Opossum.png by Jeff Thompson

Opossum.png is a book and website created by artist Jeff Thompson that makes physical a single, low-resolution image. In early 1995, a group of strangers assembled online to develop what would become the PNG file format. One of the first images to be encoded in this new format was a pixelated photograph of an opossum, taken by programmer and PNG contributor Glenn Randers-Pehrson. The entire contents of this photograph are presented in a 968-page book, listed in the various formats required to be read by a computer. It also includes a wooden storage case and a printed copy of Randers-Pehrson's photograph. A website accompanies the project, containing a full set of annotations for the file, delving into the technical workings of the PNG format and the people who made it.

Opossum.png is housed in a handmade birch-ply box with accompanying digital print of opossum photo and “How to use this book” pamphlet. Please visit Jeff Thompson's page for the full set of annotations for the PNG file.

Dimensions: 5.1875" x 6.5" x 2.375"

Edition size: 50