Graphical Software Tools, Applications, and Libraries

Last Updated: 15 Feb 1997

Links to the Graphics File Formats FAQ

Here is a selection of freeware, shareware, and commercial applications used for converting files from one format to another. This page provides links to Part 2 of the Graphics File Formats FAQ Home Page.

Creating the World Wide Web (or just bits of it)

As you have probably already noticed, there are dozens of Web pages that do nothing but give you endless advise on how to create Web pages. Assuming you haven't already had your fill, feel free to dig into these links for, as of yet, undiscovered treasure (or just more junk).

Software and Resources for Creating Web Pages

Advise to the Pageless: Finally need to construct a Web page, but have no idea how to go about doing it? Everybody learns about Web page construction the same way--by stealing ideas from other people's Web pages. See a page that has a cool layout? Click the Document Source item in your browser's View menu to see the HTML they used. Use the Source, Luke (and the following links as well).

Web-building Software Tools: You can write your Web page by hand like I do, or you can use one (or more) of the Web page design packages available on the Internet. Here are some link to several commercial and shareware(ish) packages:

Software and Resources for Creating Web Page Graphics

GIF Transparency and Interlacing

The hot topics of Web page inline images are the transparency and interlace features of the GIF89a image file format. No shortage of information on these subjects on the Web. But first, you need to have a look at the O'Reilly book Designing for the Web for all of the Web page design tips and advise you will hopefully ever need. And when you are ready, have a look through the following links as well:

There are also quite a few tools that will help you create your own transparent and interlaced GIF image files. First, you need to have a look at the O'Reilly book GIF Animation Studio for all the tools and information on this subject you should ever need. And only then proceed through the following links:

What that? You don't want to go to all the time and trouble to make your own animated GIFs? And you haven't yet learned that every animated GIF that appears on your display is actually stored as a GIF file in your Web browser's cache directory? Well, your only hope now are collections of animated GIF files, icons, wallpaper, and the like. Have fun!

Gamma and Anti-aliasing: There is more to nice looking inline images than transparency and interlacing. For example, there is gamma and anti-aliasing. Have a look at Making Good Looking WWW GIFs or JPEGs for Multi-Platforms with Photoshop.

Imaging Services

Many services are available on the Web for creating and processing images and graphics. If you don't want to go through all the trouble of acquiring, installing, configuring, learning, and maintaining image processing software on your system, have a look into someone doing it for you. And most of these services are free.

Protocols and Languages of the Web

HyperText Markup Language: HTML is the protocol that is used to transport the images and text you see on every Web page. You can hardly construct a Web page without knowing at least a little HTML. And there is no shortage of HTML imformation available on the Web. And there is also no shortage of HTML knowledge at O'Reilly. Have a look at our HTML books HTML: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition and Advancing HTML: Style and Substance. Oh yes--have a look at these links too:

Standard Generalized Markup Language: The parent format of HTML is SGML. While HTML is good for simple page layout formatting, it is a mere lightweight compared to the SGML, which is commonly used for all types of electronic and printed page layouts. Where HTML ceases to be effective on the Web, SGML will continue on. [que drums and bagpipes]

Portable Document Format: Adobe's PDF format has been suggested by some to become the standard document transfer format of the Web (suggested mostly by the people at Adobe, that is). Although SGML is the logical choice, PDF is an excellent file format for persistant document storage.

Java and JavaScript: If HTML is the music and lyrics of the Web, then Java is the boom box that delivers it to your ears. (I write software for a living, not poetry). And did I hear someone mention O'Reilly books on Java?