What is the .gif file extension?
.gif files are graphic image files based on the Graphical Interchange Format (GIF), a popular bitmap image format that was developed by CompuServe in 1987. Today, GIF along with JPG and PNG are the most popular image formats used on the web.
.gif files are compressed using a patented compression algorithm named LZW. GIF is a lossless format, meaning there is no loss in the quality of the image when compressed.
.gif files come under the category of Raster Image files and the Mime type is image/gif, image/gi???_, image/x-bitmap.
GIF and JPG ? a comparison
Both GIF and JPG image formats are extensively used on the web, each having certain advantages and disadvantages.
GIF files can handle a palette maximum of 256 colors. This makes the GIF format unsuitable for showing photographs. Whereas the JGP format is not limited in the number of colors that it can display, making it a perfect file format for photographs. On the other hand, GIF files are best-suited for small images.
The GIF format is also used for creating animations as a GIF file can hold more than one image. When you load a GIF file, stored images are opened one at a time, creating a flip-book effect.
Names of the programs that can open .gif files
If you use Windows, you may use any of the following programs to open a .gif file:
- Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery Viewer
- ACD Systems Canvas 11
- ACDSee Photo Manager 12
- Nuance PaperPort 12
- Nuance OmniPage 17
- Adobe Photoshop CS5
- Adobe Illustrator CS5
- Adobe Photoshop Elements
- Roxio Creator 2010
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5
- Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3
- The Logo Creator
If you use a Macintosh, you may use any of the following programs to open a .gif file:
- Apple Preview or Safari
- Adobe Illustrator CS5
- Adobe Photoshop CS5
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 8
- Roxio Toast 10 Titanium
- The Logo Creator
- Nuance OmniPage Pro X
If you use Linux, you may use the following program to open a .gif file:
- The GMIP
Convert GIF files to JPG format in Windows
For conversion of GIF files to JPG format in Windows or Macintosh, you don?t need a third-party tool. Both the operating systems include programs that allow you to easily convert files in the GIF format to the JPG format.
To convert a .gif file to the JPG format in Windows, perform the following steps:
- Locate the GIF file you want to covert to JPG format.
- Right-click the GIF file and click Preview.
- Click the floppy disk icon at the bottom of the window.
- Next, from the Save as Type drop-down list select JPEG.
- Select the location where you wish to save the file and click Save.
A file type error occurs when I double-click the .gif file ? what should I do?
Generally, file type errors occur when one or more file openers on a Windows system are damaged. To fix the issue, we recommend you use a reliable file extension repair program.