GIF File Format

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.

• 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.

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  By John Miano Addison-Wesley Professional Paperback (288 pages) Product Description: This comprehensive reference on the major graphics file formats and the compression technologies they employ is an indispensable resource for graphics programmers, especially those developing graphical applications for the Web. Compressed Image File Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, XBM, BMP examines the most common graphics file formats in detail and demonstrates how to encode and decode image files for each. In particular, this book offers in-depth coverage of the elaborate JPEG and newer PNG formats, providing clear explanations of complex concepts, experience-based practical techniques, and plentiful code examples. GIF, XBM, and BMP are also covered, with a focus on some of the less familiar and less well-documented features of these common file formats. Specific topics covered include: *Compression technologies that each file format utilizes *Color models employed by each file format *The advantages and disadvantages of each file format *Huffman Coding *LZW Compression *Deflate/Inflate *Progressive JPEG *The Discrete Cosine Transform *Animated GIF The accompanying CD-ROM contains the complete source code for all of the image formats covered in the book, as well as working examples and sample images. If you want to learn how to read and write graphic file formats for the Web--including PNG and JPEG files--there is no better resource than this book. System requirements: Windows 95 or Windows NT, Borland C++ Builder 3, or Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0. 0201604434B04062001 List Price: $59.99* Lowest New Price: $45.59* Lowest Used Price: $13.99* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 22:14 Pacific 3 Feb 2012 More Info) Buy It Now

  
  
  
• GIF Animation Studio: Animating Your Web Site (Web Studio Series)
  
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  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: $11.20* Lowest Used Price: $0.25* *(As of 10:47 Pacific 4 Feb 2012 More Info) Buy It Now

  
  
  
• Graphics File Formats
  
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  By David C. Kay Windcrest Paperback (496 pages) Product Description: This text features detailed specifications for 30 popular graphics file formats so that readers can more quickly and easily decide which standards are best for their applications. New to this edition are chapters on formats important to multimedia and video, including MPEG, FL1 and QuickTime; expanded discussion of data compression; and coverage of format updates, such as TIFF 6.0. Readers can also get updated information on: JPEG; GEM bit image; Windows BMP; PostScript; HP PCL; CGM; GIF; Targa; MacPaint; PICT; Windows Metafile; and Lotus PIC. This book should be of interest to software developers, systems managers and computer hobbyists. List Price: $29.95* Lowest New Price: $19.96* Lowest Used Price: $0.01* *(As of 03:10 Pacific 4 Feb 2012 More Info) Buy It Now

  
  
  
• Internet File Formats: Your Complete Resource for Sending, Receiving, and Using Internet Files
  
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  By Tim Kientzle Coriolis Group Paperback (416 pages) Product 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: $5.98* Lowest Used Price: $0.01* *(As of 16:06 Pacific 4 Feb 2012 More Info) Buy It Now

  
  
  
• The GIF Animator's Guide
  
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  By Sandra E. Eddy John Wiley & Sons Paperback (322 pages) 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: $9.00* Lowest Used Price: $0.26* *(As of 10:47 Pacific 4 Feb 2012 More Info) Buy It Now

• GIF Animator 5.0
  
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  Ulead CD-ROM (Unix) Windows NT/Linux/Windows 98/Windows Me Amazon.com Review: Animated GIFs are the best way to catch someone's eye on the Web without slowing your page down to a crawl. Ulead's GIF Animator is a great tool to create these attention-grabbing designs. While you can make an animated GIF using almost any graphics program, the features you need are often hidden away in a full image editing package. Because GIF Animator is designed just for working with animations, the tools are easy to find and use. The interface is easy to work, as it provides a filmstrip view of all the frames in your animation. You'll also see a list of all the objects across all the frames, so you can work across multiple frames, overlaying one object on another. From the main window, you can edit the images, produce intermediate frames automatically by tweening from one image to another, optimize the color palette to make the file smaller, and preview the final animation. A simple set of editing tools lets you paint, erase, and add text. Excellent integration with programs like PhotoImpact, Photoshop, and Paint Shop Pro means you can work with layers in an image as objects inside GIF Animator, or update your images in another package and automatically see the changes in GIF Animator. There's a set of special effects and transitions, but you can also use Photoshop plug-ins and filters. You can work with video files as well as still images, and import and export a range of formats including Flash. This is the latest version of a classic utility that's packed with features but still easy to use. If you need images that move, make them in GIF Animator. --Mary Branscombe List Price: $49.95* Lowest New Price: $139.97* *(As of 05:06 Pacific 4 Feb 2012 More Info) Buy It Now

• DaubNET: File Formats Collection: GIF
  
  Unofficial technical/programming information about this file format.
  
  
  
• The GIF Controversy: A Software Developer's Perspective
  
  
  
• The GIF file format
  
  A high-level overview of this format with particular emphasis on its use in the prepress/printing industries.