GIF - *graphic interchange file* format uses 24 bit encryption meaning there isn't
much color on the scale. It is used as a standard to compress BMP (bitmap - 16 bit
encryption) file format and still keep the resolution by allowing grayscale overlap.
JPEG - The format comes from *Joint Photographic Expert Group* who wrote the standard for
the (jpg - 128 bit encryption) file format. Millions of colors are used in this format
and it also allows very good file compression without loss of resolution. Resizing is a
cinch !!!
Thank you John for pointing out the advantage of using GIF for black and white photographs
and documents using grayscale (only 16 colors used). MS Paint will provide an excellent
example when trying to save a scanned picture in GIF format. Saving the same file in JPG
format with MS Paint will keep the resolution in tact even when resizing the photo.
I believe the JPG format is recommended due to the differences that provide a greater
color range in the more common use of photographic equipment today. Icons still commonly
use the GIF preference because those images are so small that resolution in the graphic is
undetected by the eye.
Great topic... Kudos !!! I'm sharing this with all our team players.
Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: John Grace
To: kygen(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 3:46 PM
Subject: [KYGEN] gif vs jpeg
I may be the last one to discover this, but, I just noticed that scanned documents in
the gif format are often much smaller than the same image in jpeg. Google searches
indicate that jpeg is best when the scanned images are in color. The general abvice is to
use jpeg for all scanned images (gif to e used for graphics, etc.). This rule does not
appear to apply to the black and white documents that we often deal with, such as
death/birth certificates, marriage licenses and the like. A DC image in the gif format is
less than 1/10th the file size of the jpeg equivalent image.
HTML, at least in IE, seems to handle either format equally well, with gif being
noticeably faster loading because of the smaller file size. This is especially significant
if you have any visitors to your site using dial-up internet connections.
John
Carter County