.heic file format

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • SalesServiceGuy
    Field Supervisor

    Site Contributor
    5,000+ Posts
    • Dec 2009
    • 7825

    .heic file format

    I ran into this new to me file format today trying to print colour images.

    .heic = High Efficiency Image File Format. Apparently if you double click them they turn into a JPEG format.

    The images were taken from the latest Apple iOS15 phone.

    Windows 11 Photo viewer would not allow me to selct the OEM print driver that I wanted to use. I could only use a generic Windows print driver. The customer was complaining that flesh tones were blotchy red.
  • Hart
    Trusted Tech

    100+ Posts
    • Feb 2024
    • 198

    #2
    Re: .heic file format

    Looks like you need an official app to add HEIF to Windows Photo Viewer :
    The HEIF Image Extension enables Windows 10 devices to read and write files that use the High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) format. Such files can have a .heic or .heif file extension. Images that are stored in HEIF files that have the .heic file extension are compressed using the HEVC format. Such files require the HEVC Video Extensions package to be installed as well. If the HEVC Video Extensions package is not installed, the HEIF Image Extension will not be able to read or write .heic files.

    It's free contrary to the HEVC extension.

    I don't see how it's going to be popular (I've never heard of it before) when AVIF is already struggling (and we don't talk about WebP).

    Comment

    • KenB
      Geek Extraordinaire

      2,500+ Posts
      • Dec 2007
      • 3946

      #3
      Re: .heic file format

      Originally posted by SalesServiceGuy
      I ran into this new to me file format today trying to print colour images.

      .heic = High Efficiency Image File Format. Apparently if you double click them they turn into a JPEG format.

      The images were taken from the latest Apple iOS15 phone.

      Windows 11 Photo viewer would not allow me to selct the OEM print driver that I wanted to use. I could only use a generic Windows print driver. The customer was complaining that flesh tones were blotchy red.
      “I think you should treat good friends like a fine wine. That’s why I keep mine locked up in the basement.” - Tim Hawkins

      Comment

      • SalesServiceGuy
        Field Supervisor

        Site Contributor
        5,000+ Posts
        • Dec 2009
        • 7825

        #4
        Re: .heic file format

        I think the .heic files are being automatically generated by a new, latest iPhone 15 setting.

        I did remotely install IrfanView on the customer's Windows 11 Home computer. The customer connects fron her iPhone via USB cable to see the images and select what to print.

        The images on her computer I can open in IrfanView no problem.

        The images on her iPhone resisit being opened in IrfanView.

        Comment

        • Hart
          Trusted Tech

          100+ Posts
          • Feb 2024
          • 198

          #5
          Re: .heic file format

          This is not the default format on iPhone, your customer purposefully choose this format (like on Android you have to select HEVC H265 instead of the standard H264 for movie recording).
          Utilisation de fichiers multimedias HEIF ou HEVC sur les appareils Apple - Assistance Apple (FR)

          Also yes browsing and opening files from a phone plugged in USB is a mess on Windows (probably because it's still using this old MTP protocol but I'm not an expert)
          Media Transfer Protocol - Wikipedia

          Comment

          • slimslob
            Retired

            Site Contributor
            25,000+ Posts
            • May 2013
            • 34920

            #6
            Re: .heic file format

            Originally posted by SalesServiceGuy
            I think the .heic files are being automatically generated by a new, latest iPhone 15 setting.

            I did remotely install IrfanView on the customer's Windows 11 Home computer. The customer connects fron her iPhone via USB cable to see the images and select what to print.

            The images on her computer I can open in IrfanView no problem.

            The images on her iPhone resisit being opened in IrfanView.
            Irfanview does not currently support the .heic container format. The files on the computer were probably converted when downloaded. This might help. What is HEIC file, and how to convert HEIC to JPG?

            Comment

            • slimslob
              Retired

              Site Contributor
              25,000+ Posts
              • May 2013
              • 34920

              #7
              Re: .heic file format

              IrfanView and HEIC Compatibility: What You Need to Know. IrfanView and HEIC Compatibility: What You Need to Know - SoftHandTech.

              Comment

              • SalesServiceGuy
                Field Supervisor

                Site Contributor
                5,000+ Posts
                • Dec 2009
                • 7825

                #8
                Re: .heic file format

                I now know that .heic is a new file format released by Apple found on the newest iPhone 15.

                I will test later today if AirPrint can print .heic files.

                The latest Toshiba copier releases actually require a certification from Apple to work with .heic .

                Toshiba has released both a firmware patch and a new FW1810 to enable AirPrint to wotk on the latest copiers.

