[comp.graphics] Beginner's Questions

jym@remarque.berkeley.edu (Jym Dyer) (09/05/90)

.-.
|O|kay, I've read the weekly "frequently asked questions" (thanks
`-' for posting it).  I have some pretty basic questions.  I don't
    do much with graphics, but I do intersect with them from time
    to time.
.-.
|I| know about three popular formats:  PostScript, GIF, and X
`-' bitmaps.  Could somebody explain the purpose, the pluses
    and minuses, and the history of each of these?  (Also, what
    exactly does GIF mean?)
.-.
|I| noticed some information on getting software to convert some
`-' of these from one format to another.  What I haven't seen is
    any discussion about their effectiveness.  Is anything lost
    in the conversion?  (This fits in with finding out the pur-
    pose of each format, of course.)

    Thanks,
    <_Jym_>