Where can I BUY animated GIFs

...to distribute from my site?

[spharalsia]

I'd like to offer my site visitors some animated GIFs for use on their site (in exchange for a link back to my site). Searching the web, I find tons of free animated GIFS with use/distribution restrictions; I find tutorials on how I can create an animated GIF; but darned if I can find animated GIFs that I can redistribute or someone who will make an animated GIF for me.

Even general advice (search terms to look under) would be helpful; sticky me with specific URLs or if you can help.

Alternatively -- how long would it take me to learn how to create my own, assuming I have little prior graphics experience (beyond MS Paint)?

[lexipixel]

Animated .GIF files are very much like cellular animation or a "flipbook", (cellular animation is like Disney used to do before computers took over the work --- artists draw sequenced individual frames or 'cells' as they're called and when you run them onto film and play them back or flip through them quickly --- viola' things appear to move).

You can use any editor to create the individual .GIF frames, then you need a tool to glue them together.

Check out Gif Construction Set, (from Alchemy Mindworks).

[mindworkshop.com...]

[spharalsia]

Thanks for the tip, lexipixel -- I will check this out. But part of me is still asking, "Must I really muck about with making these myself? Isn't there anyone who could do this for me?" Is there some kind of website where GIF animators hang out or something? I'd really rather pay someone experienced than spend a week or two trying to figure out new software myself. But if I must, I'll start by evaluating this software....

[brdwlsh]

try the Commercial Exchange section of the forum...

[webmasterworld.com ]

[Shannon Moore]

spharalsia, Welcome to Webmasterworld.

Perhaps you could find an artist/designer with whom to trade design of some animated graphics for some service you provide -- a sort of "talent/skill swap".

I'm no animator, so I'm afraid I'm not that artist/designer.

Like others have said, though, the Commercial Exchange area here would be a good start. That or some of the other forums on the Net, especially any related specifically to animation for the web or talent/skill swaps.