GIFConverter Copyright ⌐1988-1993 Kevin A. Mitchell
All Rights reserved.
This program was written with MacApp¿: ⌐1983-1992 Apple Computer, Inc.
This document contains information on using GIFConverter. For full information, see the complete documentation available online, or that you will receive on registration. See warranty, license, and distribution information at the end of this document.
Contents
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o What is GIFConverter?
o Getting Started Quick
o Common Questions and Answers
o File Types At A Glance
o Warranty and License
o Distribution
What is GIFConverter?
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GIFConverter can open and read several graphic file formats, including GIF, TIFF, RIFF, PICT, JPEG (JFIF), MacPaint and Thunderscan. It can write these formats, as well as black-and-white EPS. It also prints on almost any Macintosh printer. You can use GIFConverter to convert files you find online for use in other programs, to view files, or to print them out.
Getting Started Quick
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Double click the GIFConverter icon, then open the file you want by choosing the File->Open command. To convert to a different format, choose File->Save As..., and select the format you want in the popup menu.
Common Questions and Answers
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Q: Why, when I double click a GIF file, do I get text garbage?
A: This sometimes happens with America Online weather maps. Currently, the America Online access software downloads them as text files owned by itself. If you double-click them, the Macintosh runs America Online and opens them as text. To get around that, double-click GIFConverter first, then use File->Open to open the file.
Q: Why do I get black-and-white startup screens? I want them to be in color.
A: When saving a startup screen for the first time, click on Options... in the save box. Then make sure "Mac II format" is checked.
Q: How do I get the colors to look right in startup screens?
A: You need to make the color palette of the startup screen match the environment at boot time. Click on the image, then pull out the menu at Image->Change Color Palette. Choose "Standard 256 colors" if you have that monitor setup, or one of the other items. GIFConverter will change the color palette. There will be some noise gain, but that is unavoidable. Then save the image.
Q: Why does GIFConverter crash at startup time?
A: Most often, this is due to a corrupted Preferences file. Look in the System Folder for the Preferences folder. Find the GIFConverter Prefs file inside it, and trash it. Then run GIFConverter.
Q: How can I print better on my non-PostScript QuickDraw printer?
A: Make sure you have the printer set for color or greyscale printing. HP DeskWriter series printers, for instance, can print color or greyscale images from color Macintoshes without any changes. But, you must set choose the correct options. Consult your manual.
If you can't get the printer to print greyscale or color, try this: Click on the image. Choose One Bit and Greyscale from the Display menu. Then choose the menu item Special->Dither->Halftone 53í. Then choose Image->Set Resolution and select an appropriate resolution (288 dpi for most printers, 360 dpi for StyleWriters).
Q: Why does GIFConverter tell me that the compressed data is invalid?
A: Most Macintosh uploads have a MacBinary header, which tells the Macintosh what icon to show for the file. GIF and other standard graphic files are not stored that way. Most download programs think that a GIF file is text, and tries to "fix" it. This changes some of the compressed data, and prevents successful decompression. To fix this, make sure you transfer all files as Binary (not MacBinary) if possible. If you are forced to use MacBinary or Text mode, make sure you set your communications software to NOT make any modifications to the file. These modifications may be stated as removing control characters or LFs.
Q: Why doesn't the file I downloaded show up in the open box?
A: The Macintosh adds special file type information to all files. Sometimes, it is not present on downloaded files. GIFConverter tries to deduce the file format from any extension (like .GIF) the file may have. If all else fails, click on the "Look inside all files" button.
Q: When I run GIFConverter, my desktop colors change. Why?
A: GIFConverter asks the Macintosh to set the color environment for the most accurate display of the files it opens. The Macintosh should reset the desktop colors when you quit GIFConverter. This won't happen if your monitor is set to thousands or millions of colors.
File Types At A Glance
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GIF: CompuServe's Graphics Interchange Format. Designed for transferring graphic images between files. Up to 256 colors.
PICT: Macintosh Picture Format. May include objects with up to millions of colors. GIFConverter converts all PICT files it reads to bitmapped images. PICT files can also be compressed if QuickTime is installed.
TIFF: Tag Image File Format. Mostly portable across platforms, but has too many options. GIFConverter supports the 5.0 spec, except for Fax compression. Up to millions of colors.
JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group. Highly compressed portable photographic file format. Good for photos, bad for line art. Lossy; images lose some quality, hopefully quality that is barely visible anyway. Up to millions of colors.
JFIF: JPEG File Interchange Format. The simplest way of storing JPEG images in a file.
RIFF: Raster Image File Format.
Paint: MacPaint. 576 x 720 pixels, black and white.
Scan Image: Thunderscan format. Up to 32 greys.
RLE: GIFConverter understands CompuServe RLE, an old graphics format. One bit, very small image sizes.
EPS: Encapsulated PostScript. GIFConverter can write this format.
Warranty and License
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APPLE COMPUTER, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THIS PRODUCT, INCLUDING WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
The MacApp software is proprietary to Apple Computer, Inc. and is licensed to Kevin A. Mitchell for distribution only with the GIFConverter program.
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This file contains information about GIFConverter 2.3.7.
Please report bugs or suggestions to Kevin Mitchell at the address below, on Compuserve Mail at 74017,2573, America Online at KevinM17, GEnie mail at K.MITCHELL, or through Internet at 74017.2573@compuserve.com. Support is also available online in the Graphics Support Forum of CompuServe, and through the Macintosh Graphics and CAD forum on America Online.
Now you can register online on CompuServe. Just GO SWREG. GIFConverter's registration ID number is 90. Read the online files there for more information.
Official releases and upgrades may be downloaded from Compuserve at the Graphics Support Forum (GO GRAPHSUPPORT), library 3, the Macintosh RoundTable on GEnie, or from America Online in the Direct Connect folder of the Macintosh Graphics and CAD forum (keyword: mgr). GIFConverter updates are also available through some user groups, disk services, and Internet FTP sites.
