Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more?

There is no graphical format that Perl is "better" or "worse" in. We (probably) all know the problems there are with the .gif format because of Unisys' patents on the LZH algorithm. Therefore packages like GD officially no longer support .gif.

The .png format came as solution to that and it is fully supported by modules like GD, so that's no problem. The .jpg fileformat has just other applications, it's more suitable for photos.

There is no 'better' involved in the choice between gif and png, it just has to do with the licensing issues of the LZH algorithm in gif, which isn't an issue in .png

Jouke Visser, Perl 'Adept'
Using Perl to help the disabled: pVoice and pStory

Comment on Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more?

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Re: Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more? by Masem (Monsignor) on Aug 12, 2001 at 17:50 UTC
Do be aware that GD is only able to handle 8-bits of color, and will 'posterize' (reduce the colors) of any higher-color image. For some cases, this may be acceptable, but is typically not the norm. If you need better color support, you'll probably have to go with a module like Image::Magick that uses the ImageMagick library to support nearly all popular formats and 24-bit+ color. I do wonder, now that I think about it, on the usefulness of a perl mod to handle 'object-oriented' raster imaging, similar to how the Macintosh PICT format is handled; objects would be stored nicely in XML until the need to be render is needed, and then backend off something like Image::Magick to actually do the generation. ----------------------------------------------------- Dr. Michael K. Neylon - mneylon-pm@masemware.com \|\| "You've left the lens cap of your mind on again, Pinky" - The Brain	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more? by Jouke (Curate) on Aug 12, 2001 at 18:31 UTC
I used GD just as an example. It's one of the available graphics manipulation modules for Perl, just to explain that there is no graphical fileformat that Perl handles better or worse. Jouke Visser, Perl 'Adept' Using Perl to help the disabled: pVoice and pStory	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more? by bladx (Chaplain) on Aug 12, 2001 at 18:34 UTC
Ok, so would Image::Magick also support altering the appearance of .jpgs as well? I am interested in being able to alter the look of .jpgs besides .pngs also. Is there a way to do this? Andy Summers	[reply]
Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more? by cLive ;-) (Prior) on Aug 13, 2001 at 01:19 UTC
Programming Web Graphics with Perl & GNU Software is well worth the investment. In fact, once you start playing, I think you'll find it hard to stop :) It covers GD, ImageMagick and much more... cLive ;-)	[reply]
Re: Re: Which graphics format can Perl alter easier and more? by IraTarball (Monk) on Aug 12, 2001 at 18:31 UTC
I'm not a graphics enthusiast but I seem to remember reading that the png format supported things that gif doesn't offer, like 32 bit true color and semi-transparency. I think there's a bit more to it than licensing issues. I did a quick read through the faq on the png site which looks like a good stop for anyone wanting some real details. Hey... it even looks like Oreilly has a book out on the png format if you're into that sort of thing. Ira, "So... What do all these little arrows mean?" ~unknown	[reply]