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Gif-Blocking Fails; Migraines Follow

  • 7 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 14 views
  • Last reply by MarjaE

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Some background. I am photosensitive, and need to block flashing, jitter, zooming, spinning, and several other types of animation.

I have been using Firefox, because Firefox didn't inflict as much animation as other browsers, and its extensions could block most of the animation, though unfortunately, couldn't block enough. Firefox Quantum breaks many of my existing tools.

My first step was to switch to Firefox 52 esr to buy time. Unfortunately, it isn't compatible with newer extensions, and it isn't compatible with the needed migration tools for 56 to 57. My current plan is to install Waterfox, test tools in Waterfox, and if and when Firefox Quantum has adequate tools, then install Firefox Quantum.

I have installed Waterfox. I imported my old Firefox extensions, redid my preferences, and redid my about:config settings. I tried switching out some of my current extensions to test webextension-based alternatives, but:

1. I haven't disabled QuickJava yet, and have still set it to block gifs, but somehow, it is no longer blocking gifs.

2. Now some sites strobe if I try to scroll. I have disabled the extensions I installed to fix scrolling, and that doesn't prevent strobing.

3. I have a terrible migraine right now, and it's hard to think further.

Some background. I am photosensitive, and need to block flashing, jitter, zooming, spinning, and several other types of animation. I have been using Firefox, because Firefox didn't inflict as much animation as other browsers, and its extensions could block most of the animation, though unfortunately, couldn't block enough. Firefox Quantum breaks many of my existing tools. My first step was to switch to Firefox 52 esr to buy time. Unfortunately, it isn't compatible with newer extensions, and it isn't compatible with the needed migration tools for 56 to 57. My current plan is to install Waterfox, test tools in Waterfox, and if and when Firefox Quantum has adequate tools, then install Firefox Quantum. I have installed Waterfox. I imported my old Firefox extensions, redid my preferences, and redid my about:config settings. I tried switching out some of my current extensions to test webextension-based alternatives, but: 1. I haven't disabled QuickJava yet, and have still set it to block gifs, but somehow, it is no longer blocking gifs. 2. Now some sites strobe if I try to scroll. I have disabled the extensions I installed to fix scrolling, and that doesn't prevent strobing. 3. I have a terrible migraine right now, and it's hard to think further.

Chosen solution

MarjaE said

none isn't reliable either though:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1321604

That bug is based on this page: http://browserspy.dk/images.php

With "normal" the picture next to GIF Image (animated) flashes between red and green text.

With "none" the text stays red (shows only the first frame of the GIF, never the second frame).

So as far as I can tell, the setting works and the bug reporter is wrong -- at least in Firefox 57, I'm not going back to Firefox 50.

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All Replies (7)

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Here is a start for you : To turn off Firefox built-in animations:

Type about:config in the Firefox address bar and hit the Enter-key afterwards. Confirm that you will be careful if the warning intermediary page is displayed. Use the search to find toolkit.cosmeticAnimations.enabled. Double-click on the preference name to toggle its state.

Also set the rest of these to false in the same way:

browser.tabs.animate browser.fullscreen.animate browser.download.animateNotifications alerts.disableSlidingEffect

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Please know this is for Firefox and not Waterfox as Waterfox is only based on Mozilla engine and has nothing to do with Mozilla. We do not do support for Waterfox. It has it's own community forum : https://www.reddit.com/r/waterfox/ https://sourceforge.net/p/waterfoxproj/discussion/1707866/

Some of what you see is no longer gifs it is done with CSS as are most sites these days. As for blocking sites CSS am not sure if can or would wreck the page layout. I am sure there is more fixes for you make sure reply and ask for more.

