   Loading GIF images to a DDraw surface?
  Ok, I know I am sounding quite the newbie here, but until recently, I have been only working with .bmp image files and placing them onto DirectDraw surfaces which is rather easy using LoadImage, but I found I couldn''t load .gif files in the same way. While changing the file format is easy enough, is there a similar way I am not aware of to get .gif files onto a surface? Also, is there a gain other than hard drive space to using .gif instead of .bmp? Or should I just stick with the .bmp format? These images will be used in a tile based game, mostly for my own amusement, but you never know.Thanks in advance.  
  There is a jpeg loading tutorial, and jpegs are smaller than gifs. However, if you neeeeed gifs, try reading up about DXSurface objects. These are used via DirectTransition and render onto LPDIRECTDRAWSURFACE#. It has heaps more stuff than the normal DirectDraw surfaces and the added bonus of having DirectTransition programmed in!!!!!But, the down side is is that there is a little learning curve.    The past was unknown, the future was predicted.  