GIF Files

These are some examples of GIF files.

GIF File Characteristics:

• binary
• Color (but no more than 256 colors, from a palette)
• 2D
• Lossless compression
• multiple images

Licensing:

The computer code and data files described and made available on this web page are distributed under the GNU LGPL license.

Reference:

1. Graphics Interchange Format, version 87a
   Compuserve,
   June 15, 1987
2. Graphics Interchange Format, version 89a
   Compuserve,
   31 July 1990

Programs to create a GIF file:

• The gnuplot command "set terminal gif".
• the mathematica command DISPLAY;

Programs to read a GIF file:

• MATLAB can read a GIF file with a command like A=imread('file','GIF').

Programs and routines to write a GIF file:

• MATHEMATICA includes an Export[filename,object] command that can save a graphics object as a GIF file.
• MATLAB can write a GIF file with a command like imwrite(a,'filename','GIF').

Programs to view a GIF file:

• The AVS module read_any_image can read a GIF file;
• The Microsoft Internet Explorer program can display a GIF file.
• The Linux program gqview, can view a GIF file.
• The ImageVision program imgview can display a GIF file.
• ImageMagick can display a GIF file.
• The Macintosh program jpegview can display a GIF file.
• MATLAB can display a GIF file, once it is read in, with a command like image(A).
• The Netscape program can display a GIF file.
• The Visualization Data Explorer OpenDX can display a GIF file.
• QuickTime or QuickTime Player can display a GIF file.
• Microsoft WORD can display and print a GIF file inside a document.
• The program xv can display a GIF file.

Programs to convert a GIF file to another format:

• Adobe Acrobat Professional can read a GIF file and convert it to PDF format.
• The ImageMagick, program convert can convert a GIF file to BMP, CGM, EPS, FIG, FITS, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, XBM or XPM format.
• The NetPBM program giftopnm can convert a GIF file to a PNM file.
• The Netscape program can display a GIF file and then save it as a PostScript file.
• xv can convert a GIF file to BMP, FIT, JPG, PBM, PGM, PPM, RGB, or TIF format.

Programs to convert a file to GIF format:

• The ImageMagick, program convert can convert a BMP, CGM, EPS, FIG, FITS, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, XBM or XPM file to GIF format.
• djpeg converts a JPEG file to BMP, GIF, PGM, PPM, RLE or Targa format.
• fig2dev can convert a FIG file to a GIF file by a command like

              fig2dev -L gif input.fig > output.gif
            

• xv can display a BMP, FIT, JPG, PBM, PGM, PPM, PS, RGB or TIF file, and then save it as a GIF file,

Sample GIF Files:

• aquarium.gif, a model of Greg Hood's new surf aquarium;
• bali.gif, a hillside in Bali;
• bell_206.gif, the Bell 206 helicopter;
• bell_v22.gif, the Boeing-Bell V22 Osprey;
• brain.gif, a brain;
• czoch.gif, an image of Czochralski crystal growth;
• hershey.gif, a candy bag;
• math_emporium.gif, the layout of Virginia Tech's Math Emporium;
• mri.gif, an MRI;
• polyfish_lines.gif, a "drawing" of a fish;
• prototein.gif, a schematic of some "proto-teins";
• scan_blobs.gif, some cells on a checkerboard;
• scan_groups.gif, some cells merged into groups;
• scs_logo.png, the logo for the School of Computational Science.
• worms.gif

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