diff --git a/tomplot/__init__.py b/tomplot/__init__.py
index 46e92aa..64393cc 100644
--- a/tomplot/__init__.py
+++ b/tomplot/__init__.py
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@
 from tomplot.quiver_plot import *                                         # noqa
 from tomplot.regridding import *                                          # noqa
 from tomplot.tomplot_tools import *                                       # noqa
+from tomplot.tomplot_utilities import *                                   # noqa
diff --git a/tomplot/tomplot_utilities.py b/tomplot/tomplot_utilities.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fde3428
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tomplot/tomplot_utilities.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+"""assorted routines for post plotting processing"""
+import subprocess
+import os
+import re
+
+
+def create_animation(results_dir, plot_dir, file_name='animation.gif',
+                     delay=20, loop=0):
+    u"""
+    A routine which makes use of the imageMagick function 'convert' to create a
+    gif from a directory of image files.
+    Requirements: Requires an installation of ImageMagick on your bash path
+    Args:
+        results_dir (class: string): file path to the file containg the
+                                     images to make the gif from.
+        plot_dir (class: string): file path to where the gif is outputted.
+        file_name (class: string): name of animation, typicaly end in git
+        delay (class: int): delay for animation, measured in milliseconds
+        loop (class: int): how many times the animation will loop. 0 = infinite
+    u"""
+    # check if the input directory exists
+    if not os.path.exists(results_dir):
+        raise ValueError(f'Error: Input directory, {results_dir} does not exist.')
+
+    if not file_name.endswith('.gif') == True:
+        raise ValueError(f'Error: file name, {file_name} lacks.gif.')
+
+    image_files = [f for f in os.listdir(plot_dir) if
+                   f.lower().endswith(('.png', '.jpg', '.jpeg'))]
+
+    # function to ensure files get sorted in ascending order
+    def extract_number(filename):
+        return int(re.search(r'\d+', filename).group())
+
+    sorted_files = sorted(image_files, key=extract_number)
+    # configures the convert bash command
+    convert_cmd = ['convert',
+                   '-delay', str(delay),
+                   '-loop', str(loop)]
+    # add the input files to the command
+    convert_cmd.extend([os.path.join(plot_dir, f) for f in sorted_files])
+
+    # add output file
+    convert_cmd.append(f'{results_dir}/{file_name}')
+
+    # use subprocesses to call the command
+    subprocess.run(convert_cmd)
+
+def check_directory(path):
+    u"""
+    A routine which checks if the plotting directory exists and creates if
+    not.
+        path (class: int): path to directory
+    u"""
+
+    # check if directory exists
+    if not os.path.exists(path):
+        os.makedirs(path)
+        print('results directory created')
+    else:
+        ('directory already exsists')
\ No newline at end of file