Presenting APNG: Like MNG, Only Better

An anonymous reader writes "It's fair to say that most people love PNG images (or at least hate GIFs). However, the one advantage GIFs have over PNGs is that they can be animated. There is, of course, an animated version of PNG, MNG, but few programs can view these images (mainly because the MNG decoder is so large that the likes of Mozilla refuse to include it). But there may be an answer coming: Vladimir Vukicevic and Stuart 'Pavlov' Parmenter (of Mozilla fame) have put together a specification for APNG (Animated Portable Network Graphics)." (Read more below.)

"Unlike MNG, APNG is not a separate file format, but rather an extension to PNG. Thus, APNG images are just normal PNG images (with the .png extension) but can be animated. The system is fully backwards-compatable, so any program that can open a PNG image will be able to open an APNG image (though non-APNG viewers will only show the first frame). Vitally, the decoder just adds an extra few kilobytes onto a standard PNG decoder. APNG support is in the process of being checked into Mozilla. Hopefully, other programs will follow suit."

Comments

The burning question is...

[whiteranger99x]

how soon will such functionality be implented in major graphic manipulation programs like Photoshop?

Oh, and yeah, I'm sure someone will make it work with The Gimp, so don't flog me over that detail. :P

Don't hate it

[andyrut]

It's fair to say that most people love PNG images (or at least hate GIFs).

Now that Unisys's patent has expired across the globe, I certainly don't hate GIFs.

Re:Don't hate it

[damiam]

The point is that it's not possible to do that in a GIF without animation, so anything >256 colors would have to be animated. I think it's fair to call that a hack.

Good to hear

[cyxxon]

Well now, this sounds really nice. I have always wondered why MGN never really took off, but then PNG never really took off either (you all know the MSFT story...). Just never knew this had a big-decoder-problem.

So naturally I was disappointed when Mozilla took out MNG support back then, but this seems to make it better (read: more chances of survival in the real world out there) standard, and that is always a good thing.

One more reason to finally get rid of all them GIFs, even if they are no longer patent-encumbered - the format is still not capable of alpha transparency...

Re:Good to hear

[bluephone]

Pretend "APNG" is spelled "GIF04" and your solution is here. No, it wouldn't be easier, because your suggestion is essentially creating a new format (been done) and just CALLING it a new GIF format.

Define "better solution"

[Jonathan]

Java? Flash? I've seen lots of animated gifs in educational contexts -- showing how changing parameters affects a curve, for example. Yes, Java and Flash can be used, although they tend to be sluggish to load and crash browsers not infrequently,

Bad "most people" generalization

[enosys]

The story begins with: "It's fair to say that most people love PNG images (or at least hate GIFs)." No, it's not fair to say that; it's wrong. Most computer users don't even know the difference and don't care as long as they can see the image. Most people don't know about the GIF patent issues and anyways GIF is now free. Plus why hate a file format? If you really want to hate something then hate what Unisys did.

Why I don't use PNG

[pez]

Web developer has been my full-time job since 1995, and I have tried *so many times* to switch to PNG. And every single time, I slowly (and unfortunately) end up reverting back to GIF.

The two reasons that PNGs are unsuitable for large-scale use are:

* MSIE support sucks. It is getting better, but it still sucks (yes, I know this is a Microsoft issue not a PNG issue, but I'm not trying to place blame here.)

* Gamma value variation. Look at a PNG on one browser, and the blue value will match #0000CC, but look in another browser on another OS, and IT WON'T! Talk about maddening... this is one situation where the extra control by having the ability to specify a gamma value is a curse, not a blessing.

Yes, I know there are workarounds for both of thses issues. But the fact that they are both fatal flaws, and both have to be worked around, makes PNGs unusable for every-day use.

Re:Why I don't use PNG

[jesser]

MSIE support sucks. It is getting better, but it still sucks

I don't see how MSIE's lack of alpha-transparency could stop you from using PNGs, since you use GIFs now.

They'll develop a DRM encumbered one..

[cbreaker]

They'll probably come out with the "WMG" format which you will have to pay for a license to sign your own images. Users that visit your site will contact a Microsoft server and ask if it's okay to decode the images. Only IE will work with this system.

The official press release would be something like "We feel that this new open (to IE) format will provide the much needed protection against web site theft and give necessary control to Microsoft over your own content."

Would it surprise you?

Re:Too bad we can't use it

[Daniel Ellard]

IE won't support it until 2012...

Sarcasm aside, this is a valid point. If IE doesn't support it, most authors won't use it on their web pages, and there aren't any IE updates scheduled any time soon...