Dvd & Lzw

[memobug]

I would appreciate it if you would add my name to your internal mailing list for feature updates to this program. I think DVD capability would be very useful for my application, but the ability to thumbnail LZW compressed TIFFs is practically essential.

I have no proof of the following but several links seem to confirm it:

"The Unisys patent on lzw compression/decompression expires June 20, 2003."

http://www.catenary.com/appnotes/lzwcomp.html

"The LZW compression algorithm used in Compuserve's GIF file format and in some TIFF files requires licensing from UniSys, as they have a patent on the algorithm. Unfortunately, the licensing fee and required distribution conditions currently make it impossible to support these file formats in Easy Thumbnails. The LZW patent expires on 20 June 2003, so we plan to support those file formats after that date"

http://www.fookes.com/ezthumbs/

I am a little confused how writint to disk a non-LZW-compressed TIFF thumbnail violates the patent, but I am sure you have a better understanding.

Regards,

Matt

[MichaelT]

The patent covers both reading and writing LZW compressed files. That is why we cannot write the thumbnail, because we have to read the LZW file to do this.

If in fact the patent dies expire (there is debate about this) then we will support LZW at that time.

Thanks..

[memobug]

Thanks for the response. The majority of my archivables are in the TIFF format (non lossy) and LZW because of the read/write speed limitations and archive space, it only makes sense.

Maybe I could write my own thumbs to a folder or something where the program could find and use them? Generating the thumbs from batch is no problem with Thumbsplus or Photoshop.

Without LZW capability, I'm back looking at DVD archiving, so it's a rock and a hard place.

Regards,

Matt

[MichaelT]

Yes, I understand...

Many programs can genetate an index but AC does it all in one simple process, but as you say you could create the Photo index in PS or another program dna include that folder in the AC archive set.

We plan to release our new DVD version soon. Write to me if you want to get Alpha and beta versions.

ACBeta@pictureflow.com