~terry
Thu, Jul 25, 1996 (15:48)
seed
GIF Construction Set -- Want to add a little spice to all those GIF
images that you've spent hours upon hours of work on? If you're
stuck with single frame, non-interlaced, non-transparent GIF
images for your web site, you definitely need to check out GIF
Construction Set and see what you've been missing. This cool little
program guides you through the process of adding new life and
dimension to any standard GIF image. Some of the cooler effects
that can be generated are image transparency (so that the
background of your graphic blends in with the background of your
web site), interlacing (allowing the graphic to become visible as it
is being downloaded rather than appearing only after the graphic
has been entirely downloaded), image transitions (ten different
effects for changing the way your image fades in and out after being
downloaded), and merging (combining multiple images into one).
By far the most popular image effect offered by GIF Construction
Set is animation, which allows you to create one graphic composed
of multiple GIF images. This single graphic, when viewed by a
high-end web browser (Netscape 2.0 and higher or Internet
Explorer 3.0 and higher), will cycle through its collection of
images, thereby creating an animation effect on your web site. For
an example of GIF animation, check out the 'RAM Upgrades' image
on the What's New page with one of the browsers listed above.
Animated images, also known as multiple image GIFs, are larger
than regular GIFs, but they do add another dimension to your
images that could otherwise only be obtained by implementing a
MPEG, AVI, or MOV multimedia video. Animated GIFs have a
couple of advantages over each of these formats, including smaller
file size (quicker download for your users) and inline viewing by
web browsers (no helper applications or plug-ins are needed to
view animated GIFs).
In addition to its array of image manipulation tools, GIF
Construction Set also offers extensive (and impressive) help for the
program and its effects, including an Animation Wizard for taking
you step-by-step through the process of designing animated GIFs,
online documentation, and an accompanying 31-page novella with
detailed instructions for each of GIF Construction Set's many
features. While GIF Construction Set does only work with GIF
images, the tools and effects it offers for the most common graphics
format on the 'net are unparalleled. Overall, GIF Construction Set is
the perfect tool for enhancing GIF images and is quite a steal at
only $20.
Pros: Image enhancement tools -- animation, transitions,
interlacing, transparency, and more
Cons: Only works with GIF images, lacks extensive image creation
tools
New: This is the initial review of GIF Construction Set
Version Reviewed: 1.0L
Date of Review: 7/8/96
Reviewer: Forrest Stroud
~terry
Tue, Jul 30, 1996 (06:28)
#1
Does anyone know how many separate gifs can be combined into an animated
gif? What is the upper limit?
~jstrike
Sun, Aug 11, 1996 (10:33)
#2
I did one a short time ago that had about 20 images. (Check it out at www.wje.com - you need a browser that can handle frames) I don't think there's any reasonable limit to the number of images, it's more a factor of how big you're willing to let the animaged image get. Mine is something like 45K.
~terry
Sun, Aug 11, 1996 (11:29)
#3
That's a pretty cool three dimensional revolving sign you made. What did
you use to make this? What software tools? It has the appearance of
being very fluid motion.
~zx6rider
Mon, Oct 11, 2004 (11:37)
#4
And almost 10 yrs later this app is still pretty dern cool!
I just ordered it... guess I better learn to draw.
~terry
Tue, Oct 12, 2004 (13:15)
#5
Yeah, haven't really tried it. It will be interesting to hear your comments.