Page 59 - DCAP303_MULTIMEDIA_SYSTEMS

Unit 4: Image

Notes: The PICT is a Macintosh only format, indeed it is virtually impossible for it to exist on any notes
machine but the Macintosh. The interpretation of a PICT is handled by the Macintosh operating
system and thus is supported by almost all Macintosh applications. This format is responsible for
the successful transfer of image data on the Macintosh and is used in cut/copy/paste operations.
Supports most colour spaces and compression methods including JPEG.
format: PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

platforms: Commonly supported on Mac/DOS-WINDOWS/UNIX
owner: None, patent free
Notes: Very powerful format which slowly seems to be adopted for the WWW. Supports colour
upto 48 bits, grey upto 16 bits. Supports multiple compression schemes and bit depths including
user defined ones.

format: RAW
platforms: Any

owner: None
Notes: This is the simplest of all ways to store images, just as “raw” bytes. For example, one byte
per pixel for grey scale or 3 bytes per pixel for RGB colour. There is no standard header and so
even the size of the image needs to be specified for programs that might read the image.
format: PPM (Portable PixMap)

platforms: Any, originally UNIX
owner: None
Notes: This is little more than the raw format with a few semi-agreed upon header fields. Typically
used for 8 bits grey or 24 bits RGB colour images.
format: GEM
platforms: Almost exclusively DOS/Atari

owner: Digital Research
Notes: Supported by GEM operating system.
format: IFF/ILBM

platforms: Almost exclusively Amiga
owner: Electronic Arts
Notes: Supports four bit colour map and 24-bit direct colour.
format: TARGA

platforms: Mixed support on Mac/DOS-WINDOWS/UNIX
owner: TrueVision Inc

Notes: Originally designed for VISTA data capture boards. Little more than a RAW format with
some extra header information.
format: BMP/DIB

platforms: Primarily DOS-Windows
owner: MicroSoft

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