How To Open GIF Files

DESCRIPTION:

A GIF file extension, an acronym for Graphics Interface File, is a bit-mapped based graphic image file which is capable of displaying 256 color levels. It was originally developed in the late 1980s by CompuServe, and is in widespread use today, especially for web-based graphics, images, icons, text, and symbols that do not require high resolution or rich color, particularly navigation buttons. GIF files can animated to create rudimentary action on websites. Their biggest drawbacks are that they: 1) Are limited in color palette, and 2), are limited by the flexibility of their pixels. Since an individual GIF pixel can only be transparent or opaque, the file image cannot be blended or made translucent like a PNG image. And with a limited color range, they cannot be used to display detailed or rich pictures like a JPEG file can.