Details: File format summary

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Properties

Summary
Name	Graphics Interchange Format
Version	89a
Other names	GIF (1989a)
Identifiers	Apple Uniform Type Identifier: com.compuserve.gif PUID: fmt/4 MIME: image/gif
Family
Classification	Image (Raster)
Disclosure	Full
Description	The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a raster image format developed by Compuserve, primarily for use on the internet. A GIF file begins with a Header section and a Logical Screen Descriptor section. This is followed by one or more Image sections, and the file is terminated by a Trailer. GIF supports bit depths between 1 and 8 bits (i.e. up to 256 colours) and supports features such as interlacing and transparency. Images are always stored using lossless LZW compression. GIF 89a introduced a number of new features, including a series of optional Control Extensions, which can be used to control the rendering of images within a file.
Orientation	Binary
Byte order	Little-endian (Intel)
Related file formats	Is subsequent version of Graphics Interchange Format (87a)
Technical Environment
Released	31 Jul 1990
Supported until
Format Risk
Developed by	Compuserve Incorporated
Supported by	None.
Source	Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Source date	11 Mar 2005
Source description
Last updated	02 Aug 2005
Note