On Thu, Oct 25, 2001 at 10:40:09PM -0500, Rohan Deshpande wrote: | Hi, | | Using gimp1.2, i notice the GIF save as file type is grayed. I have | gimp1.2-nonfree installed; is it because of the type of image im making? | i made a new, 300x300 pixel white background workspace, and in save-as | it is still grayed. What to do?
apt-get install gimp1.2-nonfree The problem is that Unisys owns a patent on the LZW compression algorithm. This algorithm is used in the GIF image format. Thus it is only legal to create GIFs if you have a license from Unisys. As a result the GIMP people, while they know how to create gifs, distributed the GIF (and TIFF, same deal) support separately. In theory only the people who have licenses will download the GIF support, and everyone else can use the rest of the gimp without worrying about legal garbage. -D
