7.2.3 GIF (for simple animations, limited colors)
- What it is: GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a unique image format known for its ability to show simple animations.
- How it works: Like PNG, GIF uses lossless compression, but it's limited to only 256 colors. This means it can't show as many colors as a JPG or PNG. However, it can store multiple images in one file and play them in a sequence, creating a short, looping animation.
- Best for: Simple web animations (like short clips or memes), low-color graphics, and images with transparency (though PNG does transparency better).
- Weakness: The 256-color limit means it's not good for realistic photos (which need millions of colors) and GIF animations can have large file sizes for longer or more complex animations.
Bibliography:
- GIF files? (n.d.). Adobe Blog. Retrieved July 11, 2025, from https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/file-types/image/raster/gif-file.html
- GIF. (2023, September 12). Computer Hope. Retrieved July 11, 2025, from https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/g/gif.htm
Further Reading:
- GIF. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIF