Dictionary.net

(DIB) An image format in which thesequence and depth of pixels in the file is not specificallyrelated to their layout in any particular device. This allowsany device dependent bitmap (DDB) image to be converted to orDIB format without loss of information, and this can thenlater be converted to other DDB formats for, e.g., printing ordisplay. Rather than requiring converters from each DDBformat to all other formats, only converters to and from DIBare needed.DIB images are normally transferred in metafiles, bmpfiles, and the clipboard.Transferring colour bitmaps from one device to another was notpossible in versions of Microsoft Windows earlier than 3.0.Application programs can build DIB images without anyinteraction with Windows. If Windows lacks a drawingprimitive, the application can simulate it directly into theDIB instead of using the existing graphics device interface(GDI) primitives. Unfortunately, under Windows versions 3.0and 3.1, GDI cannot perform output operations directly to aDIB.Conversion between DIB and DDB is performed by the devicedriver. Where the driver does not have this facility, theconversion is performed by GDI but only in monochrome. DIBsare slower to use than device dependent bitmaps due to theconversions required.