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How come I didn't know that?



Author: Casey Meaden
Date: October November, 1992
Keywords: GIF graphics Gifconverter tiff
Text: Last week I finally discovered the world of GIF's. GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. These are the picture files for that other kind of computer (of the IBM pursuation.) GIF files store grey-scale information, not just line-art. So what I belatedly figured out was that I could use this magic little program called GIFConverter 2.2.8 to turn those foreign files into pictures that Mac can use. After displaying the imported GIF file, GIF-Converter allows you to save the picture as a Paint, PICT, TIFF, EPSF or 6 other choices. I had to try it. I called the local Redwood Empire BBS in Eureka and downloaded a GIF file called ''Racecar.'' Here are the results , saved as a TIFF. So, if you want to vastly expand the number of pictures available to you, get a copy of GIFConver-ter by Kevin Mitchell, shareware for $40, available locally in the Mac section of the Redwood Empire BBS (444-9203), on Compuserve or America Online. While you're online, help yourself to a few GIF's, most BBS systems have lots to choose from....but don't forget, they're not in the Macintosh file section. They're in those other areas you had no reason to be in before. Another interesting thing I figured out is that these GIF files take up a lot less room in their native configuration than they do once they're converted to Mac files. For instance, ''Racecar'' is an 18K file as a fresh GIF right off the modem. After I saved it as a TIFF, it became a 64K file. So you can save disc space by storing them as GIF's. I guess what fascinates me is that this simple little program is another bridge to communicating directly with other computer formats. Apple and Big Blue are working toward such compatibility and I'm all for it. There are a handful of programs now that will share information, such as Adobe Illustrator, Excel, MS Word and Works, Word Perfect and Lotus 1,2,3. You need a special floppy drive and conversion program to read those other floppies, tho. Here's where the modem can help. By downloading files directly you get around having to read a foreign floppy. Oh, by the way, GIFConverter comes complete with a GREAT picture of Arnold Schwartzenegger!

Copyright © october november, 1992 by Casey Meaden


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