I suggest to add PNG graphics format support to JDK.
AFAIK only JPEG and GIF are currently supported.
PNG supports many nice features like Alpha chanel, 
lossless true-color which will fit nicely to Java2D and
are unvailable in GIF and JPEG.

Utility class that writes any image to output strean as PGN would be also
very useful for image processing apps.

PNG home page: http://www.cdrom.com/pub/png/
File archive: ftp://ftp.uu.net:/graphics/png/
(Review ID: 22788)
======================================================================

N/A

This is currently under serious consideration for the next release.  There
is no committment as of yet, though.

 xxxxx@xxxxx  1998-01-05

Support for reading png files added by jag, yingxian.

 xxxxx@xxxxx  1999-05-04

Workaround:
There are several Java PNG libraries available
including
http://www.cdrom.com/pub/png/src/java-png-0.88.zip
http://www.visualtek.com/PNG/ and
http://www.sixlegs.com/png.html
in various combinations of freedom.

It would be nice to see PNG in Swing for JDK 1.1
as a GIF replacement technology. The more advanced functionality of PNG is not
required for this usage.

PNG: A lot of the code required to implement the PNG stanard is allready
included with the JDK. "The ZLIB compression library was initially
developed as part of the PNG graphics standard and is not protected by
patents." (from java.util.zip documentation. As mentioned above the PNG
standard is not protected by any patents, thus facilitating the use of Java for
a broader range of applications. A wide range of popular graphics applications
and web-browsers allready support the format. <b>PNG is recomended by
W3C.</b>
"This document describes PNG (Portable Network Graphics), an extensible
file format for the lossless, portable, well-compressed storage of raster
images. PNG provides a patent-free replacement for GIF and can also replace
many common uses of TIFF. Indexed-color, grayscale, and truecolor images are
supported, plus an optional alpha channel. Sample depths range from 1 to 16
bits. PNG is designed to work well in online viewing applications, such as the
World Wide Web, so it is fully streamable with a progressive display option.
PNG is robust, providing both full file integrity checking and simple detection
of common transmission errors. Also, PNG can store gamma and chromaticity data
for improved color matching on heterogeneous platforms. " -- (from the PNG
specification)

There are 6 votes here also Bug Id 4055931 wich wan't the same thing.

PNG is a very good image format.  We are using it 
in a medical application (http://www.acl.lanl.gov/TeleMed
and it provides a good mapping from DICOM to
viewing with Java

PNG would point JAVA in a forward direction and keep it on the cutting edge of
Internet Technology

Reading and writing JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, 
PICT, BMP, and other image files should be 
a standard part of Java.
See also bugs 4029964 (for TIFF support) and 
4055931 (writing images to various file types).
People can also email Sun 
(java2d-comments@sun.com) to encourage their
support for reading and writing PNG and 
other formats.  These are the people
who actually decide what gets in.
Sun: please consider licensing JIMI from
Activated Intelligence (see above).

Activated Intelligence has a new product called
JIMI - the Java Image Management Interface. 
JIMI can read/write PNG and about 12-13 other
graphics file formats too! You
can learn more about it and try out our public
beta version at http://www.activated.com.
JIMI can both READ and WRITE PNG, and we offered
it to JavaSoft for inclusion in JDK last year
in the Fall. We made the terms unbelievably easy for them,
in fact almost FREE! Still, they didn't even
get a version of this great product to evaluate?
We don't understand why they have not made it possible
for you to enjoy the great all-Java technology we 
offered them?
Activated is now considering the possibility of 
re-opening the issue and making parts of JIMI
FREE for all Java developers through inclusion
in some way with the JDK and JRE. If you would
like to have parts of the JIMI toolkit for free
in the JDK you'll need to let Sun and Activated
know. You can email Sun at "java2d-comments@sun.com"
and you can email Activated at "support@activated.com".
If you really want to see PNG support added quickly,
then join the "java2d-interest" mailing list immediately
and make your wishes known. Important decisions
about what to support in the JDK1.2 release of
Java2D are being actively discussed right now.
Instructions for joining the list are at:
http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/2D/forDevelopers/interest_group.html

PNG is a real improvement on JPeg (only true color) and gif (only 8 bits color)
bitmap. And it can support real alpha channels. It would be a real improvment
for java to have native libraries for working with.

