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BMP File Format
| Short Name |
BMP |
| Long Name |
Microsoft Windows Device Independent Bitmap |
| Typical File Extensions |
.bmp .dib |
| Contains |
Bitmap |
This is the standard format for storing
bitmaps in Microsoft Windows 3.x and later
(although of course many Windows applications support other file formats).
BMP files can contain bitmaps at a variety of
color depths: black and white, 16 color with a palette, 256 color with a palette, or 24-bit TrueColor.
- Black and white, and 24-bit color BMPs are not
compressed.
- 16 color and 256 color BMPs can optionally be
compressed using
a Run-length Compression scheme.
However, few programs can write out compressed BMPs, and many programs which can read BMPs are unable to read compressed files.
Confusingly, Microsoft have also developed another format also called BMP which was designed for OS/2. The OS/2 BMP format is very similar, but has a different header, and many BMP compatible programs can't read
OS/2 BMPs (fortunately though, these are rarely encountered).
Although the BMP format was initially developed for Windows, you can find
programs on many other platforms (Macintosh, UNIX, Linux, etc.) that can
read these files.
BMP files do tend to be large files, so I recommend that you do not use them on your web site (even though they can be displayed by many [not all] browsers). Instead convert your BMPs to
GIF or PNG format, by loading into your
paint program and doing Save As...
A technical discussion of this format can be found in Chapter 2 of Graphics File Formats by David C. Kay and John R. Levine.
Related Books:
- Compressed Image File Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, XBM, BMP (ACM Press)
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By John Miano
Addison-Wesley Professional
Paperback (288 pages)
Amazon.com:
Compressed Image File Formats is an appealingly compact and useful guide to some of today's most popular file formats used for image data. For any programmer who needs to know how images are stored, this concise reference can serve as a really invaluable resource. Besides full coverage of the popular BMP, GIF, and PNG file formats, the book zeroes in on the JPEG standard, perhaps today's most popular (and most complicated) image format. In a series of short chapters, the book looks at JPEG in detail, from basic file organization (its format and marker fields), file compression techniques (like Huffman coding and DCT), and how to decode (read) and encode (write) JPEG images. By condensing hundreds of pages of specifications and documentation from the voluminous JPEG standard into this short volume, the author has created a worthwhile summary of key JPEG features and compression techniques useful to any graphics programmer. The book also includes C++ code for a simple JPEG encoder (on the accompanying CD-ROM). This example can get you started compressing images using the JPEG format. In addition, the book discusses techniques for creating and decoding progressive JPEGs (used for downloading images in stages, in progressively finer resolutions, over the Internet). Whether you are a programmer faced with decoding or encoding image data, or an interested Webmaster who wants to know the pros and cons of today's image file formats, Compressed Image File Formats provides a worthwhile and concise reference to what's inside image files. --Richard Dragan Topics covered: bitmap basics, color models, Windows BMP file format, XBM file format, JPEG basics and file format, JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF), JPEG Huffman Coding, data unit encoding, Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), matrix operations, JPEG decoding and encoding, progressive JPEG, GIF file format and compression, and PNG file format.
List Price: $54.99
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- Graphics File Formats
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By David C. Kay
McGraw-Hill Companies
Paperback (496 pages)
Book Description:
For software developers, systems managers, and computer hobbyists, this book will help bring a welcome sense of order to the chaotic world of graphics file format. David Kay and John Levine have compiled detailed specifications for 30 popular graphics file formats, so readers can more quickly and easily decide which standards are best for their applications.
List Price: $29.95
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- Internet File Formats: Your Complete Resource for Sending, Receiving, and Using Internet Files
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By Tim Kientzle
Coriolis Group Books
Paperback (416 pages)
Book Description:
Provides a detailed file format dictionary to help you understand most of the major file formats found on the Internet. Comes with a CD-ROM jam-packed with programs and tools to help you work with the files you come across on the Internet. Includes player programs to use files you download from the Internet. Contains compression and decompression utilities, and utilities to help you convert files from one format to another. Offers the tools to help you create HTML files and publish on the Web, and efficiently transfer your files. Helps you to read, write, convert, and use most of the major file types encountered on the Internet.
List Price: $39.99
Lowest New Price: $3.99
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Related Software:
- ALL2BMP
123GraphicConverter is a software tool that help you to convert your PSD, JPEG, GIF, and other graphics files to BMP, JPEGWMF, GIF, PNG, TGA, PCX, TIFF graphics files.
- Able Graphic Manager
Able Graphic Manager is a program that enables you to easily view, print and convert graphic files in normal (file by file) and batch (many files at a time) modes. Input formats include Drawing Interchange Format (DXF), TIFF, JPEG, BMP, RLE, PNG, WMF, EMF, TARGA, VDA, ICB, VST, PIX, PXM, PPM, PGM, PBM and ICO, CUR. Output formats include JPEG, TIFF, PCX, PNG, BMP, Targa, PXM, PPM, PGM and PBM.
- AiS Watermark Pictures Protector
AiS Watermark Pictures Protector lets you protect your website images from "thieves" by adding to them visible watermarks. The watermarks can be solid or transparent, they can include you logo, company name, your site URL, date and time or any custom text. The program can handle over 40 popular image formats (including TIFF, BMP and JPEG), it lets you process multiple images at once and can automatically create thumbnails and Web galleries.
- Artful GIF Animator
Create from scratch, import from AVI, edit and optimize your animated GIF images to develop animations for web sites. Drag and drop JPEG, BMP, GIF, ICO and even AVI files into the program and then edit and preview frames on the fly - while you are editing a frame, it animates the resulting picture. Tune up the individual position and edit the color palette for each frame, optimize animated GIFs with five different color reduction methods.
- AutoDWG DWG2Image
AutoDWG DWG2Image a batch converter converts DWG or DXF files to BMP, JPEG, TIFF, GIF or PNG without needing AutoCAD.
- BatchImage
This program allows you to batch convert image files. It includes an effect edit function and
allows you to stamp copyright information on your images. It supports JPEG, BMP, TIFF,
PCX, PCD, PSD, TAG, PNG, WMF, EMF and PIC file formats.
- FontTwister
FontTwister is the fastest and easiest way to create dazzling text effects. FontTwister comes with an impressive selection of templates for graphic styles, color gradients, textures, shapes, letter edges, 3-D bevels, shadows, buttons and frames. Simple intuitive controls let you interactively real-time view and select your desired effect. You can re-edit text and effects at any time. The effect generator creates unlimited variations of amazing text effects.
Use high impact, anti-aliased text for logos, 2D and 3D headings in letters, presentations, flyers, invitations, cards, faxes, posters, web graphics, labels, banners, buttons, covers. FontTwister supports several popular image formats (.bmp, .jpg, .png, .tif, .wmf).
- WapTiger WBMP Converter
Free software for converting monochrome BMP files to WBMP format.
Related Web Sites:
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