Patent ID: 8553977

Claim:
A computer-based method for converting an image file, comprising: extracting an alpha channel portion of the image file; creating an opacity mask from the extracted alpha channel portion of the image file; and combining an image with the opacity mask, where the image comprises a remaining portion of the image file after the alpha channel portion is extracted, at least one of: extracting the alpha channel portion comprising extracting an eight-bit channel comprising an opacity channel for the image file; a first file created, where the first file comprises the alpha channel portion of the image file; the image created from the remaining portion of the image file after the alpha channel portion is extracted; a second image comprised in the image file generated on a client side from the extracted alpha channel portion of the image file, the second image for use by an application; or the extracted alpha channel portion of the image file and the image transmitted from a server to a client upon a request from the client for the image file.