PNG is just a superior graphics format to what is
now supported...  There is no reason NOT to
include support for it...

Not having PNG in Java is like having a 50mph 
limiter fitted to your car: safer for dummies
but a hazard on the "open" road.

PNG is an open public standard. Support for PNG is a logical extension of the
philosophy of Java as I see it.

PNG must be placed in the next release if it is
to be used in Applets over the Internet. Reason:
Importing a Java PNG library would make the applet
too big and people wouldn't use it. People just
won't download a huge applet.

Please do this soon.  PNG is great and I would love to see anything that
furthers it's adoption.

I think this should be added and be as ubiquitous to the language as GIF and
JPEG are now.
I also believe that if it is done, it should be the whole of PNG and not the
partial implementations as I've seen on some other sites.

I think png would be a great addition to swing and java 2d

Java needs PNG support. Please add it

PNG today is Java tomorow

Aside from the fact that PNG offers better
compression than GIF, and is a free standard,
it is probably the best image format to demo
the Java2D rendering features. Its extensive
alpha-channel support would demonstrate this
feature of Java2D ideally.

PNG is a real improvement on JPeg (only true color) and gif (only 8 bits color)
bitmap. And it can support real alpha channels. It would be a real improvment
for java to have native libraries for working with.

I think java needs a extensible framework that
enables developers to write their own 
de-/encoders for other fileformats (ofcourse it
should include the most important format (TIFF,
JPEG, GIF, PNG) in the jdk).
Just like JIMI, I don't understand why javasoft
used kodaks jpeg codec instead of JIMI (as far 
as I know it was offered to them).

Unisys is making it impossible to build Java apps that create GIF files and
sell them cheaply or give them away because they force you to pay a royalty if
you create GIF files.  We need PNG so we can write image data files without
paying Unisys.

I favor adding PNG support to the JDK.  It's flexible, and patent free.  It's a
good match with Java2D. GIFs and JPEGs are usable for many applications, but
each have limits that are encountered in demanding image apps.

I think PNG would be a great addition to the JFC

I think that PNG is a good alternative for the patent-problem file format GIF.
It also offers nice functionality that really fit's nicely inside java-2d.
Sometimes a good format just needs a boost to become a standard, Java could
just be that for PNG.

Reading, writing and manipulating JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, PICT, BMP, and other
image files should be 
a standard part of Java.

Regardless of whether PNG support is available
via free libraries, PNG support should be added
to the core.  
Please get rid of the Not Invented Here
attitude and make use of what JIMI has
to offer.

This is vital and would a positive step to encourge widespread use of this
superior graphics file format.

I don't <B>want</B> PNG support, I <B>need</B> PNG
support.
I simply can't believe what I read, that Sun is not even giving a look at JIMI
and such.
Given that Java2D supports alpha channels, it's inconceivable that there's no
supported image format that will allow a developper to make use of it.

The PNG file format is recomended by W3C.
It's inclusion in Java seems consistent with
the open, "run anywhere" philosophy of
Java.

Aside from stupid little gif animations, I'm not 
aware of any reason png won't replace gifs - as
it is designed to do - in the near future (and 
there's even a variant that handles that -
unfortunately for our eyeballs). The major browsers
now do png. If it's a matter of code size, drop gif
support to make room for it.