Not sure but could send relevant parts or whole thing to websites : https://trace.umd.edu/peat/help

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/hide-images-per-tab/

There is a master pref in the current Firefox release to disable a few user interface animations. about:config toolkit.cosmeticAnimations.enabled turn to false

You can modify these prefs on the about:config page to disable the full screen fade in and fade out. Leave out the quotes around the value (enter only two zeros separated by a space). full-screen-api.transition-duration.enter: "0 0" full-screen-api.transition-duration.leave: "0 0"

USSER CHROME URL'S

https://www.howtogeek.com/334716/how-to-customize-firefoxs-user-interface-with-userchrome.css/ http://techdows.com/2017/09/classic-theme-restorer-userchrome-css-modify-firefox-57-photon-ui.html https://github.com/Aris-t2/CustomCSSforFx/issues/1 https://www.accessfirefox.org/Theme-Font-Size-Changer.php https://www.userchrome.org/ https://www.accessfirefox.org/Firefox_Accessibility_Themes.php https://www.userchrome.org/what-is-userchrome-css.html http://kb.mozillazine.org/UserChrome.css https://github.com/axydavid/FirefoxUI/blob/master/README.md https://github.com/wilfredwee/photon-australis https://www.reddit.com/r/FirefoxCSS/ Note not all code in one place.

So to continue to find code for you for Firefox maybe pointless if staying on Waterfox. Please let us know what you are doing and will try.

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Thanks.

It's unlikely any of these bugs are unique to Waterfox.

I don't have a Reddit account, but maybe I should create one. I can't block enough animation to use the Sourceforge page.

I did most of the about:config fixes in Firefox, and again when setting up Waterfox, but image.animation_mode hasn't worked in years. "Inspect element" identifies some of the migraine triggers as gifs, and one as a png.

I installed Javascript Toggle On and Off, and Gif Blocker, to replace QuickJava (not Quantum compatible, and not fully 56 compatible). Going to need some kind of Png Blocker.

I also use an older version of Activate Reader View, Coin Mining Blocker, Febe, Gothic Font Converter, GrabMyBooks (disabled and not Quantum compatible), Greasemonkey, Host Ad Blocker, Https Everywhere, No Transition, Open Bookmarks in New Tab (not Quantum compatible), Policy Control (disabled, can't get it to work yet), Save as Ebook, Save Page WE, Show Parent Folder (not Quantum compatible), Simple Google Translate, Sticky Ducky, Stylus, Tumblr Savior, Ublock Origin, Unfix Fixed Elements, and Zoom Page WE. Some are redundant as I try to figure out which ones are better. I've also disabled others without removing them yet.

I have several more fixes in Stylus, and one in Greasemonkey. In Stylus: Ones to block a dog-pic on a support site, to block top bars/sticky headers, to block transitions, to block certain other animations, to fix scrolling, etc.

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MarjaE said

image.animation_mode hasn't worked in years

It hasn't?? Maybe the problem is that you are encountering slideshows or videos, because the setting does work for animated GIF and animated PNG files.

Could you check this setting:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful or accepting the risk.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste anim and pause while the list is filtered

(3) The image.animation_mode preference can have these values:

  • normal -- loops as long as specified by the image
  • none -- shows first frame only
  • once -- plays the animation through once, stays on last frame

Sample images (they count from 1 to 3 slowly starting from a blank light gray frame):

I do notice that when I have these images loaded in their own tabs, even with the mode set to none, the images appears in place of the site icon and animates. That's annoying.

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image.animation_mode false doesn't work,

image.animation_mode none seems to-- I used the wrong setting.

none isn't reliable either though:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1321604

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Chosen Solution

MarjaE said

none isn't reliable either though:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1321604

That bug is based on this page: http://browserspy.dk/images.php

With "normal" the picture next to GIF Image (animated) flashes between red and green text.

With "none" the text stays red (shows only the first frame of the GIF, never the second frame).

So as far as I can tell, the setting works and the bug reporter is wrong -- at least in Firefox 57, I'm not going back to Firefox 50.

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Thanks,

It didn't used to work. I actually had to install a couple gif-blockers to patch that ground before.