Summary
|
| Name |
Graphics Interchange Format |
| Version |
87a |
| Other names |
GIF (1987a) |
| Identifiers |
Apple Uniform Type Identifier:
com.compuserve.gif
PUID:
fmt/3
MIME:
image/gif
|
| Family |
|
| Classification |
Image (Raster) |
| Disclosure |
Full |
| Description |
The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a raster image format developed by Compuserve, primarily for use on the internet. A GIF file begins with a Header section and a Logical Screen Descriptor section. This is followed by one or more Image sections, and the file is terminated by a Trailer. GIF supports bit depths between 1 and 8 bits (i.e. up to 256 colours) and supports features such as interlacing and transparency. Images are always stored using lossless LZW compression. |
| Orientation |
Binary |
| Byte order |
Little-endian (Intel) |
| Related file formats |
Is previous version of Graphics Interchange Format (89a)
|
| Technical Environment |
|
| Released |
15 Jun 1987 |
| Supported until |
|
| Format Risk |
|
| Developed by |
 Compuserve Incorporated
|
| Supported by |
None.
|
| Source |
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
|
| Source date |
11 Mar 2005 |
| Source description |
|
| Last updated |
02 Aug 2005 |
| Note |
|
Details: File format summary
: detailed report on file format 
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