How to Export Images as GIF, JPG?

The solution might be right under my nose (in my feedbag?)

but I want to create a GIF or JPG file from an Image object or Graphics object created in a java application (could be applet or otherwise).
Do I have to buy an add-on API, or is there something in freespace available to do this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
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Tom McComb

OK. I discovered how to do it with JPEG. Any thoughts on GIF exports?
Only because they seem to be smaller files.
Thanks again.
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Tom McComb

Tom,
I know this doesn't help you at all, but the whole purpose of this site is to share information, right? ;-)
How do you export graphics object (like in a paint method) to a jpg file? I have been looking for a few days now trying to figure out just that thing...
Let me Know
Tim

gif compressed files will be smaller if the image is less complicated (i.e. small color palette, not so many 'interesting' features - like logos, etc.) but jpeg should be used for 'natural' images such as photographs. This is sort of a rule of thumb, of course, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Anyway, due the the legal issues involved with the gif LZW compression format, I doubt you'll find an 'official' api for this. However, www.acme.com has a nice package that you can use. I hope this helps.
Sean
Sean

I found this on another posting on JavaRanch. The "com.sun.image.codec.jpeg" package came with my VisualCafe install. It runs pretty quickly.
Hope this helps. Also, I found the GIF exporter on www.acme.com, and will try it today.
Thanks for your help!
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import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import java.io.*;
import com.sun.image.codec.jpeg.*;
public class Text2Image {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Frame myFrame = null;
Graphics2D myGraphics = null;
try {
myFrame = new Frame();
myFrame.addNotify();
BufferedImage buffImage = new BufferedImage(400, 200, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
BufferedOutputStream bos = new BufferedOutputStream(new FileOutputStream("d:\\waterfall.jpg"));
myGraphics = buffImage.createGraphics();
myGraphics.setFont(new Font("Serif", Font.ITALIC, 48));

myGraphics.setColor(Color.white);
myGraphics.fillRect( 2, 2, 396, 196);

myGraphics.setColor(Color.red);
myGraphics.fillRect( 10, 130, 380, 60);

myGraphics.setColor(Color.green);
myGraphics.fillRect( 10, 10, 380, 60);

myGraphics.setColor(Color.yellow);
myGraphics.fillRect( 10, 70, 380, 60);

JPEGImageEncoder encoder = JPEGCodec.createJPEGEncoder(bos);
encoder.encode(buffImage);
System.out.println("gets here");
bos.flush();
System.out.println("flushed");
bos.close();
System.out.println("closed");
buffImage.flush();
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
System.out.println("final");
if (myGraphics != null) {
myGraphics.dispose();
System.out.println("dispose");
}
if (myFrame != null) {
myFrame.removeNotify();
System.out.println("remove notify");
}
}
System.out.println("done!");
} //end of main method
} //end of Text2Image class
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Tom McComb