We do not know if in an attempt to emulate , Google has released a new animation tool that turns boring facts and figures into fresh and entertaining animated GIFs. Although initially it was intended to give support and reliability to the data exposed by journalists, Data GIF Maker by Google (so this tool is called) allows any user to set their own parameters and effortlessly transform them into animated images. Let’s see more.
Google’s Data GIF Maker or how to convert facts and figures into animated GIFs
How to convert simple data into animated GIFs? Using Data GIF Maker is very simple. Once we access the platform, we see that there are different boxes where we can add a left term and a right term, and do up to 5 comparisons at a time.
The steps to follow for each case are as follows:
- Choosing names for the two comparison points. We have made an example with the comparison between Orange and Lemon.
- Select the values covered by each point. In our example, we have set a ratio of 40 for Orange and 60 for Lemon (yes, we like lemon a little more). On the right side of the editor there is an option to display results as a percentage or as a sum (in this case we have marked percentage).
- Select colors for each of them (there are four available).
- In «DataSample» we must add (optional) the reason for the comparison. For example: Popularity.
- Click on “Download as GIF” (at the top) to generate the images.
The Google tool only works (for the moment) comparing two variables at a time, and you can preview the generated animation by clicking on “Launch Comparisons” (in the top bar). The “Autoplay All” option should also be mentioned: if it is deactivated, when viewing the preview you will have to click so that the animation shows the results step by step (as if they were slides). If it is active, it will be carried out automatically, but in any case this will not affect the Final GIF, now automatically looped.
The only negative of the platform is the slowness in the process of creating GIFs; it may take several minutes.
Simon Rogers, data editor at Google, has explained (as we extract from ) that Data GIF Maker leaves the door open for wider use or sophisticated, which could include the representation of “survey data, sales figures, or movie ratings.” But for now the Google team often uses its new tool to visualize the rivalry between different search interests.
And you, do you dare to try this curious tool?
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