#New Imagemaster!
12 messages in this thread
Don,
There will be plenty of freeware conversion utilities out there, and that's
good for those who need to convert a base of images. We do not wish to support
GIF ot LZW TIFF in any manner at this point, as that feels to us like an
investment in hurting ourselves. GIF and TIFF LZW need to die.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Ben,
GIF and TIFF may be headed for the graveyard…but in the meantime
there's (millions?) of files out there in that format. And you've got to have
some method of converting them to other formats.
Sure…you can tell the users to go look for a freeware converter, or
you could write one (probably extremely easy) and include it in your package as
a service to your customers. Again…only if you could do it without paying
royalties.
Don
Don-
I imagine that most people already have GIF capability in one form or another.
For example, even if AdPro came out with a new version, which is unlikely, but
just for the example, there's nothing to prevent existing users from keeping
the old version around to handle the dwindling number of GIFs.
Mr. Zombie
Paul,
Many people have viewing programs, not conversion programs. Also, many
people have lots of GIF files, but no image manipulation software yet at some
point in the future, may want to buy something like Image Master.
Yes, if you already have a manipulation program…keep it for
conversion purposes only…but remember, an older program wouldn't have the
newer formats…which would require 2 steps (GIF -> some other format [perhaps
JPEG] and then that format to a newly released format). I presume that the
double conversion may introduce some problems of it's own…but perhaps not.
Don
Don-
Oh, absolutely, but I'm afraid there's not much choice. I don't know whether
the legal farce of distributing a supposedly free GIF converter would work, and
I don't remember the terms dictated by Unisys well enough. But I imagine that
soon enough GIFs will be almost forgotten relics.
Mr. Zombie
Paul,
I suspect not (forgotten relics) as CIS has taken out a blanket license
and (so far) has shown no inclination to drop the format that I'm aware of.
Don
Don-
That's a point I hadn't considered–that CIS would be working to support the
darned format. It's pathetic, really–the format is lame and outdated anyway,
and deserves to die. I hope this hastens it to its grave. I don't know much
about PNG, but it sounds awfully good.
Mr. Zombie
Excuse me for butting in, but the way most programs are providing for GIF
capability on the Amiga these days is by using datatypes. The GIF datatype
is freeware, and therefore you don't have to pay Uni$y$ anything.
>F<riso
Friso P. Gosliga | Auto
CIS: 100341,464 – Internet: Friso.Gosliga@kub.nl | Pilot
Frisco,
The datatype may be free…but the code to display (de-compress) the
GIF isn't free.
Don
Don,
I read the legal agreement and shareware or PD GIF was free. As the GIF
format USES LZW, *that* particular use of LZW is also free. The point is
whether or not you charge money for your program.
BTW, It's Friso, not Frisco. I'm named after a people in the north of
Holland, not after the great city in the US 🙂
>F<riso
Friso P. Gosliga | Auto
CIS: 100341,464 – Internet: Friso.Gosliga@kub.nl | Pilot
> not after the great city in the US 🙂
And I understand the residents go ballistic when their great city is referred
to as Frisco!
Sean Hannon
Ad Rats – Stamford, CT
Don,
No, we don't "got to" have some method of converting GIF and TIFF files. From
our perspective, we've "got to" do everything we can to help GIF and TIFF along
to thier respecitive coffins. Total lack of support is what we can, and are,
doing.
I understand what you're saying, and you are right – without such support, our
users are going to become annoyed, and we are going to be as much of a target
as GIF and TIFF are. That's the way the ball bounces… sometimes you have to
do the right thing, even if it hurts.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot