What is an AVIF file?
An AVIF file is an image saved in AV1 image file format. It was developed by the Alliance for Open Media to store the image in compressed data. Though this image file format is like JPEG or PNG, it came in as an alternative to these formats, but as a competitor to HEIC image file format.
In 2020 Netflix carried out further tests, and the results showed that the AVIF files conversion efficiency is higher than that of JPEG. Its preservation factor is also more recommended. Other benefits include less colour bleeding and fewer blocking artifacts.
The Rise of AVIF
AVIF was invented in 2015 by the Alliance for Open Media. This non-profit work group was formed by major tech companies, including Amazon and Microsoft. Intel, Mozilla, Netflix, and Google.
As time passed, the workgroup found out that the AV1 codec could still be used in the HEIF file format images, and they therefore developed the AV1 files with confidence that it could be used to save compressed images of high quality. The space required is the same as that of the lower-quality images saved in JPEGs.
Other benefits realized in the AVIF files include less blocking, fewer virtual distortions than JPEGs, and less blurriness.
AVIF file format supports lossless and lossy compression. It also supports images supported by AVIF are HDR and monochrome images whose colour depths range between 8,10, and 12 bits.
This has seen the format grow in popularity, and many companies have enjoyed using it. For instance, as early as 2020, companies like Netflix have been using AVIF files internally. Microsoft also provides its users with a codec used to vie AVIF images in their programs.
Other companies using the format include google and Amazon, notably.
How to Open AVIF files
There are several ways to open AVIF files, and the most common ones include using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, GIMP, Webkit, or qView. Apart from these, users can still open the files in the free nomacs image viewer(compatible with Windows and macOS), Microsoft photos, or Microsoft Paint.
The high-end users can still encode or decode AVIF images using the open source libavif library (multiplatform). The others that fall in this category include the libheif, SAIL, and FFmpeg. All these helps to encode or decode an image.
What are AVIF files good for?
Many companies still ask why they should use AVIF files for image storage. Here are the benefits.
- Better compression
- Excellent performance
- Excellent optimization
The Best Ways to Convert AVIF Files
There are several ways that can be used to convert AVIF files. So long as the AV1 Video Extension is installed, windows users can use Microsoft Paint in conversion. Some of these formats include;
- JPG-JPEG Image
- BMP-Bitmap image
- PNG-Portable Network Graphic
- GIF-Graphical Interchange Format
- HEIC- High-Efficiency Image Format
But in all these, the most renowned way to convert AVIF files is by use of online image converters like Converter App. It also offers a free browser plugin that allows you to convert images with just a right-click from your browser. It also works to create AVIF files from other image formats, including JPG and PNG.
Below are the steps to enable you to convert AVIF files to JPG:
- Go to Converter App and select the file you wish to convert to JPG.
- Wait for the conversion of JPG to take place.
- When completed, a download button will pop up. Click it and save, and your image will appear.
Note: AVIF image file is relatively new in the market, and you might find that not all applications support the format. But if you come across one you wish to convert, there is no need to worry. The most used web browsers can be used to convert AVIF images, such as Google Chrome and Firefox. Open any of these browsers and open the AVIF file using them.
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