GIF is the oldest and simplest image format still commonly used on the web. … There are multiple competing animated image formats, and also some debate on whether we need them at all (leaving animation to video formats). In this article I will give a short introduction to alternative animated image formats.
Are GIFs still a thing?
Reaction GIFs are so broadly recognized as fundamental parts of expression on social media that modern social media platforms, from Twitter to Slack, now support GIF searches through third-party GIF platforms like Giphy and Gfycat.
Why would you not use GIF?
GIFs are not optimized to be used on the web: their file size is very large and decoding GIFs in the browser is not a very performant operation. However, there is a better alternative to using GIFs and that alternative is to use videos instead.
Are GIFs dead?
GIF format is outdated and is not really that great for the modern web anymore. ” Imgur founder Alan Schaaf told The Verge. “It was created in 1989, and it wasn’t even created for the purpose of animation.
Why GIF is a bad format?
The GIF was known for its lossless compression, but has ever since been surpassed by the PNG format, a non patented improvement over the GIF. … This means that The quality of the image is compromised in some localized areas, but in return lead to massive gains in compression.
Are GIFs bad for your phone?
The threat is critical because even previewing the corrupted gif can initiate a breach of your security, and because WhatsApp previews all data, the breach can be instigated unwillingly as well. However, the threat is only for Android users. … In the older Android versions, double-free could still be triggered.”
Do GIFs use memory?
It unwraps the file, and decodes the data as you’re watching. GIFs have to be playable without any sort of decoding happening, which means you can’t compress the data as much. It’s also based off of the bitmap standard, which takes up much more space than a JPG or a PNG.
How do you know if a GIF is copyrighted?
Usage of animated gifs can be legal if it’s ‘fair use’
Fair use is a complex part of copyright law because it’s not clear cut, and it’s always determined by a case-by-case basis. If something is determined to be fair use, then there is no copyright infringement.
What can I use instead of a GIF?
What alternatives to animated GIF are there?
- GIF is the oldest and simplest image format still commonly used on the web. …
- APNG Animated Portable Network Graphics. …
- WebP Modern image format developed by Google. …
- AVIF AV1 Image File Format. …
- FLIF Free Lossless Image Format.
When should I use a GIF?
Use GIF when your graphic uses a relatively low number of colors, there are hard-edged shapes, large areas of solid color, or needs to make use of binary transparency. These exact same rules apply for 8-Bit PNG’s. You can think of them almost exactly like GIF files.
Who invented GIFs?
Steve Wilhite is an American computer scientist who worked at CompuServe and was the primary creator of the GIF file format, which went on to become the de facto standard for 8-bit color images on the Internet until PNG became a viable alternative. He developed the GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) in 1987.
What does a GIF mean?
Graphics Interchange Format
Is GIF real?
A GIF Is Just an Animated Image
In its simplest form, a GIF (pronounced “gif” or “jiff”) is just an image file. Like the JPEG or PNG file formats, the GIF format can be used to make still images. … CompuServe published the GIF format in 1987, and it was last updated in 1989.
Which is better JPEG or GIF?
JPEG is far better for photographs, while GIF is great for computer generated images, logos and line-art with limited palettes. A GIF will never lose its data. It uses lossless compression. … A JPEG file also can compress and be smaller for websites, and it keeps the basic look and crispness of the photograph.
Is PNG better than GIF?
PNG files almost always offer better compression and a reduced file size compared to GIF. The PNG format also supports variable transparency and millions of colors while GIF only supports 256 colors and does not offer alpha channels.
Which is better JPG or GIF?
While GIF is great for computer generated images with limited palettes, JPG is far better for photographs. It gives better quality images for the same file size. … The image on the right is the same region compressed using GIF. The GIF file is 2.4 times bigger than the JPG, but is clearly of lower quality.