ART image file format
| Industry | Software development |
|---|---|
| Fate | Acquired by America Online (AOL) |
| Parent | America Online (AOL) |
ART is a proprietary image file format predominantly utilized by America Online (AOL) and its associated client software.
Technical details
The ART format, identified by the file extension ".art", stores a single highly compressed still image. Its creation aimed to facilitate quicker image download speeds. The compression algorithm was originally developed by the Johnson-Grace Company, which was subsequently acquired by AOL. During the image-to-ART conversion process, the software determines the most effective compression technique to apply. This format bears resemblance to progressive JPEG, often sacrificing aspects of image fidelity—such as restricting color depth—in exchange for enhanced compression ratios.
Usage by AOL
Within AOL’s online platform, the ART format was widely adopted for rendering images. The AOL client’s web browser automatically delivered images in ART format to accelerate downloads over the prevalent dial-up connections of that period. This image conversion was performed on AOL’s proxy servers, with an option available for users to disable it. Originally marketed as Turboweb and later renamed AOL TopSpeed, this technology considerably shortened the time required for image downloads.
Software support for ART
Alchemy Mindworks Corp.’s Graphic Workshop Professional supports ART files, with newer versions necessitating an ART plugin. Microsoft incorporated ART image compatibility into Windows 2000 through the AOL Image Support Update. Nevertheless, as of June 2006, Internet Explorer ceased supporting ART files following a security patch addressing stability problems caused by corrupt ART data. ART images accessed via the AOL picture viewer can be converted into alternative formats. Furthermore, Delcam—an Autodesk subsidiary—provides Artcam software that utilizes the ART file extension within CAD/CAM environments.
References
External links
- Data compression using adaptive bit allocation and hybrid lossless entropy coding
- Optimal spline interpolation for image compression
- Method and apparatus for compressing images