GIF
A GIF file is images stored in a sequence and with a bit of other code, when it is executed, these images will play one after each other at a predetermined speed.
Advantages
Production
It is very easy to produce a GIF animation, there are many pieces of software packages available to create them in, spanning for novice to professional users.
Compatibility
With a GIF file you can use it in many areas, it is supported by all browsers, unlike where it comes to videos (with either need Adobe Flash or HTML5 compatibility). This is due to it being an image file instead of a video, also because of it being an image there is not extra coding needed to make it work.
Size
GIF files are minuscule in file size, this is due to the compression type it uses, and also unlike other types of compression there is no reduction in quality. This also has an advantage on the web since a small file size will allow it to load quicker, compared to an AVI file (which also might have compatibility issues).
Transparency (Alpha)
A GIF file supports an Alpha channel, this allows pixels to be transparent, this is very useful on web pages where you still want the background colour to be visible. Also when you modify the web pages background, you will not have to alter the animation.
Interlacing
With a GIF file you have another option on how the file loads on a web page, usually an image is loaded it is loaded in order and can be blurred while detail is loaded. With interlacing it loads the file in passes (Line numbers 0, 8, 16, ... are sent 1st , then it’s followed by 4, 12, ..., 2, 6, 10, 14, ..., and then 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ...), this can create the illusion that the file is loading quicker (especially when used on larger files, which is recommended).
Limitations
Although there are quite a few advantages for the GIF format, there are many limitations when saving/exporting an animation as a GIF format.
Sound
In a GIF file you cannot store sound, this is due to it acting more like an image than an actual video file.
Bit Depth
GIF files only support 24-bit pixels (8 bits per RGB), this means each colour can on be 256 shades (being 16777216 possible different colours). Due to this there is a slight decrease in resolution compared to normal images or videos, and can make the GIF look “blocky” (since there can’t be a smoother gradient between colours).
Edit-ability
Once you render a GIF file, there is no way to alter the coding within, so if you want to make a minute change, you would possibly need to start all over again (if you have not got the original file).
SWF
An SWF can contain vector-based animations as well as video, but unlike a GIF it is a video format, which also allows audio.
Advantages
Bit Depth
An SWF does not have a bit depth limit, it is not limited to a 8 bit colour, which allows it to have “true colour” which allows 64 Million colours.
Sound
Since a SWF file is a video, it allows an audio channel.
Vector
Although a SWF can be large in size, it does have solutions to decrease the file size, with a SWF it not just stores raster images, it can also store vector images that can heavy decrease the file size.
Interactivity & ActionScript
A Flash animation support interactivity, a Flash animation can run ActionScript, which has the potential to make an animation dynamic, ActionScript can fetch information from a web page, or database, to update the animation or alter it (stopping it from being a static animation, like a GIF).
Limitations
Although there are quite a few advantages to the SWF format, there are a few limitations to it.
Compatibility
SWF needs a Flash plug-in for it to be able to work, although it is a video, it is not natively compatible HTML5, so it will not be compatible with all browsers, and not with mobile devices.
Production
SWF can only be made in Adobe Flash, which can have a steep learning curve, unlike when creating a GIF, which there are multiple software packages which you can produce them in (which span from novice to professional, and not just mainly professional like Adobe Flash).
Size
SWF files are normally larger in size compared to a GIF, this is since, for example, it can contain audio.
Evaluation
|
|
GIF
|
SWF
|
|
Easy to
create
|
10
|
7
|
|
Quality
|
6
|
9
|
|
Range of
Application
|
6
|
9
|
|
File Size
Friendly
|
9
|
5
|
|
Sound
Capability
|
0
|
10
|
|
Total:
|
31
|
40
|
Although, as you can see by this table, the SWF format is superior, it is heavily dependent on the situation.
If you are creating an animation for the web, it is recommended that you would create a GIF, for compatibility, especially if it’s a simple animation (which will also lower the file size, meaning it will loaded quicker, compared to a SWF, if it does at all).
But if you want to create a more complex animation, especially if you want to include audio, you would make a SWF.
But this might not be an option for some people, because Adobe Flash does cost a significant amount of money (approximately £500 for CS6 on its own, or £26.68 for Adobe CC), and they may not be in education to use it. It’s even possibly that they do have access to Flash, but they may not know how to use it, since it does have a steep learning curve. So creating a SWF might not be as simple as creating a SWF.
Neither is better, but SWF does have a few more advantages compared to a GIF, although as stated above it is dependent on where it is used, and even who by.
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