Yes, absolutely.  PNG is a great standard but 
not in much use yet.  Java support will help 
bring it into wider use.  Also, after the big 
stink over patent rights to GIF, it would be best
if GIF gradually got replaced on the Internet.
PNG is the most logical replacement.
The design for Java PNG support needs to be
thorough, such that the most urgently-needed 
features (such as compression and alpha channels)
can be implemented right away, but the rest
of the specification may be implemented later
without any classes or methods getting deprecated
in the process.  I believe that they will all be 
useful to somebody and in the past, narrow-minded 
design has caused confusion and obsolete classes 
and API's.  It is always possible to design for 
gradual implementation, and this is the approach 
that must be taken should Javasoft find that full PNG 
support is too big a bite to chew on all at once.

ust have .png support, no doubt about it.

Activated Intelligence - http://www.activated.com - has now
made a specific proposal for your consideration
through the Java Open Process.
This proposal would provide your with excellent support
both for reading AND writing PNG format in Java
free as part of JDK 1.2
We strongly encourage you to read the proposal and
pass it along to your friends and colleagues who
also care about PNG and image handling in standard Java.
Details are at the Activated homepage: http://www.activated.com
Thank you,
Rick Ross
President
Activated Intelligence, LLC
of the JDK 1.2

It's pretty clear that PNG is worthwhile...
I am all for it. 

supporting tiff is way too much, but i'd be happy to see support for png. i'd
be happy to see gif die. 

Adding PNG support to Java? The only question is
why wasn't it made part of the standard yet...

PNG support will transport java from the legal
quagmire that surrounds gif and jpeg. AFAIK,
it is a public domain standard, which Java can
freely write. This would all but eliminate the
need to write gif and jpeg.  Those type can be 
read into an image, manipulated, then written
to PNG when required. Being able to save manipulated
images is one of the most frequent questions/issues
addressed with respect to images in c.l.j.p newsgroup.
Please implement PNG -> Image and Image -> PNG.

Another vote for native PNG support! Full support
would add a heap of credibility to Java right off.
JavaSoft will have to answer to da mighty
#java of EFnet if they leave it out at this
point. ph33r.

Java needs PNG support. PNG is the best lossless
image file format (although the inclusion of
filter algorithms is somewhat unnecessary). GIF
should be deprecated within the next few years.
I believe PNG and JPEG should be the only
supported formats in order to have a lightweight
Java core system.

PNG is a must for my application.

If one of the intents of Java is to provide
open standard software, then GIF creation support
can't be provided without _SOMEONE_ paying a
per application license fee to Unisys, correct?  If that's the case, then PNG
or similar format needs to be supported.

I would like to see PNG supported in Java, including
a PNG image encoder. I am working on an application
that needs to resize and store images, and I don't
like the idea of using a patented format like GIF. I
may want to sell my software and don't want to pay
Unisys royalties.

I would like to see PNG support too. Actually
when I tried using PNG's some time ago, I was
impressed that there wasn't support for them..

All you need to do is say "Yes! Gimme JIMI!"
http://www.activated.com

Native PNG will make Java imaging more believable.

PNG should be a "no-brainer". There are libraries for all major
platforms JS supports. I can't believe a "run anywhere-esque"
proponent like JS HASN'T implemented PNG and HAS implemented a proprietary and
onerous standard like GIF.

Would very much like to see PNG encoder 
and decoder supported in java2d api via
codec spec or native support

For Java to be considered a leader in Web graphics, I would think it imperaitve
that PNG be included.

I agree that this should be a no-brainer, it seems incredibly obvious that PNG
support is needed.

Many imaging tool supports this file format, e.g. CorelDRAW, Paint Shop Pro, MS
Image Composer, etc.

png, java, same philosophy...

PLEASE include PNG into JDK 1.2!

I'd like to see png in jdk 1.2.

i'm sure that !
i'm agree too much.
png is compact and have many fuction.
so NEXT VERSION OF JDK MUST BE SURPPORT PNG 
GRAPHIC FILE FORMAT !

Also add bmp

Hopefully you add PNG as a more general GIF format

Go on I know you can.

C'mon, give us PNG.

