gif
7 ResultsDictionary
GIF
(Graphics Interchange Format) A popular bitmapped graphics file format developed by CompuServe. Pronounced "giff" with a hard "g" by most Mac users and "jiff" by PC users, GIFs are widely used...
Dictionary
Definition: GIF
(Graphics Interchange Format) A popular bitmapped graphics file format developed by CompuServe. Pronounced "giff" with a hard "g" by most Mac users and "jiff" by PC users, GIFs are widely used on the Web because the format uses its own form of compression.
GIF supports 8-bit color (256 colors), but gets the most mileage out of its limited colors by using a built-in color palette. For example, the palette for an image of a forest would mostly contain shades of green and brown. If colors are within a tight range, this method provides extraordinary realism in an 8-bit image. See indexed color.
GIF87a and GIF89a
There are two GIF versions: the original GIF87a and subsequent GIF89a, both named after their year of introduction. GIF89a allows one of the colors to be made transparent (see alpha channel) and take on the background color of the underlying page or window. GIF89a also supports animated GIFs, which use multiple frames in sequence to simulate movement (see animated GIF).
GIFs and JPEGs
Both GIF and JPEG images are widely used on the Web and are supported by all Web software that displays graphics. Charts, screen shots and technical drawings with text are typically GIFs (8-bit). Photographs are generally better rendered as JPEGs (24-bit). See JPEG, graphics formats and GIF patents.
More Shades Than Apparent
At first glance, it looks like the Android robot logo is only green, white and black. Zooming into one of its antennas (middle) shows more shades (see dithering).
Even More Colors
The GIF format picks the 256 most used colors in an image. Notice how the colors in the palettes match the two images.
THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
Sponsored White Papers, Webcasts & Resources
-
Introducing the New VMware Management Solution Portfolio
Check out this webcast to learn more about the New VMware Management Solution Portfolio.
-
Internet Explorer 'feature' causing drive-by malware attacks
My colleague at Kaspersky Lab Roel Schouwenberg (see disclosure) has discovered a drive-by malware download taking advantage of what Microsoft describes as an Internet Explorer "feature" to launch...
-
First GIF. Then hyperlinking. Now JPEG. Bummer.
Forgent isn't the first technology scoundrel to try cashing in on patents long after the relevant technologies achieved ubiquity. Let's make sure that they're one of the last.
-
JPEG committee refutes patent claim
The committee that develops the JPEG image compression standard has refuted a claim by a U.S. company to own a patent that gives it exclusive rights to the algorithm underlying JPEG. If it were...
-
Patent demands may spur Unisys rivals in graphics market
This story originally ran on CNET's News.com on April 18, 2000 and is presented here for historical context. Unisys is expanding its efforts to license the technology behind the Web's most...
-
Hire an imaging server instead of another designer
Speed 9 Ease of integration 10 Flexibility 9 Ease of use 10 TransForce...
-
-
The fast track to GIF irrelevancy
Next-generation image format tearing down Unisys' GIF monopoly
-
We eat, sleep and drink greed
Unisys enforces GIF patents, Linux community takes high ground
Additional Results
-
Internet Explorer 'feature' causing drive-by malware attacks
My colleague at Kaspersky Lab Roel Schouwenberg (see disclosure) has discovered a drive-by malware download taking advantage of what Microsoft describes as an Internet Explorer "feature" to launch...
-
First GIF. Then hyperlinking. Now JPEG. Bummer.
Forgent isn't the first technology scoundrel to try cashing in on patents long after the relevant technologies achieved ubiquity. Let's make sure that they're one of the last.
-
JPEG committee refutes patent claim
The committee that develops the JPEG image compression standard has refuted a claim by a U.S. company to own a patent that gives it exclusive rights to the algorithm underlying JPEG. If it were...
-
Patent demands may spur Unisys rivals in graphics market
This story originally ran on CNET's News.com on April 18, 2000 and is presented here for historical context. Unisys is expanding its efforts to license the technology behind the Web's most...
-
Hire an imaging server instead of another designer
Speed 9 Ease of integration 10 Flexibility 9 Ease of use 10 TransForce...
-
The fast track to GIF irrelevancy
Next-generation image format tearing down Unisys' GIF monopoly
-
We eat, sleep and drink greed
Unisys enforces GIF patents, Linux community takes high ground
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
