| |
Advertisement
Learn PhotoShop
Perfect for Beginners...
- Start immediately
- Save time
- Avoid confusion
- Save effort
- Improve creativity
- From beginner to advanced
Click here
|
|
|
|
GIF File Format
| Short Name |
GIF |
| Long Name |
Graphics Interchange Format |
| Typical File Extensions |
.gif |
| Contains |
Bitmaps/Animation |
This is a format developed by
CompuServe Inc.
for storing
bitmaps.
GIF files can contain bitmaps at a variety of
color depths: 2, 4, 16, or 256 color,
in each case with a palette.
The GIF format has between through two revisions (87a and 89a), and the newer revision
(89a) is a superset of the older version (87a).
Modern GIF-compatible software, should therefore have no problem reading files of either
revision.
The 89a revision of GIF supports
transparency,
interlacing,
and simple
animation whereby multiple images within a single GIF file can be displayed in a
timed or looped sequence.
GIF files are compressed using an LZW
compression scheme, which attracted a large amount of controversy when
Unisys announced this
algorithm was patented, and charged license fees for software developers using
this algorithm. However, according to The GIF Controversy: A Software Developer's Perspective, these patents have now expired as of 20 June 2004.
As a result of the controversy resulting for the patent claims around this format, software
developers took a number of steps:
- The PNG format was developed as a replacement for GIF.
However, while the PNG format is increasingly popular, it has not really replaced GIF
which is still widely used.
- Some software developers tried to devise methods of encoding GIFs which would not infringe
on the
Unisys patent
(see, for example, DaubNET: File Formats Collection: GIF):
- The alternative encoding methods, result in larger file sizes as they are not as well
compressed as LZW.
- Files encoded (saved) using the alternative encoding methods, can be read by any GIF reading software.
- As far as I know, it was not possible to write software able to decode all GIF files, without stepping into the territory covered by the
Unisys patent.
A technical discussion of this format can be found in Chapter 7 of Graphics File Formats† by David C. Kay and John R. Levine.
Please Note:
- We are not lawyers. This web site is not intended as
legal advice, and should not be construed as such.
Please consult an attorney should you require legal advice
on copyrights, patents or any other matter.
- GIF and 'Graphics Interchange Format' are trademarks of CompuServe Inc..
- Unisys held patents on the LZW compression scheme, which according to The GIF Controversy: A Software Developer's Perspective these patents expired as of 20 June 2004.
Discuss GIF File Format
Please feel free to post your comments:
|
Related Pages on this site:
Related Books:
- Compressed Image File Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, XBM, BMP
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
| |
By John Miano
Addison-Wesley Professional
Paperback (288 pages)
Product Description:
A comprehensive reference on the major graphics file formats and the compression technologies, this work is a useful resource for graphics programmers, especially those developing graphical applications for the Web. It examines the most common graphics file formats in detail and demonstrates how to encode and decode image files for each.
List Price: $59.99*
Lowest New Price: $49.57*
Lowest Used Price: $1.29*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 07:47 Pacific 24 Apr 2018 More Info)
Buy It Now
|
- GIF Animation Studio: Animating Your Web Site (Web studio series)
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
| |
By Richard Koman
O'Reilly Media
Paperback (184 pages)
Product Description:
GIF animation is bringing the Web to life -- without plug-ins, Java programming, or expensive authoring tools. This book details the major GIF animation programs, profiles work by leading designers (including John Hersey, Razorfish, Henrik Drescher, and Erik Josowitz), and documents advanced animation techniques. A CD-ROM includes freeware and shareware authoring programs, demo versions of commercial software, and the actual animation files described in the book.