So far Javasoft/Sun have been very silent on
the issue of PNG. Downloading the most recent
version of JDK 1.2 (beta4), I notice it still
is not there. When are you going to do
something about this file format. It is a MUST
and we would appreciate having it ASAP. Please
could you tell us where you are with PNG. This
is one element of Java that a large percentage
of people want.

mplayer and other such plug ins leave many of us (Mac users)
out in the cold when it comes to playing games on line 
it would be nice to be able to play lighting fast games
through the internet via the use of a standard
hi-speed java connection. If something like this is 
already available it would be nice to know.
 Hotspot sounds good and should be used as a
starting point to implement such a tecnology.

I think PNG support is desperately needed. The
next-generation web browsers will support it and
it wouldn't really require and API changes to
implement it. I do NOT, however, want to see other
image formats such as TIFF, PCX, or BMP added.
This would only add bloat, and their (standardized)
compression is poor. PNG supports nearly all of
their functionality and more. It would also
undermine great 3rd-party products like JIMI.

We need a lossless, compressed image format
that supports at least 256 colours without 
the fear that a lawsuit will be slapped on us 5 or 10 years down the road.
ANY lossless compressed image format!
(PNG looks good!)

GIF alone with JPEG is not enough. You should add PNG as it's freeware and
close to Java spirit.

I just downloaded the Java Advanced Imaging API
(prerelease 1) and it has TIFF support, but no PNG.
It begins to smell like not including PNG is a political
decision. Major browsers already support it.
I wouldn't know the reason for such a decision, except
that PNG is not backed by some big consortium.
But why else is Sun so lax in fulfilling this
request that has been number 3 on the bug-list for ages?

PNG support should definately be part of 1.2
JPEG is great at compressing photo images.
However, JPEG fails at storing lineart & changes
color values when storing images.
Don't be afraid at including public source in
Java.  MS uses International Jpeg group code
in Explorer.
Seems silly not to include PNG with 1.2

PNG, GIF, and JPEG
on the web, not in Java.
Developers roar.

Besides PNG being so cool, both MSIE and Netscape support it.

PNG is an absolute must have!

Why have we not heard from Sun on this issue?  This has been the number 2 most
requested feature for a long time!  Can we please at least know where you guys
are in terms of PNG support?  Do you have some political/religious issue with
PNG?

If all you dudes here are so hot for PNG in java,
why not write it yourself and submit it to sun?
Its just (yeah, right) a matter of writing the
codec classes, isn't it? 

pmurray:
I have. In fact, I've written two over the years, one with native code and one
without.  Both of which were submitted to or otherwise offered to Sun, with not
even a response back to either.
The latter of the two is now incorporated into the Jimi framework.
There are actually some real issues that needed to be provided for in order to
fully support all of the PNG spec, but to my knowledge, JDK1.2 provides this
functionality.

Agreed - I don't feel that sun should 
be supporting standards (like GIF) that
are claimed to be protected by patents
Go for a patent-free format like PNG!

PNG needs to be included.  It is the graphics 
format of the future for the Internet.

I would give my left leg to get built in PNG support in Java.

As java grows more APIs that use true-color and alpha chanels, the need to
support a lossless image format with those features will become unignorable.
PNG is the best candidate, and its inclusion can only be a matter of time.
The issue for the development team is likely not "should we?", but
"who has time to code it in?".

---- from post in comp.lang.java.programmer -----
The thread is arhived at www.dejanews.com in the old archive:
"Worst fears confirmed - We all have to pay UNISYS"
http://x15.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=351180856&search=thread&threaded=1&CONTEXT=913007524.29556800&HIT_CONTEXT=913007496.30081055&HIT_NUM=4&hitnum=0
Tov Are:
   "If I make an applet (for profit) wich loads a GIF
   image using the Java API function, will I need a
   license from you?
   The API is standard in Java and looks like:
   Applet.getImage("mygraphics.gif");"
Cheryl D. Tarter (UNISYS):
   "Yes, you need a license from Unisys."
-------------------------------------------------
So, how long is Sun going to require Java programmers
to expose themselves to threat of a lawsuit from
Unisys for using GIF in our applets/programs?
Perhaps Sun would like to indemnify us all from
the potential liability from this threat.  
Of course, giving us the PNG alternative
would be a much better choice!
 -- Rich

rats. typo.
http://www.bolthole.com/jdrill/Xpm.html

workaround:
 if anyone likes xpm format, there is a barebones
 Xpm reader class at
http://www.bolthole.jdrill/Xpm.html
It's not a FULL xpm implementation, but its better
than nothing.

