Keith, at 23:03 on Jul 16 1995, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

KR> it depends, gifs are limited to 256 colours, whereas jpegs can be
KR> 24 bit, so the colour resolution of the jpeg is usually better,

BG> Didn't know that BMPs were restricted to 256 colours, but then I don't
BG> have much to do with graphics anyway.  I did note that Brenton's JPEG
BG> pictures had good colour, but became "blocky" when resized upwards,
BG> although it was never really objectionable.

KR> bmps can be 24 bit, gifs however, are limited to 8 bits.

Sorry, that was a typo.  Dunno why I was even thinking about BMPs either.

KR> one of the failings of jpeg is that you shouldn't resize it upward.

Oh, now you tell me!

KR> fractal compression is size independent, but jpeg is only intended to be
KR> reproduced at the original size.

Interestingly, Brenton's JPG of Belinda was originally 100 x 208 resolution
(rather small on an 800 x 600 display), so I upsized it by a factor of
four, then printed it on my bubblejet, and the result (which is still stuck
on the side of the fridge) was quite acceptable, albeit a tad blocky
close-up.

KR> it does depend on the individual image though, some take jpeg compression 
KR> better than others. don't try it on line drawings or things like corel draw 
KR> pictures though, jpeg is specially designed for photographs.

I won't be trying it at all, as I don't have a flatbed scanner.  :)

BG> Is that why 24-bit colour is permitted with JPGs then?

KR> because for the reproduction of continuous tone photographs, the maximal
KR> number of colours is required.

OK, understood.  Complex stuff, this graphics manipulation...

KR> just live on the north shore of sydney, as all reasonable people do (:

BG> Since when?  I thought the north shore only included those parts between
BG> North Sydney and Hornsby.  Anywhere north of that, and you're out in the
BG> bush!  :)

KR> berowra is in the sydney metro area (it is in fact the highest point in
KR> metro sydney) as well as being the northernmost point for suburban
KR> trains, so i'd reckon it is the furthest point of the north shore.

I rather like the "I reckon" part of the above. :)

The official boundaries may well have changed since I left Sydney in 1970,
but way back then, Berowra was a full-on day trip (i.e. take a cut lunch).

KR> there is the north shore, the upper north shore, we must the outer north
KR> shore. it's a local call to the central coast and most of sydney metro,
KR> and only a community call as far as brentons.

True, just like those areas between Brisbane and the GC, it won't be long
before there is no longer any definitive boundary, just a massive swag of
suburbs all the way.  It actually appears to have cost the ALP the
election, unfortunately.  4 seats down the tubes because of the (necessary)
tollway.  Fucking insanity, the govt should have waited a while before
announcing their intentions, I reckon.  The proposed new road passes
through 5 (once safe) Labor seats, and they have retained just one of them.
 Talk about political suicide!

KR> even more important, its only 20 min drive from work, and less than 2hrs to 
KR> port stephens.

Your priorities suck, Keith.  20 minutes to Port Stephens and 2 hours to
work would be far more acceptable IMO.  :)

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- Msgedsq/2 3.10