Will the gif format become patent free ...
Monday, June 9, 2003 by eieio | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Looks like the patent for the compression algorithm in gifs may expire without renewal.
Read this page
http://msn.com.com/2100-1104_2-1014236.html?type=pt
Read this page
http://msn.com.com/2100-1104_2-1014236.html?type=pt
CerebroJD
Reply #2 Monday, June 9, 2003 7:50 AM
Reply #2 Monday, June 9, 2003 7:50 AM
WHat does this mean exactly? That we cant use GIFs anymore? I hope not because they are awesome. If we had photoshop would we be unable to make gifs? Could someone buy that patent?
$$$
$$$
Aqua.
Reply #3 Monday, June 9, 2003 7:54 AM
Reply #3 Monday, June 9, 2003 7:54 AM
Aqua. to CerebroJD
It means that companies that make software that can produce GIF images will no longer have to pay royalties to AOL/Time Warner/CompuServe to include that code in their programs.
It will have absolutely NO effect on you at all.
It means that companies that make software that can produce GIF images will no longer have to pay royalties to AOL/Time Warner/CompuServe to include that code in their programs.
It will have absolutely NO effect on you at all.
Aqua.
Reply #4 Monday, June 9, 2003 8:02 AM
Reply #4 Monday, June 9, 2003 8:02 AM
P.S. PNG is better than GIF because it supports 256 levels of transparency, GIF only supports full ON or full OFF. PNG also supports millions of colors, GIF only supports 256.
That said, PNG's compression is fairly lousy. I can occasionally compress images more with PNG than with GIF or JPG, but usually it's the other way around.
That said, PNG's compression is fairly lousy. I can occasionally compress images more with PNG than with GIF or JPG, but usually it's the other way around.
EventHorizon
Reply #5 Monday, June 9, 2003 10:23 AM
Reply #5 Monday, June 9, 2003 10:23 AM
Also, gifs can be animated... Whereas png and jpgs cannot...(Right?) 
Styl-X Design
Reply #6 Monday, June 9, 2003 11:05 AM
Reply #6 Monday, June 9, 2003 11:05 AM
right yeah, png can't be animated... atleast not easy without script... Personaly I prefer png too, makes you get rid of all the ugly edges
RotAtoR
Reply #7 Monday, June 9, 2003 12:22 PM
Reply #7 Monday, June 9, 2003 12:22 PM
Actaully, there is .mng (multi-image network graphic) which is the animated counterpart to .png (portable network graphic)
CerebroJD
Reply #8 Monday, June 9, 2003 6:47 PM
Reply #8 Monday, June 9, 2003 6:47 PM
Can I make a .mng with Photoshop or anything like that?
Aqua.
Reply #9 Monday, June 9, 2003 8:48 PM
Reply #9 Monday, June 9, 2003 8:48 PM
Um, I think you can make it with Adobe Image Ready (the program that ships free with Photoshop)
CerebroJD
Reply #10 Tuesday, June 10, 2003 12:06 PM
Reply #10 Tuesday, June 10, 2003 12:06 PM
k thanks. Just needed a direction to go in to make them. THey're compatable with html and stuff too then I assume. I could put them in a web page?
Aqua.
Reply #11 Tuesday, June 10, 2003 2:56 PM
Reply #11 Tuesday, June 10, 2003 2:56 PM
Images aren't related to html, the question is whether or not the popular browsers support that image format.
Unfortunately for you, few browser support MNG (and mozilla just ditched native MNG support). If you want to use MNG animations you must include a link where people can get the MNG plugin for both IE and Mozilla based browsers (like Netscape). Another drawback to MNG is enormous filesizes compared to GIF and Flash animations.
Just about every browser supports GIF and JPG
Most modern browsers support PNG (IE 5+, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape 6,7+, Firebird, Safari, etc.)
For animations, you're best off going with either GIF 89a or Flash.
Unfortunately for you, few browser support MNG (and mozilla just ditched native MNG support). If you want to use MNG animations you must include a link where people can get the MNG plugin for both IE and Mozilla based browsers (like Netscape). Another drawback to MNG is enormous filesizes compared to GIF and Flash animations.
Just about every browser supports GIF and JPG
Most modern browsers support PNG (IE 5+, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape 6,7+, Firebird, Safari, etc.)
For animations, you're best off going with either GIF 89a or Flash.
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Reply #1 Monday, June 9, 2003 7:48 AM