Help Sheet for File Formats

There are many file formats used fort saving images, these file
formats are all generally the same when it comers to saving an
image but there are different reasons on why there are so many.

The Joint Photographic Experts Group file format (which is known
as .jpg) is possibly one of the most popular image file formats
today. It is a platform independent file. This is what is known as a
raster file, which means it stores data using pixels. Just like every
other file format, it is used as a mean to save a file. But there are
advantages to the .jpg with can set it apart from other formats.
Advantages of the .jpg can be:

It is supported for such media as digital photography and the
Internet.
Compressing the image would shorten the file size (useful for
e-mailing)
There are some disadvantages to saving a picture as a jpeg such
as:

Images that only contain little amounts of colour or areas
with little brightness would not be supported.

Examples on which jpeg would be useful is in digital photography,
since its widely supported for it and E-mails, since you are able to
compress the image to reduce the file size if its too big to send for
an E-Mail.


The Tagged Image File Format (which is known as a .tiff) is a file
format which isnt as popular as the jpeg but it is still popular when
it comes to printing and scanning. Similar to the jpg, this file format
also uses raster data.

There are advantages to this file format such as:

It is arguably the best file format for printing and scanning
It is able to be used in both Windows and Mac.

Disadvantages for the tiff file format can include:

It cannot be viewed on any Internet browsers.
Cannot compress automatically, so it has a large file size.
Examples of which a tiff file can be useful is when it comes to
printing and scanning.
The Portable Network Graphics (also know as a.png file) is also a
raster file. Similar to the jpeg, this is also used to save a image file
although there are some differences.

The advantages to the PNG file format is:
It is platform-independent, so it means it is available on
multiple softwares.
It benefits from lossless compression; the image quality
would be at a good standard even if you change the image
size.
It is only supported on more recent internet browsers.
Can be used to create transparent images

The disadvantages to the PNG file format is:

Old programs or browsers dont support PNG.
Doesnt allow animations

Examples of which PNG can be used is creating a logo with a
transparent background (essentially no background)








The bitmap file is a raster file (known as a .bmp). This is also used
to save images but it was originally intended only for Microsoft
computers. It is now available for platforms such as the Mac.

Advantages to the Bitmap file is:

It can support a wide amount of colours on one image, unlike
the JPEG.
Compatible with old Windows programs (e.g. Paint)

The disadvantages to the Bitmap file is:

Cannot be compressed so large files will be created
Web browsers dont support the bitmap file.
Originally only compatible on Windows, now can be used on
the Mac OS.

An example of a time to use a bitmap file is to create a simple
image, but with its lack of support on web browsers, it can only be
viewed on your computer.










The Graphics Interchange Format (known as a gif file) is a raster
file. The gif is a well-known file format because of its use of
allowing animations

Advantages to the gif file is:

It is supported on web browsers
Allows transparency and lossless compression.
Allows animations
Can be created simply from animation softwares.

Disadvantages to the gif file can be:

It can only support 256 colours, so pictures in high detail
might lose their quality.
Its lossless compression support is inferior to other formats
An example of when youd use a gif file is to create a simple
animation.








A Photoshop document (known as a .psd file) is a raster file. A
PSD file is only supported on Adobe-created programs (e.g.
Photoshop, Dreamweaver)

The advantages to a PSD file is:

The PSD file allows images to be shown in layers, examples
can be seen in Photoshop. Each image you paste in
Photoshop will be put in its own layer, this can be used to
freely edit that layer without messing up the whole image.
Can be used in other Adobe programs such as
Dreamweaver, After Effects etc.
It is able to create and manipulate vector graphics.

Disadvantages to a PSD file is:

Only supported with Adobe programs.
A PSD file creates a large file size.
Manipulation of vector graphics is inferior to specialist
software.

An example of the use PSD file to be used is by creating an image
from scratch.












A computer graphics metafile (also known as a .cgm file) is a
metafile, this means it uses vector and raster data.

Advantages to a CGM file is:

It can be used internationally, across many operating
systems.
A disadvantage to a CGM file is:

To convert the file, it might need to be filtered.

If you are working with a company that is working in a different
country and they use a different operating system, the CGM
support the image on their computers if you are willing to send
them designs/




















Raster Graphics Images that use raster graphic use pixels to
store data, each detail of a raster file will be represented by one
pixel. Media such as cameras and scanners can support the use of
raster files. Raster graphics will be converted to vector graphics
once there is a need for printing because it is simple to resize
without altering quality.


Vector Graphics Unlike raster graphics, vector graphics will store
data by the use of equations such as; curves, shapes, lines and
polygons to store data. Vector graphics are able to stay in high
quality no matter how far you zoom or alter the picture. Not all
computer files support the use of vector graphics and they would
have to be created in a specialist
software.