or only overlays, you’ll be prompted to cancel the upload of the other type (if you don’t need it)




Note: If you import unequal numbers of backgrounds vs overlays, a warning will appear — but it will still function properly.


4. Define Frame Count & Link Assets

  • After importing, the Frame # column populates based on how many assets you uploaded (backgrounds and overlays).

  • If you're not using any assets, you can manually set Number of Pictures (frames) in the top-left of the dialog.

  • For each frame, you can specify:

    • Which Green Screen folder / background to use (or select “None”).

    • Whether to Take a Photo, Don’t Take a Photo, or Use Other Frame’s Photo (reuse an earlier frame’s shot).



5. Adjust Playback Speed

  • Under the Name field, use Frames Per Second (FPS) to control how fast your GIF plays. A higher FPS results in smoother motion; a lower FPS gives a slower effect.





6. Save & Apply the GIF

  • Click OK in the configuration dialog to confirm.

  • Back in the main GIF Mode section, choose either Auto Apply or User Select.

  • Click the thumbnail of your new GIF to select it.

  • Click OK again to save your settings and make the GIF active.


7. (Advanced) Adjust Photo Holder Placement per Frame

If you want the subject (guest) to appear to move or shift with the background, you can tweak the photo holder position and size on a per-frame basis — but only when using Green Screen frames.

Steps:

  1. In PBU Settings, go to the Green Screen tab.

  2. Find the folder corresponding to your GIF and double-click it.

  3. For each Green Screen frame:

    • Double-click the frame to open the edit window.

    • Select the photo holder:

      • Drag anywhere on it to reposition.

      • Drag the green circle handle to rotate or scale.

    • Use keyboard shortcuts for fine adjustments:

      • Z / X to rotate

      • N / M to resize

      • Arrow keys to move

      • C to center the holder

    • Click OK to save the changes for that frame.

  4. You can also copy settings (size, position, rotation):

    • Right-click one frame, choose Copy Settings.

    • Then paste into another frame or Set All to apply to all frames.

Be sure to save settings (click OK) after you finish editing.


8. Final Tips & Examples

  • Preview your finalized GIF by capturing a test image.

  • Experiment with different assets, frame counts, and FPS values to see what gives you the best effect.

  • Use the advanced holder‑placement feature if you want dynamic motion or interactions with animated backgrounds.

  • The support article includes visual examples to guide your design. 1