Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats: The Complete Reference on CD-ROM with Links to Internet Resources by James D. Murray, William VanRyper, Deborah Russell (Editor)

From the Publisher

The second edition of the Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats provides the convenience of quick look-up on CD-ROM, up-to-date information through links to the Web, as well as a printed book - all in one package. Includes technical details on more than 100 file formats. The CD-ROM includes vendor file format specs, graphics test images, coding examples, and graphics conversion and manipulation software. An indispensable online resource for graphics programmers, service bureaus, and graphic artists.

Booknews

Over 100 entries on file formats written to aid in the retrieval of graphics data regardless of the state of industry documentation of format specifications. Includes an overview of graphics data retrieval, treating subjects such as bitmap and vector files, platform dependencies, format conversion, and data compression. The CD-ROM includes the entire contents of the book, a world wide web browser, sample code that reads and writes a variety of formats, and third party utilities for file manipulation and conversion. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Ray Duncan

A Bible for Graphics Programmers

When the first edition of the Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats appeared in 1994, it immediately established a reputation as the definitive source of information on bitmap and vector file formats for programmers. It was so comprehensive, so accurate, and so well organized that it simply blew its competitors out of the water. Amazingly, Murray and vanRyper have gone back to press only two years later with a second edition that is even better than the first in every way.

The Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats is essentially two books in one. The first section, about 225 pages in length, is a general treatise on graphics programming. The overviews of color theory, palettes, bitmaps, vectors, metafiles, and compression techniques are very clear and are written at just the right level. A brief, non-judgmental account of the LZW/GIF fracas is included.

The heart of the book is an encyclopedic treatment of approximately 100 graphics file formats ranging from the humble Windows bitmap to Pixar RIB. The chapters for the various file formats have a common structure: a summary table, an overview of the format's history and how/where the format is used, a general description of file organization, the microscopically-detailed explanation of the format necessary for code design and implementation, and references to further information -- usually in the form of original standards documents or manufacturers' white papers.

The authors are catholic and eclectic in their interests, and cover quite a few file formats that you wouldn't necessarily expect to find in a book of this type. Ancient (in computer terms) file formats such as Atari ST FLM, Lotus DIF, Digital Research GEM Raster, and Microsoft SYLK receive equal treatment with modern, highly complex, application-specific file formats supported by Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. The mind quails at the magnitude of the task that the Murray and vanRyper have taken on as their personal mission.

There are several appendices devoted to pointers to graphics programming resources on the Internet (particularly the World Wide Web), installation and setup of the CD-ROM, and a graphics glossary.

This book's CD-ROM is one of the very few I've seen in computer trade book publishing that actually justifies its existence. The entire text of the book is included for browsing in the form of HTML documents, along with demos of the various graphic file formats, an impressive selection of PC, Macintosh, and UNIX graphics tools and utilities, hotlinks to Internet resources, and a full-text index.

The Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats, Second Edition isn't exactly pool-side reading. But every programmer who deals with graphics in any way whatsoever should own or have access to a copy.--Dr. Dobb's Electronic Review of Computer Books

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents