GIFsquid is great, but it isn't perfect. Please post here about any problems you encounter.
I've seen this happen when your harddrive is near full. It can also happen if your project is in the root of a drive and not in a folder. Another thing to check is that you have the AE option "Allow scripts to write files and access the network" set.
It really sounds like you're missing some files and/or AE isn't set to allow scripts to write files/access network. Please try re-extracting the JSXBIN file and the GIFsquid folder into your AE/ScriptUI folder and double-check the preference to allow scripts to write files. In your case, the script is choking at the point it should be able to write to C:\programdata
Please doublecheck that you have installed all of the files, in your Script UI Panels folder you should have the gifsquid.jsxbin as well as a Gifsquid folder. Also check in c:\programdata for a file called "squidyavi.bat". If that isn't present after trying to Squirt, it means that GIFsquid wasn't able to write files. If AE is simply not rendering your project after queing an AVI, try rendering it manually or clearing the render queue before squirting.
Thanks for your reply. Here are the contents of the .bat file you requested. I'm assuming it is the "_" in the name that messed it up, as the original file was named "Comp 1", but the renaming algorithm added the "_4" (this was my fourth attempt, versions _2 and _3 also were previously generated by AfterEffects...)
cd\ cd "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC 2018\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels\GIFsquid\"
GIFsquidavi.bat 24 1500 "D:\Windows\Documents\WebWorks\Brittleknee\Gif Creation\1\Comp 1_4.avi" "D:\Windows\Documents\WebWorks\Brittleknee\Gif Creation\1\GIFsquid_Output" 0.5 480x "" "Comp 1_4.avi" false
exit
Actually, underscores are allowed characters, so it shouldn't be that. Does the issue persist after restarting after effects? Another thing to try is clearing the render queue and deleting any leftover AVI files from failed GIF creation and then trying again. I've sometimes seen AE fail to render anything after pressing g Squirt. Usually manually rendering and then trying again fixes this.
Sounds likely, however the ProgramData folder doesn't normally need admin access to write to it.
Thanks for the fast reply! My comp name (abc) and filename (MetaNonMeta.aep) only have letters though, same with the path (excluding backslash, space, and colon chars) . Here's a screenshot of my gifsquid\bin folder (though the only antivirus I have is Windows Defender):
Here's the GIFsquid.log:
convert.exe: UnableToCreateTemporaryFile `E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffects Projects\WHATAMIGONNADO\abc.avi': No such file or directory @ error/delegate.c/InvokeDelegate/1876.
convert.exe: UnableToOpenBlob `C:/Users/Stephen/AppData/Local/Temp/magick-93516xuC9P0tpcKhx.pam': No such file or directory @ error/blob.c/OpenBlob/2705.
convert.exe: NoImagesDefined `E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffects Projects\WHATAMIGONNADO\GIFsquid_Output/abc.avi-2018-04-11_21-10-40.gif' @ error/convert.c/ConvertImageCommand/3257.
It's strange that this only happens in non-Turbo mode; does Turbo mode handle paths differently maybe?
very weird... do me a favor and try a regular (non-turbo) render, then open up "c:\programdata\squidyavi.bat" in notepad and paste the contents here. GIFsquid creates and runs this batchfile right after it renders the AVI. I want to see what it is trying to do. Note that c:\programdata is a hidden folder so may not be visible in explorer windows.