List Price: $39.95*
Lowest New Price: $24.02*
Lowest Used Price: $3.23*
*(As of 21:55 Pacific 24 Apr 2018 More Info)
Buy It Now
|
- Graphics File Formats
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
| |
By David C. Kay
Windcrest
Paperback (496 pages)
Product Description:
Introduces graphics representation theory and image compression, covers advantages and disadvantages of each format, and provides format details and an overview of the file structure. This second edition contains expanded treatment of image compression and motion, and updated chapters on 30 formats, such as FLI/FLC, QuickTime Animation, RIB, TIFF, JPEG, Windows Bitmap, and PICT. Although it lacks image examples, graphics aficionados will appreciate the comprehensive nature of the text. Includes chapter bibliographies. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
List Price: $29.95*
Lowest New Price: $14.99*
Lowest Used Price: $5.16*
Usually ships in 1-2 business days*
*(As of 22:00 Pacific 24 Apr 2018 More Info)
Buy It Now
|
- Internet File Formats: Your Complete Resource for Sending, Receiving, and Using Internet Files
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
| |
By Tim Kientzle
Coriolis Group
Paperback (416 pages)
Product Description:
A book/CD-ROM package presenting the expertise and the tools needed to understand and use files found on the Internet and elsewhere. Explains the history and fundamental ideas behind major file formats, offers advice on how to know and when to use different formats, and suggests the best places on the Internet to find information and programs for working with different file types. Arrangement is in six sections: document formats, graphics formats, compression and archiving formats, encoding formats, audio formats, and video formats. Suitable for PCs, Macintosh, and Unix. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
List Price: $39.99*
Lowest New Price: $24.99*
Lowest Used Price: $0.99*
Usually ships in 1-2 business days*
*(As of 05:57 Pacific 24 Apr 2018 More Info)
Buy It Now
|
- The GIF Animator's Guide
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
| |
By Sandra E. Eddy
Brand: Wiley
Paperback (256 pages)
- Used Book in Good Condition
Product Description:
The GIF Animator's Guide At last —a book on GIF animation for all of us. The GIF Animator's Guide is the most comprehensive book on animating GIFs for World Wide Web pages. With easy step-by-step instructions for desktop applications including Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop, you learn how to create and edit GIF89a animations to enhance your website. Whether you are a beginner or experienced Web developer, this book will answer all your questions about creating and animating GIFs—from beginning to end. The GIF Animator's Guide is designed both to be easy to use and to provide all the important information about creating good-looking graphics and animations using a variety of popular programs—freeware, shareware, and commercial—for both Windows and Mac computers. The book includes valuable information about animation, computer graphics, and GIF standards so that you can easily create animations for your Web page. CD-ROM Included The CD bundled with The GIF Animator's Guide includes Microsoft GIF Animator, Paint Shop Pro, GIF Construction Set, GIFBuilder, Ulead GIF Animator, and save-disabled versions of Photoshop 4 and Illustrator 7. It also includes a large gallery of unique and copyright-free GIF animations that you can plug into your own Web pages. - Learn how to create GIF animations easily with Microsoft Image Composer, Microsoft GIF Animator, Photoshop 4, Illustrator 7, Paint Shop Pro, GIF Construction Set, CorelDRAW, and GIFBuilder
- CD includes Microsoft GIF Animator, save-disabled versions of Photoshop and Illustrator, a gallery of GIF animations, and freeware and shareware including Paint Shop Pro, GIF Construction Set, GIFBuilder, and Ulead GIF Animator
- Ideal for all GIF animators—both amateur and professional
- Free animations are included on the CD to use for your Web site
- Learn how to optimize animations by using the 216-color palette, planning for transparency, offsetting images, and setting time delay
http://www.mispress.com
List Price: $39.95*
Lowest New Price: $8.99*
Lowest Used Price: $4.50*
*(As of 21:55 Pacific 24 Apr 2018 More Info)
Buy It Now
|
Related Software:
- GIF Animator 5.0
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
| |
ULead Systems
CD-ROM
Windows NT/Windows 2000/Linux/Mac
Amazon.com:
Ulead GIF Animator 5 is the latest version of the popular tool for creating GIF animations for the Web. Version 5 cuts production time in half with simple drag-and-drop object-based editing, roundtrip auto-updating from external image editors, and tweening features. Banner text is even easier to make with more than 12 built-in movement effects that you can combine with special effects such as gradient and glow. Enhanced optimization and color palette management delivers the smallest file sizes. Output to video, standalone EXE, or Flash (SWF) formats makes it one of the most versatile animation tools.
Buy It Now
|
Related Web Sites:
|
|
|
