1.

Graphics on the Web

Images were not always used so often in Web pages as today because of :
low connection speeds. and graphics file size.

Today thinks have changed.

Faster connection speeds. Better browser support. Computer processors and graphics cards improved. Higher-resolution screens became available. Larger screens fell in price and became more widespread.

1.1 Graphics on the Web

Graphic file formats are broadly categorized into :
bit-mapped. vector formats.
.

Bit-mapped are composed of a pattern of dots Vector graphics use geometrical formulas to represent images.

2. Use of Graphics
Create a sites identity. Better understanding of the Contents. Better for emphasis. Dont have to rely on users imagination. Embellishment of Pages. Make pages more interesting. Avoid Usage of large blocks of text.

File Formats
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) JPEG (Joint Photographers Expert Group) PNG (Portable Network Graphics) SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) Flash (Macromedia Format) Other Formats..

4. GIF Specificaton
Definition
The Graphics Interchange Format defines a protocol intended for the on-line transmission and interchange of raster graphic data in a way that is independent of the hardware used in their creation or display.

Version Nubmer
Identifies the minimum set of capabilities required of a decoder in order to fully process the Data Stream.

4.1 GIF Specificaton

Encoder :
Creates a Gif Data Stream. Produces the necessary control and data blocks needed for reproducing the original graphics.

Responsibilities :
Include in the Data Stream all the necessary information to reproduce the graphics. Insure that a Data Stream is labeled with the earliest possible Version Number that will cover the definition of all the blocks in it. Avoid redundant information as much as possible. Avoid grouping graphics which might require resetting hardware parameters during the decoding process. Set to zero each of the bits of each and every field designated as reserved.

4.2 GIF Specificaton

Decoder
The Decoder is the program used to process a GIF Data Stream. Responsibilities : Process each graphic in the Data Stream in sequence, without delays other than those specified in the control information. Set its hardware parameters to fit, as closely as possible, the control information contained in the Data Stream.

File Formats-- GIF

General Features Developed by Campus Serve. Two types :
i. ii. GIF87a GIF89a

First graphic file type to be displayed by early web browsers. Most popular file format. Platform independent. Doesn't require plug-ins Supported by all Browsers.

File Formats-- GIF

General Features 2 Uses the Run-length-Encoding. Works well with large areas of continuous color. Supports one-bit transparency. Supports animation.

File Formats-- GIF

Usage

Images with flat color and crisp detail such as :

Line art. Logos. Illustrations. Buttons Bullets Cartoons.

File Formats-- GIF

Minimizing File Size

Scale large images down. Crop non important areas of the picture. Avoid large graphics unless necessary. Design with flat color.
I. II. III. IV. Fill areas with solid colors rather than gradients. Limit the amount of photographic material. Favor horizontal fields of color in your designs. Turn off anti-aliasing when it isnt necessary.

Reduce number of colors. Limit Dithering.