Here's what I found (used another project/comp, but same issue):
Successful (turbo):
cd\ cd "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC 2017\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels\GIFsquid\"
GIFsquidavi.bat 30 12000 "E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffectsProjects\WHATAMIGONNADO\Troi.avi" "E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffectsProjects\WHATAMIGONNADO\GIFsquid_Output" 0.5 800:-1 "" "Troi.avi" true
exit
Unsuccessful (non-turbo):
cd\ cd "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC 2017\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels\GIFsquid\"
GIFsquidavi.bat 30 12000 "E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffectsProjects\WHATAMIGONNADO\Troi.avi" "E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffectsProjects\WHATAMIGONNADO\GIFsquid_Output" 0.5 800x "" "Troi.avi" false
exit
Looking at the log file, now it's throwing new errors:
convert.exe: DelegateFailed `"ffmpeg.exe" -nostdin -v -1 -i "%i" -vframes %S -vcodec pam -an -f rawvideo -y "%u.pam"' @ error/delegate.c/InvokeDelegate/1919.
convert.exe: UnableToReadImageData `C:/Users/Stephen/AppData/Local/Temp/magick-31324qcORP4FuAA8U.pam' @ error/pnm.c/ReadPNMImage/1280.
convert.exe: NoImagesDefined `E:\Stephen\Documents\AfterEffectsProjects\WHATAMIGONNADO\GIFsquid_Output/Troi.avi-2018-04-12_21-04-51.gif' @ error/convert.c/ConvertImageCommand/3257.
Do you have FFMPEG installed on your computer? GIFsquid might be trying to use the one on your system instead of the one included with it. You could try upgrading FFMPEG. Do me a favor and send me your email address in a PM, I want to send you some stuff.
I think upgrading FFMPEG in GIFsquid\bin has resolved the issue; I'm generating large gifs with Turbo set to false with no issues. Thanks a lot for the troubleshooting help!
So, usually it ends up making a folder called "GIFsquid_Output" in the same folder that your last render went to. If you can't find it, try adding your comp to your render queue manually and check the output folder (no need to actually render, just check the path) and then check for the Output folder there. Another option is to search the drive for "*.gif" and sort by date modified. Usually the folder is opened for you after the gif is done rendering, but sometimes it fails to open the right folder. I've seen this happen when the project is saved in the root of a folder (like T:\project.aep)
There is no such thing as a 60fps gif file, unfortunately. Most 60fps "gifs" are actually mp4 files. GIF files don't use a framerate internally, they use a frame delay, which is how long to display each frame before moving on to the next. This delay can only be specified in 10ms increments, and 60FPS = ~16ms delay. If you are trying to make a smooth GIF file, I recommend no higher than 50fps.
Hey somberoww, I'm sorry you're having trouble! it seems like you're doing everything right here so I'm not sure what could be wrong. double check that virus scanners aren't interfering with the .exe files in the gifsquid/bin flles. somtimes updates can detect these files as harmful since i'm not a big time developer.
Hey I get the same error message with both GIFSquid and Project Cuddlephish- I've installed all the files and it's still giving me the same error message. To be clear, to install, I go to File-Scripts-Install UI Panel, and click on the .jsx file, correct? It's showing up in the window panel, but I get the same error code as soulforsoup. Windows 10, After Effects CC 2020. Any help would be appreciated.
No, that is not how you should install it. You should unzip the entire zip file to the Script UI folder, not just the jsxbin file.
Hello, I apologize, I didn't see your reply until now. I'm working on a solution that you may be able to implement, but please understand that I am not able to provide much support for older versions. One of the reasons newer versions of GifSquid don't support transparency is because it was so problematic to deal with. That said, i'll try to work out something for this particular case.
I was able to fix it in my test scenario. Here is how you can fix it on your side.
Great write-up with pics! After the avi renders, the script will convert it to a gif and delete the avi. It uses the last location you rendered to, so for now just set a location for the avi and render it manually, then delete the avi. Now gifsquid should be able to do everything itself. To be clear, when you squirt the gif, it queues up an avi, renders it, converts it to gif, then deletes the avi.
Thanks for replying! After I saved and rendered the AVI file to a folder, the command line script opens up and says that it can't find the path specified, and nothing happens. https://imgur.com/0tpnxAC
And for some reason, The GIFS that I make in Cuddlephish are rendered in slow motion, so I need some help with that. Thanks again!
the "can't find path" is normal, it just means there were no files to clean up. After that the "nothing happens" is your gif being made! It is very slow and there is no progress bar.
