Multiple-image Network Graphics
MNG (pronounced ming) is a new file format for animated images.
The name stands for Multiple-image Network Graphics.
MNG is closely related to the PNG image format.
When PNG development started in early 1995,
it was decided not to incorporate support for animation,
not least of all because this feature of GIF was little used at the time.
However, work soon started on MNG as an animation-supporting version of PNG.
Version 1.0 of the MNG specification was released
on 31 January 2001.
MNG is therefore very new, and is currently not widely supported.
Its developers hope, however, that future generations
of web browsers will support it,
and that it will begin to replace GIF for
animated images on the World Wide Web,
just as PNG has already begun to do for still images.
The structure of MNG files is essentially the same as that of PNG files,
differing only in the slightly different signature
(8A 4D 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A in hexadecimal)
and the use of a much greater variety of chunks
to support all the animation features that it provides.
Images to be used in the animation are stored in the MNG file
as encapsulated PNG or JNG images.
Two versions of MNG of reduced complexity are also defined:
MNG-LC (low complexity) and MNG-VLC (very low complexity).
These allow applications to include some level of MNG support
without having to implement the entire MNG specification.
MNG does not yet have a registered MIME media type,
but video/x-mng can be used.
External links: