Understanding GIF Files & GIF Animation
Table of Contents

Topics

Description (size K-of page & graphics)

Link

GIF General Information

General file format information, and references (links) to more information.
(12.7 K)

1 page

GIF Format, RLE & Shape Sensitivity

Explains how RLE (Run Length Encoding) works, and what graphic parameters effect it.
(31.4 K)

1 page

GIF Transparency

Probably the easiest of the GIF properties to place in practice, and how some software provides extensions for transparency.
(35.9 K)

1 page

GIF and Gradients

How to optimize the use of gradients in a drawing to achieve the smallest GIF file.
(51.9 K)

1 page

Anti-Aliasing

Anti-aliasing is a form of gradient, and will increase the size of GIF files, and it can be detrimental to small text on the WEB.
(52.2 K)

1 page

GIF and the WEB Palette

What to expect if you force the WEB palette on a continuous tone GIF image.
(39.8 K)

1 page

GIF and Photographs

Lossless technology? Sure, if you don't count the loss of 16 million colors!
(81.3 K)

1 page

Really BIG GIF Backgrounds

Popular WEB culture teaches that a
5 megabyte background might be a little large on a WEB page. That's how big this page was when it started!
(45.3 K ) (40.3 K) (32.0 K)

3 page

Animation

Animation: definition, examples, and introduction.
(79.5 K)

Animation Optimization

Giving thought to the initial design of an animation can aid in producing compact file sizes. There are also POST process reduction techniques.
(42.3 K) (50.4 K) (21.5 K) (27.7 K)

4 pages

GIF Disposal Methods

The key to getting the results you want, but they only work on certain browsers. Beware potential problems.
(15.5 K) (10 K) (8.8 K)

3 pages

GIF Timing & Looping

Animation speed, pausing for effect, and looping to help drive the viewer crazy.
(45.6 K)

1 page

GIF Translation Vectors (OFFSETS)

Moving small GIFs over a background can save a lot of memory, and makes some animation really easy. A discussion of "OFFSETS".
(15.4 K)

1 page