Longtion GIF Animator

For a pure shareware application, Longtion GIF Animator shows surprising polish. The installer makes a good first impression, running quickly and offering to launch the program. The application interface is well-executed; it hides obscure commands in the menus and places more common ones on the toolbar in the form of large, attractive buttons, well-marked with tool tips. Individual animation frames run vertically on the left side. Clicking a frame calls it up in the Compose window, where you can modify it with a standard set of drawing and painting tools. Another click switches you to the Preview window for a look at the finished animation. However, the lack of a step-by-step wizard means you may have to read the tutorial before plunging in. The application also boasts easy-to-use tools for creating simple text animations and slide shows in the GIF format. Be aware the demo version slaps a watermark on your GIFs. For that reason, we recommend this software to developers who will try before buying.