GIF files are a legacy raster format for use on the web. GIFs cannot contain more than 256 colors (8 bits per pixel), which, along with optional lossless RLE or LZW compression, makes them smaller than other file formats. GIF files can also define a transparent color. GIFs can be generated with an accompanying world file for use as georeferenced raster data.
To export a .gif file, ensure that a map or layout view is active. On the Share tab, click Export Map 
or Export Layout 
, depending on the active view, to open the Export pane. Change the File Type parameter to GIF. Set a name and location for the file, as well as any other properties, and click Export.
Note:
Certain options are only available when exporting a map or layout. When exporting a map, you can set the size of the map export. When exporting a layout, you can clip to graphics extent.
The following properties are available when exporting to a .gif file:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
Show selection symbology | Show selected features in the map or map frame as selected in the output file. Unchecking this option does not affect selection within the view, only in the output file. |
DPI | The resolution of the export file in dots per inch (dpi). DPI is only available when exporting a layout. When exporting a map, the dpi is calculated automatically. For map exports, increase the Width and Height values to add more pixels and get a higher-resolution output. |
Write world file | In the same location as the exported map, generate a separate world file that contains georeference information. This allows the exported image to be used as raster data in ArcGIS AllSource or other GIS applications. When exporting a layout, set Map frame to the 2D map frame you want the world file georeferenced information to be based on. This option is not available in 3D views. |
Color depth | The number of bits to describe color in a pixel. Choose from the following:
|