                I have found a pirce of software called Print Conductor $99.00 USD that claims print compatibility with .heic files.

                How to Print HEIC Photos - Print Conductor

                ... that I need to test.

                Comment

                • slimslob
                  Retired

                  Site Contributor
                  25,000+ Posts
                  • May 2013
                  • 34920

                  #9
                  Re: .heic file format

                  Originally posted by SalesServiceGuy
                  I now know that .heic is a new file format released by Apple found on the newest iPhone 15.

                  I will test later today if AirPrint can print .heic files.

                  The latest Toshiba copier releases actually require a certification from Apple to work with .heic .

                  Toshiba has released both a firmware patch and a new FW1810 to enable AirPrint to wotk on the latest copiers.

                  I have found a pirce of software called Print Conductor $99.00 USD that claims print compatibility with .heic files.

                  How to Print HEIC Photos - Print Conductor

                  ... that I need to test.
                  Actually in 2017 when iOS 11 was released Apple made it the default for photo storage. iPhone 15 was not released until September 2023.

                  Comment

                  • SalesServiceGuy
                    Field Supervisor

                    Site Contributor
                    5,000+ Posts
                    • Dec 2009
                    • 7825

                    #10
                    Re: .heic file format

                    A big part of the problem with this customer is the user is not tech savvy.

                    Part of the struggle is getting .heic photos from her iPhone into her Win 11 PC.

                    Her current process is a multi step and involves a USB cable.

                    I think using iCloud as in this video will help simplify the process.


                    How To Transfer ANY FILE Between iPhone and Windows PC (FREE!)

                    How To Transfer ANY FILE Between iPhone and Windows PC (FREE!) - YouTube


                    The customer is one woman business that is a craft retailer that does craft shows that needs to print good quality images from her iPhone 15. Buying a Colour A3 laser copier is a big expense for her and she has high expectations.

                    Comment

                    • SalesServiceGuy
                      Field Supervisor

                      Site Contributor
                      5,000+ Posts
                      • Dec 2009
                      • 7825

                      #11
                      Re: .heic file format

                      This might be a better mthod to transfer files from an iPhone to a PC as it does not involve the use of iCloud.


                      How to Transfer Photos, Videos & Music Between iPhone & Windows PC | No iTunes or iCloud


                      How to Transfer Photos, Videos & Music Between iPhone & Windows PC | No iTunes or iCloud - YouTube

                      Comment

                      • Hart
                        Trusted Tech

                        100+ Posts
                        • Feb 2024
                        • 198

                        #12
                        Re: .heic file format

                        Just tell her to change the default file format to JPEG (or whatever is the default), AFAIK it's only the size that will suffer, not the quality.

                        Comment

                        • slimslob
                          Retired

                          Site Contributor
                          25,000+ Posts
                          • May 2013
                          • 34920

                          #13
                          Re: .heic file format

                          Originally posted by SalesServiceGuy
                          A big part of the problem with this customer is the user is not tech savvy.

                          Part of the struggle is getting .heic photos from her iPhone into her Win 11 PC.

                          Her current process is a multi step and involves a USB cable.

                          I think using iCloud as in this video will help simplify the process.


                          How To Transfer ANY FILE Between iPhone and Windows PC (FREE!)

                          How To Transfer ANY FILE Between iPhone and Windows PC (FREE!) - YouTube


                          The customer is one woman business that is a craft retailer that does craft shows that needs to print good quality images from her iPhone 15. Buying a Colour A3 laser copier is a big expense for her and she has high expectations.
                          If she is wanting good quality prints,she needs to get a good quality color printer.

                          Comment

                          • SalesServiceGuy
                            Field Supervisor

                            Site Contributor
                            5,000+ Posts
                            • Dec 2009
                            • 7825

                            #14
                            Re: .heic file format

                            Originally posted by Hart
                            Just tell her to change the default file format to JPEG (or whatever is the default), AFAIK it's only the size that will suffer, not the quality.
                            ... that does not help with the many pictures she has already taken but it is a good idea going forward.

                            Comment

                            • SalesServiceGuy
                              Field Supervisor

                              Site Contributor
                              5,000+ Posts
                              • Dec 2009
                              • 7825

                              #15
                              Re: .heic file format

                              Originally posted by slimslob
                              If she is wanting good quality prints,she needs to get a good quality color printer.
                              ... I would not be doing all of this work if she had not recently bought an excellent quality Toshiba colour copier.

                              It has been a good learning curve into the Apple world of printing high quality pictures.

                              Comment

                              Working...