GIF

Action Plan: Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)

Last Updated 4/14/2014

Description: GIF is a raster image format which uses LZW lossless data compression. It was developed in 1987 by Compuserve and it has been widely adopted online. The format supports short, soundless animations in up to 256 colors.

Codec: The current version, 89a, dates back to 1989. It added some metadata and animation improvements over the release version, 87a. The two versions can be differentiated by the first six numbers in each file's "Magic Number," which read either "GIF87a" or "GIF89a."

Software:  Adobe Photoshop ,  MS Paint  ,  Gimp ,  Aperture  (OS X), Almost all image editing suites.

Long Term Preservation Plan:  GIF is well supported and documented. Since 2004, all patents on its compression technology have expired (patents which encouraged the creation of the PNG format in 1995). Its 256 colors limitation does dramatically reduce its desirability as a master image format. It is best used for simple logos with few colors or short animations. It is #9 on the "Library of Congress - Recommended Format Specifications" list of preferred raster image formats. GIF files should be retained.

Division Specific Notes: 

Review in two years (2016)