X-Face
(→Compface intermediate format: Directs to the Ikon format page.) |
(Fixed typoed spec link, and added spec to formatinfo) |
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|extensions={{ext|face}}, {{ext|xface}} | |extensions={{ext|face}}, {{ext|xface}} | ||
|released=~1990 | |released=~1990 | ||
| + | | spec = https://purl.org/x-face-spec | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''X-Face''' is a compressed image format that can be placed in an email or Usenet newsgroup message header. It is expected to contain the sender's picture or avatar. It is a 48×48 bi-level image. The format appears to be fairly complex, and probably uses [[arithmetic coding]]. | '''X-Face''' is a compressed image format that can be placed in an email or Usenet newsgroup message header. It is expected to contain the sender's picture or avatar. It is a 48×48 bi-level image. The format appears to be fairly complex, and probably uses [[arithmetic coding]]. | ||
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File extensions '''.face''' and '''.xface''' have both been suggested. Sometimes, X-Face data will be in a file named ".face" in the user's home directory. | File extensions '''.face''' and '''.xface''' have both been suggested. Sometimes, X-Face data will be in a file named ".face" in the user's home directory. | ||
| − | Most or all X-Face code is based on James Ashton's ''Compface'' software, and Compface's code is fairly opaque. [https://purl.org/x-face | + | Most or all X-Face code is based on James Ashton's ''Compface'' software, and Compface's code is fairly opaque. [https://purl.org/x-face-spec A specification] has been written by reverse-engineering Compface. |
== Compface intermediate format == | == Compface intermediate format == | ||
Revision as of 21:40, 28 August 2024
X-Face is a compressed image format that can be placed in an email or Usenet newsgroup message header. It is expected to contain the sender's picture or avatar. It is a 48×48 bi-level image. The format appears to be fairly complex, and probably uses arithmetic coding.
Contents |
Discussion
Although X-Face data is often expected to be stored in a file, there isn't really a standard X-Face file format. The main thing to be aware of is that sometimes the "X-Face:" header name is stored in the file, and sometimes it is not. Different software has different requirements.
File extensions .face and .xface have both been suggested. Sometimes, X-Face data will be in a file named ".face" in the user's home directory.
Most or all X-Face code is based on James Ashton's Compface software, and Compface's code is fairly opaque. A specification has been written by reverse-engineering Compface.
Compface intermediate format
The Compface software by default converts X-Face to and from the Ikon format. It only supports 48×48 images with a bit depth of 1. Most implementations use 16-bit words but one implementation[1] uses 8-bit words.
Software
- Compface
- compface-1.4.tar.gz (
uncompface -Xto convert to XBM format) - compface-1.5.2.tar.gz
- compface-25Jan90.tar.gz
- X-Faces for Windows 95/NT
- compface-1.4.tar.gz (
- FFmpeg
- Deark
- Online X-Face Converter
Samples
- https://dev.mutt.org/trac/wiki/MuttGuide/XFace - Search for "compface tao.xbm".
- WinFace1_3-src.zip → WinFace/default_face.txt
- faces man page, "XFACE SUPPORT" section, has an example.
Links
- Faces Archive - Lists some X-Face resources
- faces man page
- Wikipedia: X-Face