Cool, this bug is now a year old.
Well done. Let's see if we can hit 2 years like
http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/bugParade/bugs/4014323.html
Hmm, what's that sucking sound?

A number of internet sites which generate image
files (plots, for instance) on-the-fly are no longer
providing GIF due to licensing issues, and have
replaced the GIF images
with PNG images.  Support for PNG is necessary
for Java plug-ins and Java HTML renderers, etc. 

There are various requests for new formats,
such as TIFF and PNG as well as lesser known
and proprietary ones.
Why not incorporate into the JDK a mechanism 
so that new formats can easily be added by 
organisations concerned by each one.
(i.e. Adobe could provide a Photoshop PSD
plugin, etc...) I they feel so inclined,
the source code could be provided to an
open source system and, if desirable, integrated
into the next JDK

IMHO - There is clearly some weird politics involved in Javasoft's decision not
to support PNG in 1.2.  This bug is obviously a very high priority for a large
number of developers and is so old I've heard George Washington voted for it.

There's a new image API from Sun, EA3,
but unfortunately only for for shitty JDK 1.2/2.x

I strongly suggest this addition.
I discovered the PNG format today and can't understand why its not already
supported
Here's my vote!

Portable Network Graphics is in the process to
become the ISO/IEC 15948 draft standard.
Ref: http://www.cdrom.com/pub/png/pngnews.html
Why not start migrating away from GIF now, instead
of having to alter things when submitting Java
to ISO?

Why sun is waiting to include this feature to it languaje ? It's Java a free
OS? Sun==Unysis?

PNG is the best file format available- no licensing
baggage, it's lossless, nice color depths and freely
available code!  Please support it.

please please pleeeeease do us all a big favor
and add PNG so that we all finally can save
lossless images.  I can not save lossless
images right now without having to run around
the web for some as free as possible library.
Life is short, so let's get cooking before it's
all over!

In the current Java environment, there is no way to load certain kinds of
images: 32-bit (RGB & Alpha), 24-bit lossless compressed, Indexed color +
Alpha images, several others.
PNG support would provide a way to do all this and much more as well as support
a free internet standard.  Where would Java be today if noone had decided to
support it???

It would be nice to see PNG in Swing

It would be very nice to see the imaging framework currently under
specification
being deployed into the core. A seperate distribution along with JAI makes it
impossible
to use PNG in most deployment scenarios.
It would be nicer if javasoft would consider
distributing PNG reading in an upcoming bugfix
release, you did supply XBM reading, so why
shouldn't you be able to do so with PNG; this
would not require any API changes at all, and
the only compatability issue would be that
graphics wouldn't appear in Java releases that
didn't support PNG. This minor incompatability
is consistent with currently allowed variance
with respect to deployment enviroment such as
available memory, CPU processing speed,
sound support and graphics mode.
Portable Network Graphics support is still
an issue.

What about Java Advanced Imaging?
(http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/jai/) It seem to support PNG and many
others formats...

Gee, we really want the support to be in a public
release.

I think that it's added means that we WILL see it
in a future public release.  That's enough for me.
THANK you Sun!

For those of us using JDK 1.1.7 and need PNG suport for a major customer the 2D
Api is not an option.
We turned to Activated Intelligence who provided a superb product.
Unfortunately this was then bought by Sun before we could purchase it.
Activated cannot supply the product now and Sun will not return my emails. I
have tried many other products all of which have one problem or another.

Png is needed, please support it soon.