Convert RAD to GIF

The RAD file extension, associated with the Radiance software suite, stands for Radiance Scene Description. It is used to describe materials and geometry for lighting simulations and rendering programs. Developed by Greg Ward at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Radiance employs ray tracing and an octree data structure for accurate lighting calculations. RAD files are ASCII text files that must be compiled into an octree before rendering.

The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a bitmap image format developed by CompuServe in 1987. It is widely used for its support of animated images, allowing for the compression of graphics with low file sizes and without compromising quality. It's particularly popular on the internet for memes, short animations, and simple graphics due to its ability to loop animations seamlessly. GIFs support up to 256 colors and use the LZW compression algorithm to minimize file size. The format's historical significance lies in its ability to efficiently store and transmit images in an era of slower internet speeds and remains a staple in digital communication and web design today.