Gif vs. Jpg Part II

Gif format is fantastic at saving images with solid blocks of color. The smaller the file, the less amount of colors used. The gif examples at bottom show how that works. The smallest gif only uses four colors, while the largest one contains 64. Notice the smallest jpg below, the stars are a little fuzzy compared to the smallest gif, which displays the image perfectly, but with only 4 colors. Although jpg format can save clip art just as well as gif, the problem is that jpg images use more memory. The largest jpg below is 4.6K while the largest gif is a mere 2.346K.

Low quality 2% Jpg, 1.652K, 1 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Non-Progressive, Optimized

Low quality 15% Jpg, 2K, 2 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Non-Progressive, Optimized

Medium quality 30% Jpg, 2.786K, 2 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Non-Progressive, Optimized

High quality 60% Jpg, 4.6K, 3 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Non-Progressive, Optimized

The Gif images below are all identical in quality except for the number of colors that are in each image. There is hardly any difference between the Gif with the most colors and the one that contains only sixteen. Even the file sizes tend to be very close. Gif format comes out on top when an image contains blocks of solid color or are very simple like the images below.

4 Colors, Web Palette, .969K, 1 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Diffusion, 0% Dither, Non-Interlaced

16 Colors, Web Palette, 1.536K, 1 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Diffusion, 0% Dither, Non-Interlaced

32 Colors, Web Palette, 2.188K, 2 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Diffusion, 0% Dither, Non-Interlaced

64 Colors, Web Palette, 2.346K, 2 sec @ 28.8 Kbps, Diffusion, 0% Dither, Non-Interlaced

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Most recent update: 28 Apr 03
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