Gif Animator FAQs
What is an animated GIF?
What is GIF89a?
What file format do source files have to be in?
Why should I use animated GIFs on my Web site?
Where can I go to get more information about animated gifs?
How do I get Microsoft GIF Animator?
What is an animated GIF?
An animated GIF is a file that contains one or more images that are played back in sequence to produce an animation effect. It's like a cartoon flipbook, whereby slightly different images are played back in sequence to simulate motion.
What is GIF89a?
GIF89a is a file format that is popular on the Web and that has the ability to store a sequence of still images and flip through them (like a cartoon flipbook) to create the effect of animation.
GIF89a stands for the Graphics Interchange Format, and more specifically the version of the GIF specification that was released and extended in 1989. The Graphics Interchange Format defines a protocol intended for the online transmission and interchange of raster graphic data in a way that is independent of the hardware used in creation or display.
GIF89a Benefits:
- All the previous benefits of GIF: transparency, compression, interlacing, 1 to 8-bit color bit depths for optimum size and compression.
- Cell animation. The ability to store a sequence of still images known as 'frames' and flip through them like an traditional cartoon flipbook. This gives the perception of a changing or moving picture.
- Platform independence. Supported by applications on Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, Sun Microsystems, Inc., Linux, and Irix.
- Anyone can use them on their Web site.
- GIF animations work like any other GIF. Anyone can include GIF animations on their Web page in an HTML IMG or FIG tag. They can also anchor it (link it to another place on the Web).
GIF89a Limitations:
- All the previous limitations of GIF: maximum of 256 colors, photographs are better compressed by JPEG.
- The animation can be slowed down or interrupted by other images or controls being downloaded and other playing animations.
- Animations can be borrowed as easily as any GIF.
- Many older browsers do not fully support the GIF89a animation format and display only the first or last frame.
What file format do source files have to be in?
Source files can be in a number of file formats, including TIFF, JPEG, MIC (the native Microsoft® Image Composer file format), and other formats supported by Image Composer. You can drag files directly into Microsoft GIF Animator from Image Composer or from other programs that support OLE drag-and-drop operations.
Why should I use animated GIFs on my Web site?
Because animated GIFs add eye-catching motion, you can use them on your Web site to make it more appealing. Moreover, if you use Microsoft GIF Animator, you don't have to write code or use a complex animation program to create animations.
Where can I go to get more information about animated gifs?
A good place to look for more information is Yahoo's animated GIF search page.
How do I get Microsoft GIF Animator?
GIF Animator is included as a component of Image Composer 1.5.
Image Composer 1.0 is included in the Bonus Pack bundled with both Microsoft Front Page 97 and Visual Interdev. Image Composer 1.5 is available only with the FrontPage 2000 stand-alone version and is shipped with FrontPage 98. Users of Office 2000 Premium receive Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 business graphics software which combines powerful illustration and photo editing in one easy-to-use program.
