IMAGE FORMATS

As I just mentioned, three image formats are supported by every  major web browser: GIF, JPEG, and PNG.JPEG and GIF  format, which was necessary after Unisys invoked its patent rights on the GIF format. (The patent has since e expired). To design web pages, you must understand and be able to apply both image formats and to decide which is appropriate to use in each case.

GIF

Graphics interchange format, also known as GIF or CompuServe GIF, is the most widely used graphics format on the web today. It was developed by comp serer to fill the need for a cross – platform image format.

NOTE

GIF is pronounced jiff, like the peanut butter, not with a hard G as in gift, really – the early documentation of GIF tools says so.

The GIF format is actually two very similar image formats: GIF87, the original format, and GIF89a, which has enhancements for transparency, interlacing, and multiform GIF images that you can use for simple animations.

The GIF format is grate for logos, icons, line art, and other simple images, it doesn’t worked as well for highly detailed images because is  limited to only 256 colors, for example, photographs in GIF format tend to look grainy and blotchy. the problem is that with the limited color plate. It’s hard to create smooth color transitions.