File Formats
Raster
Adobe Photoshop industry standard program Works on a pixel grid Each pixel is assigned a color to create an image Raster images are presented at a set size Ideal for photos, web graphics, and illustrations with complex coloring and shadows. · JPG · GIF · PNG · TIFF · RAW
Vector
File that works on a mathematical point based system. Can be scaled indefinitely. Ideal for logos, type work, and icons. Adobe illustrator industry standard program. · PDF · EPS · SVG · AI (Adobe Illustrator)
GIF
Graphics interchange format · Lossless / Raster · Limited to 256 colors · Best known for allowing animations · Best for large areas of solid / limited colors · Allows transparency · Becoming an outdated format (Replaced by PNG)
JPEGS
Joint Photographic Experts Group Might be the most common file type you run across on the web. They are known for their "lossy" compression, meaning that the quality of the image decreases as the file size decreases. You can use JPEGs for projects on the web, in Microsoft Office documents, or for projects that require printing at a high resolution. Pay attention to the resolution and file size with JPEGS is essential in order to produce a nice looking project. · Lossy/Raster · Most common online image format · Allows ability to select compression level · Great for online photos, complex illustrations, shadowing, lots of different colors that closely interact with each other.
Lossless
Maintain all of the data from the original file. · GIF · TIFF · PNG
PNG
Portable Network Graphic: are amazing for interactive documents such as web pages, but are not suitable for print. "Lossless", you can edit them and not lose quality, but they are still low resolution. · Best for large areas of solid or limited colors · Lossless/Raster · Web standard for images · Can allow very small file sizes when used right · Allows transparency
Rastor Image Files
Raster images are constructed by a series of pixels, or individual blocks to form an image. JPEG, GIF, and PNG are all raster image extensions. Every photo you find online or in print is a raster image. Pixels have a defined portion based on their resolution (high or low), and when the pixels are stretched to fill space the were not originally intended to fit, they become distorted, resulting in blurry or unclear images.
TIFF
Tagged Image File A TIF is a large raster file that doesn't lose quality. "Lossless compression", meaning the original image data is maintained regardless of how often you might copy, re-save, or compress the original file. · Extremely high quality most commonly used in print · Allows lossless (LZW or ZIP) or Lossy (JPEG) compression · Not ideal for web use due to extreme file size.
Vector Image Files
Vector images are far more flexible. They are constructed using proportional formulas rather than pixels. EPS, AI, and PDF are perfect for creating graphics that require frequent resizing.
Lossy
You're losing data when you save it as a lossy format. Typically removes unnecessary data to reduce file size. This often results in smaller images. · JPG · MPEG (Video) · H.264 (Video) · MP3 (Music)
File Size
is a measure of how much data a computer file contains or, alternately, how much storage it consumes. Typically, file size is expressed in units of measurement based on the byte. The size of a disk sectors is several hundred or several thousands bytes. 1 B = 1 byte 1 kB = 1000 bytes 1 MB = 1000 kB 1 GB = 1000 MB or 1 000 000 000 bytes.
RAW
· Format for Raw data captured by a digital camera · Contain 2 separate files allowing non-destructive editing · Exported to other formats (JPEG/TIFF) when editing is complete · RAW is to be used as a working / editing file format, not a final product.
EPS: Encapsulated postscript
· Vector Format (Although can also contain raster images*) · Typically used to contain single design element. (I.E. Logo)
