Quick links to procedures on this page:
GIF
GIF is a bitmap-based format designed for use on the Web. It is highly compressed to minimize file transfer time and supports images with up to 256 colors. The GIF file format supports a maximum image size of 30,000 × 30,000 pixels and uses LZW compression.
The GIF format provides the ability to store multiple bitmaps in a file. When the multiple images are displayed in rapid succession, the file is called an animated GIF file. For more information, see “Saving movies.”
GIF images with transparent backgrounds are commonly used on the Web. For more information, see “Creating images with transparent backgrounds.”
For Internet use, you can also save images to the JPEG and PNG formats. If you want to publish an image to the Web and are not sure which format to use, see “Choosing a Web-compatible file format.”
To import a GIF file |  |
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The File
 Import command lets you place the file as an object in the active image. If you want to open a GIF file as an image, click File Open. |
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(Windows Vista) Choose GIF – CompuServe Bitmap (*.gif) from the list box next to the File name box.
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You can also
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Resample a graphic while importing
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For more information, see “To resample an image while importing.”
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Crop a graphic while importing
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For more information, see “To crop an image while importing.”
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To export a GIF file | |
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If your image contains more than 256 colors, you can decrease the number of colors in your image by adjusting any settings in the Convert to paletted dialog box.
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Image color — lets you make the color you click on the color palette transparent
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For more information about the controls in the Convert to paletted dialog box, see “Converting images to the paletted color mode.”
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You can specify the transparent color by using the Eyedropper tool to click a color in the Original window or by moving the Index slider.
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You can make the selected area transparent instead of the masked area by enabling the Invert mask check box.
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To display the image in the Web browser gradually so that you can see portions of the image before it finishes loading, enable the Interlace image check box.
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You can zoom in to get a closer look at the image by clicking in the Original window. You can zoom out by right-clicking in the Original window.
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To open an animated GIF file | |
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For more information about opening and playing movies, see “Opening and playing movies.”
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You can also open part of a movie by choosing Partial load, and, in the Partial load movie dialog box, typing values in the From and To boxes to specify the range of frames.
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GIF technical notes | |
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Corel programs import versions 87A and 89A of the GIF file format, but export only to version 89A. Version 87A supports basic features and interlacing. The newer version, 89A, includes all features found in 87A plus the ability to use transparent colors and to include comments and other data from the image file.
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Corel programs support the following color depths when importing animated GIF files: black and white (1-bit), 16 colors, grayscale (8-bit), and 256 color paletted (8-bit).
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