JPEG vs. GIF

[Guest]

Which is better for web, JPEG or GIF?

 

[Paul M]

Hi
Use jpg for continuous tone images such as photos and Gif for things like
logos.
jpg leaves a flat tone looking a bit blotchy whereas gifs can only handle
256 colours as apposed to millions with jpg
Paul M

 

[M. Lawson]

It depends on what you are using either for. Size was a great
limitation when people were on dialup. With most people accessing
high-speed connections from work and home, size isn't a factor.
Granted, I don't think anyone wants (or needs) to download a huge JPG or
GIF file, JPG is capable of handling more colors.

If you're doing anything where depth of color is needed, I'd stick to
that and keep GIF for more simplistic needs.

 

[P@tty Ayers]

It depends on what you are using either for. Size was a great limitation
when people were on dialup. With most people accessing high-speed
connections from work and home, size isn't a factor. Granted, I don't
think anyone wants (or needs) to download a huge JPG or GIF file, JPG is
capable of handling more colors.

If you're doing anything where depth of color is needed, I'd stick to that
and keep GIF for more simplistic needs.

Depth of color isn't the issue - see JCarlos' post for the actual criteria
for deciding which to use.

 

[Sparky Polastri]

Depth of color isn't the issue - see JCarlos' post for the actual criteria
for deciding which to use.

Yeah, the issue Carlos wasn't bright enough to specify what his idea of
"better" was.

So the answer is still, "it depends"

 

[P@tty Ayers]

Yeah, the issue Carlos wasn't bright enough to specify what his idea of
"better" was.

So the answer is still, "it depends"

Excuse me, my mistake: I meant to reference the post by Paul M, who had the
correct answer. It depends, but it depends upon identifiable criteria.

I saw no lack of intelligence in *his* post.

 

[Murray]

Yes, definitely....

 

[P@tty Ayers]

I saw no lack of intelligence in *his* post.

The original poster, that is. It was a good question.

 

[Steve Easton]

Depends upon the clarity you want in the image.
jpegs display "true color" while gifs are limited to a total of 216 colors per image.
( 256 actually, but 40 are reserved " system colors " )

So if the image is not "color rich" a gif will display just as clearly as a jpg.

The ultimate for "true colors" is a bitmap .bmp file but the file size is just to large for a web.


--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[E. T. Culling]

After ready the replies I would say that you need a good image editing
program, possibly Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements 3 or PhotoImpact and
read their manuals.
Always use jpgs for photographs. Learn how to properly optimize your images
for use on the web.
This article, though written about Paint Shop Pro, will help you I'm sure.
http://www.eleanorstravels.com/PSPv9/index.htm
Eleanor

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Just a wee bit of clarification here, some technical details, if you will. A
GIF image is indeed limited to 256 colors, but it is a paletted image
format, which means that the 256 colors can be any 256 colors you choose,
and use in the palette when you create the GIF. This is indeed limiting, but
for images that contain relatively few differences in color, the GIF format
is both smaller overall in file size, and highly adequate. It is smaller
because only 8 bits are used to store each pixel. The 8 bits are a reference
to the palette index of the color for that pixel. Also note that a GIF can
define one color in the pallette as being transparent, which means that any
pixel of that color will be rendered transparent. And a GIF can contain
animation, that is, multiple images that are displayed quickly in sequence,
at varying rates of speed.

JPGS are indeed "true color" images, using 24 bits for each pixel, 8 bits
(256 values) of Red, 8 bits of Green, and 8 bits of blue for each pixel. A
JPG can be as large or larger than a Bitmap, depending on the compression
used on the image. JPGs support compression, and support a large variety of
compression types. However, the compression used, and the amount of
compression, results in an image of lesser quality. This is often referred
to as "lossy." A JPG, because of its 24-bit format, does not contain
transparency, and cannot be animated.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Everybody picks their nose,
But some people are better at hiding it.

 

[Steve Easton]

Isn't that what I said??

jpegs display "true color" while gifs are limited to a total of 216 colors per image.
( 256 actually, but 40 are reserved " system colors " )

;-)

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed..................
...............................with a computer

 

[Steve Easton]

Shucks ET,
What's wrong with Paint and IrfanView

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed..................
...............................with a computer

 

[KatWoman]

FWIW my PhotoShop NewsGroup are BIG fans of Irfranview for many tasks.
One favorite is using it to create or convert large numbers of files to
appropriate internet formats. Photoshop can of course do this but for some
reason they prefer to use Irfran for that task (more options, faster,
easier)

AND IT'S FREE!!! can't beat free and good software, I use PhotoShop but most
people will not want to spend that much $ unless they are using it for other
work as well (I do). It can also open and convert a lot of different file
formats.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

The most important quality of any software is, does it perform the tasks
that you need it to perform? Does it do so well? If any software satisfies
these conditions, it is suitable.

Of course, if one has the resources, it is worth considering whether the
software will accomodate personal growth and expanding needs. IOW, if the
software does what one needs done now, but will not accomodate future needs,
it may be more financially wise to buy software that will accomodate future
needs, as buying 2 software packages is, in the long run, more expensive.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Everybody picks their nose,
But some people are better at hiding it.

FWIW my PhotoShop NewsGroup are BIG fans of Irfranview for many tasks.
One favorite is using it to create or convert large numbers of files to
appropriate internet formats. Photoshop can of course do this but for some
reason they prefer to use Irfran for that task (more options, faster,
easier)

AND IT'S FREE!!! can't beat free and good software, I use PhotoShop but
most people will not want to spend that much $ unless they are using it
for other work as well (I do). It can also open and convert a lot of
different file formats.

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

batch processing, optimizing, renaming resizing in Irfanview is quicker and
much easier than doing it in PS - that's primarily what I use it for, but PS
is my primary for editing images.

FWIW my PhotoShop NewsGroup are BIG fans of Irfranview for many tasks.
One favorite is using it to create or convert large numbers of files to
appropriate internet formats. Photoshop can of course do this but for some
reason they prefer to use Irfran for that task (more options, faster,
easier)

AND IT'S FREE!!! can't beat free and good software, I use PhotoShop but
most people will not want to spend that much $ unless they are using it
for other work as well (I do). It can also open and convert a lot of
different file formats.

 

[KatWoman]

0+0=0 0x0=0
nothing to lose on free software and as I stated even those who own
expensive PhotoShop still prefer Irfranview for these type tasks.
I haven't tried Irfranview just passing on the info I found in the PS NG.
I use PS for just about all my image tasks except when I need vectored art I
use Illustrator.

 

[Murray]

nothing to lose on free software and as I stated even those who own

expensive PhotoShop still prefer Irfranview for these type tasks.

I would take issue with this assertion.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

I would take issue with this assertion.

....and I thought it was just me! ;-)

--

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Everybody picks their nose,
But some people are better at hiding it.

 

[Murray]

It still could be....

--
Murray
============

...and I thought it was just me! ;-)

--

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
.Net Developer
Everybody picks their nose,
But some people are better at hiding it.