GIFs vs. JPEGs

As you may know, the most widely supported web image graphic formats are GIF and JPEG. This may add to you confusion--when should I use GIF and when should I use JPEG?

The easy rule to remember:

1. Use GIF format with graphics that you have created on your computer such as horizontal rules, buttons, or animation.

2. Use JPEG format when the images are scanned pictures or photographs.

GIF file can contain the maximum of 256 colors (8 bit) or less, which is good for customizing your graphic files. For example, if you create a GIF image of a red arrow, , you can customize the file to have only two colors, read and white. This means that the file is very very small because its palette contains only two colors. GIF file will yield a higher quality and smaller size image, compared to JPEG, when it is used with computer generated graphics such as icons, logos, buttons, etc.

JPEG was built to contain 24-bit (16.7+ million colors) and was developed specifically for photographic-style images. JPEG stores the information of images by keeping track of color changes. The advantage of JPEG is that it can carry a smaller file size than GIF when used in storing photographs and images with a wide variety of shading. But, it will not yield a smaller file when dealing with low color level and details like computer generated graphics.

GIFs also has some special features such as animation, transparency, and interlacing.

Animated GIFs

You can get GIF animation tools from many sources, I have listed them on Graphic Tools page, another page on this site.

Here are some sources for free GIF animation:

Andy's Art -- The site contains 1000's of images that you can download and use on your site.

Animation Factory -- 12,000 Original Animations for use on web pages and in e-mail!

A-1 Icon Archive -- a site with access to over 300,000 free clipart images such as animated gifs, icons, backgrounds, bullets, clip art, and pictures; all free for you to download.

Free Graphics -- Featuring the Internet's top 508 graphic links!


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