QuickTime 4 Reference

QuickTime Image File Format

QuickTime Image files are intended to provide the most useful container for QuickTime compressed still images. The format uses the same atom-based structure as a QuickTime movie. (See Chapter 1, "Movie Toolbox," in the QuickTime 4 Reference guide for information about atoms.)

Most still image file formats define both how images should be stored and compressed. However, two of the file formats supported by QuickTime are container formats, which describe storage mechanisms independent of compression. These formats are QuickDraw Picture (PICT) files and QuickTime Image (QTIF) files.

QuickTime has permitted compressed image data to be included in QuickDraw pictures since QuickTime 1.0. However, the technical challenges of parsing, interpreting and spooling picture files can make them a discouraging choice for applications which are primarily interested in accessing the compressed data inside.

The QuickTime Image file format provides a much simpler container for QuickTime compressed still images. The format uses the same atom-based structure as a QuickTime movie. Because the QuickTime Image file is a single fork format, it works well in cross-platform applications. On Mac OS systems, QuickTime Image files are identified by the file type 'qtif' . On other platforms, Apple recommends that you use the filename extension .QTIF to identify QuickTime Image files.

Atom Types in QuickTime Image Files

Recommended File Type and Suffix