Awakening the magic heif within: a step-by-step guide

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of a lush green forest, there lived a little girl named Lucy. Lucy was an adventurous and curious child, always looking for excitement and new experiences. She would spend her days exploring the woods, climbing trees, and discovering hidden treasures. One day, while exploring a deep part of the forest, Lucy stumbled upon a hidden glade. In the center of the glade stood a majestic old oak tree, its branches stretching towards the sky as if reaching for the heavens. Underneath the oak tree, Lucy noticed something shimmering in the sunlight.

One of the key advantages of HEIF over JPEG is its ability to store multiple images within a single file. This feature is particularly useful for storing image sequences, such as burst photos or HDR images, as well as additional data like depth maps and thumbnails. Another notable feature of HEIF is its support for transparency and 16-bit color depth, which can result in richer colors and smoother gradients in your images.

To exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images various prediction options can be used to reduce the number of stored images in the same HEIF file. From automatically resizing and cropping images to applying custom effects and transformations, Cloudinary offers a comprehensive suite of features to streamline your image workflows and enhance your visuals.

Underneath the oak tree, Lucy noticed something shimmering in the sunlight. Curiosity piqued, she approached the source of the glimmer and found a small golden locket lying on the ground. Intrigued by its beauty, Lucy picked it up and examined it closely.

What are HEIF images?

Where HEIF images originate, and when the format is used.

What is Streaming?

• What is Streaming?
• Codecs

What is HEIF?

High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is a royalty-free container file format for storing multimedia files such as audio, video and timed-text stream. HEIF files are a special case of the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) and can store images encoded with multiple coding formats. High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC - H.265) is an image and video encoding format and the default image codec used with HEIF.

The features of HEIF

HEIF files can store the following types of multimedia data:

• Image items - Storage of individual images, their image properties and thumbnails.
• Image derivations - Derived images enable non-destructive image editing (rectangular cropping, rotation by one, two or three quarter-turns, timed graphic overlays, etc.). These transformations are executed with instructions stored separately from the HEIF file and do not modify the original image.
• Image sequences or video - Storage of multiple time-related and/or temporally predicted images, their image properties and thumbnails. To exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images various prediction options can be used to reduce the number of stored images in the same HEIF file.
• Auxiliary image items - Storage of image data, such as an alpha plane or a depth map, which complements another image item. These files are not displayed as such but are used to complement an image stored in another file.
• Image metadata - Storage of EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format), XMP ( Extensible Metadata Platform) and similar metadata which accompany the images stored in the HEIF file.

As HEIF is a container format it can contain still images and image sequences that are coded in different formats. The main extension for still images is .heif and for sequences is .heifs, however, there are also others that indicate the specific codec used:

• MAIF - The Multi-Image Application Format (MIAF) is a restricted subset of HEIF specified as part of MPEG-A.
• HEIC - Format uses HEVC - H.265 to encode its data in HEIF.
• AVCI - Format uses AVC - H.264 to encode its data in HEIF.
• AVIF - Format uses AV1 to encode its data in HEIF.
• JPEG - HEIF can also encapsulate JPEG format, however, without a specific extension.

HEIF Support

All major desktop and mobile operating systems support HEIF or at least a specific encapsulated codec. As of writing this article (Feb. 2022), no browser supports HEIC format natively. However, most browsers have begun to adopt (with most browsers already supporting the new, royalty-free AVIF format based on AV1).

Did you find this article helpful?

0 out of 0 Bunnies found this article helpful

In this article we will explain to you how to turn off HEIC, or how to keep taking photos in a good quality, but convert them on your PC.

As she held the locket in her hands, a soft breeze rustled through the leaves, whispering secrets in her ear. Intrigued by the mysterious voice, Lucy opened the locket and saw a miniature painting of a white heifer. The heifer had a sparkle in her eyes and an air of magical grace. As Lucy gazed at the painting, the same soft voice resonated in her mind, "I am the magic heifer. I possess the power to grant one wish. But be warned, the wish must be used for the greater good." Excitement and wonder filled Lucy's heart. She pondered for a moment, considering what she should wish for. She thought of the villagers in her village who struggled with hunger and poverty. With a determined look on her face, Lucy closed her eyes and made her wish in a voice filled with sincerity and hope. "I wish for a bountiful harvest that will feed everyone in my village, and may it bring prosperity and happiness to all," Lucy said. As her wish echoed through the glade, a warm golden light enveloped the surroundings. The magical heifer in the locket seemed to come alive, its eyes twinkling with joy. The next morning, when Lucy woke up, she realized that her wish had come true. The fields surrounding the village were filled with an abundant harvest, and everyone in the village had enough food to sustain themselves. News of Lucy's wish and the bountiful harvest spread far and wide. People from neighboring villages flocked to Lucy's village, seeking her guidance and wisdom. With her newfound responsibility, Lucy became a symbol of hope and goodwill. From that day forward, Lucy dedicated her life to helping others and using her newfound power to bring about positive change. The magic heifer and her golden locket became a source of inspiration for Lucy as she continued to make selfless wishes for the greater good, forever cherishing the memory of the day she stumbled upon the enchanted glade in the heart of the forest..

Reviews for "The magic heif: a symbol of strength and resilience"

1. Sophie - 1 star

I found "The Magic Heif" to be incredibly boring and unengaging. None of the characters stood out to me, and the plot was weak and predictable. The writing style was also lackluster, with no creativity or originality. Overall, I was very disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.

2. John - 2 stars

In my opinion, "The Magic Heif" had potential but ultimately fell short. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and the story dragged on unnecessarily. Additionally, the dialogue was unrealistic and forced. I was hoping for a magical and enchanting read, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver.

3. Allison - 1 star

"The Magic Heif" was a complete waste of time for me. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. The plot was predictable, and there were no surprising twists or turns. The writing style was also monotonous, making it a struggle to get through the book. Overall, it was a forgettable and unimpressive read that I regret picking up.

4. Robert - 2 stars

I was not impressed with "The Magic Heif". The story felt disjointed, with events and character actions that didn't make sense. The world-building was also weak, leaving me with many unanswered questions. The romantic subplot felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.

5. Emily - 2 stars

I had high hopes for "The Magic Heif", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The main character was unrelatable and lacked development. The pacing was inconsistent, with parts that dragged on while others felt rushed. The magical elements were not well explained, leaving me confused and unsatisfied. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

The magic heif and its role in divination