The GIF, invented in 1987, is enjoying a 21st century renaissance. If you've found yourself mesmerized by the repeating clips of cat antics and wanted to create some yourself, here's how.

GIMP is a standout choice for those in need of advanced photo-editing capabilities but without the hefty Photoshop price tag. And just like Photoshop, GIMP allows you to make a custom GIF.

However, if you want to create an animated GIF banner for free, you can use an online tool like Canva. Or, you can even use free software like GIMP.

The old-school GIF has somehow become the modern day medium for expressing everything from intense emotional responses to live breaking news. Rather than relying on stock GIFs provided by others ...