CUR to JPEG converter

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Remember the ubiquitous cursor on your Windows PC; the existence of such graphic cursors was made possible by creating CUR files. Cursors come in different forms – arrow, hourglass, or the more recent spinning loop. The first CUR file format to enjoy commercial use was incorporated into Microsoft's Windows 1.0 in 1981. With the introduction of more interactive cursors, users could change their cursor preferences from a list of pre-installed options. However, editing a CUR file itself will be nothing short of a hassle, especially for users without the technical know-how.

CUR files were developed as an offshoot of the ICO file format, which is simply the rendering of an image at different sizes and shades. To make a CUR file out of ICOs, software engineers tweak the ICO document by including information that defines the cursor's default position on the computer screen. Just like ICO files were improved upon, recent Windows come with ANI files as a replacement for the not-so-dynamic CUR files.

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MS Paint

JPEG – is a popular graphic file format, which is characterized by a high degree of compression, which leads to a decrease in image quality. It uses the technology of encoding smooth color renditions, providing the ability to reduce the amount of data frequently during the image recording. Because of the small size, it is requested by the owners of websites, allowing you to save the traffic effectively. It is also frequently used in memory cards of digital video cameras. The JPEG algorithm is optimally suitable for compressing photographs and pictures in which realistic scenes with little contrast of colors are present. It is not recommended to use this format to compress drawings and various graphics since a big difference between several near located pixels provokes visible artifacts.

The procedure for compressing the digital images in JPEG format is carried out in several stages. First, the photo is transformed into a color space YCbCr. Then it is divided into squares to determine the upper range of the color spectrum. Finally, the colors and brightness are coded. JPEG uses a "lossy" compression system and discrete cosine transform technology. The format acts simultaneously as the standard of ISO and the International Telecommunication Union. The file compression ratio is in the range from 10:1 to 100:1. In this case, the reduction in image quality can vary from insignificant to substantial.

The JPEG Committee