Framerate issues are usually from trying to compress at an invalid framerate for the gif format. Stay between 25 and 50 fps for good results.
c:\ProgramData\squidy.avi is generated by the plugin after rendering your comp to an AVI. It sounds like the render is never kicking off, but there is a workaround: Manually queue your comp for a render to AVI, and set the render location somewhere project-agnostic, like c:\projects\GIFs. Render your comp out, clear the queue, and delete the render. Squirting should now work.
The reason this workaround works is because GIFSquid/CuddlePhish render to the last location you rendered to.
Also if you haven't already, join the High Quality Gifs discord where lots of folks share tips and give advice.
Thanks GunSquid, I should've mentioned that I had tried that too. Tried again, no change. For the render I did "File > Export > Add to Render Queue", in case there's another way to do it. I rendered as AVI (but I'm guessing that doesn't matter since you said to delete the render anyway).
I'll try posting in the discord!
Update: solved! The issue was that I had the video file selected in the Projects tab (instead of the Composition).
Hi Volive, I'm sorry you're having issues. Old versions of Gifsquid are no longer supported, but we can try to get you working. The first thing you'll need to do is replace the 'GIFsquid.bat' file in ScriptUI Panels\GIFsquid with the one here https://gist.github.com/hellphish/95a16d940f96a0bf8f6f3b3d16258708
Next, make sure you have imported the PNG sequence output template from the zip file, instructions are in the readme.
Last, before you press Squirt, be sure you have a comp selected in the project panel.
0.6 doesn't generate a squidyavi.bat file and should not be queing an AVI file. It should queue a png sequence, and the file it generates in programdata is called 'squidy.bat'
Yes the comp is selected and "squirting" it does add the render to the queue. But I have to launch it manually, and of course it gives me a really heavy .avi file. But no window opens, and no gif is rendered anyhow. I know it was a discount, and I probably missed something that would make it work, but for the moment I just paid 7.5$ for another render button :(
I did try everything that was said on this thread but it still doesn't work...
Can you check for a file called "squidyavi.bat" inside c:\programdata (this is a hidden folder). If it exists, can you open it in notepad and paste the contents here? If it doesn't exist, try restarting AE, reopening your project, and manually clearing the render queue.
BTW, where did you buy the script from? I have never charged more than $5 for it, and you said you bought it yesterday but I don't see any transactions in the past 6 days.
Also, if you haven't yet, come join the High Quality Gifs discord where lots of people share help and advice. https://discord.gg/Yzcw7Q
Generally you should launch scriptUI scripts from the "Window" menu in AE, not from the "File" menu.
The error you are seeing can be caused when the script is not fully installed (you must unzip everything in the zip to your ScriptUI folder). It can also be caused by using an unsupported OS.
What OS are you running?
Thank you for your swift response!
Added whole GIFSquid folder (inside ScriptUI Panels) to exception, convert.exe to trusted files + set to Administrator but still no luck.
Closing completely Firewall and Antivirus made no difference.
UPDATE (Problem Solved!)
It seems there was a problem with both Avast antivirus and Comodo Firewall you can add the whole folder to be trusted and it doesn't work.
I tested few free alternatives that work and can recommend:
Firewalls: TinyWall or Simplewall
Antivirus: Bitdefender Antivirus Free or Kaspersky Cloud Antivirus
Solution: Add convert.exe to exception and something that was not mentioned here,
do the same with cmd.exe ( ! ) (you can set it for an hour or time span needed to convert file if you don't want to allow connections permanently)
It's all good now,
Thank You :)
when trying to squirt a gif using Project Cuddlephish or GifSquid.
I am also getting this problem, I do get a pop up box saying that After Effects appears to have crashed, which it has not. Press yes and then get this error 
I am on AFX 17.5.1 (Build 47) - I can turn on debugging and send a report if required. 
