1. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
JPEG is a lossy compressible file format for images. The lossy term is because the
more the file is saved it slowly looses image quality and size due to its small size.
JPEG is a commonly used file format on the Internet to share photos, as it is a
common, small file format that is used primarily to share photos when its main
function isn't about the quality of the image.
The advantage of JPEG is that it is a small file size that is used commonly to share
images that do not require the best quality
The disadvantage of the JPEG format is that it is lossy; meaning that the more
you save it the more quality is lost.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
TIFF is a large file format that is used for images and features a lossless
compression file format during compression. TIFF’s reasoning for its large file
format is that its bit depth is 16-bit per channel, compared to JPEG being only an
8-bit.
TIFF’s use includes being a great option for coming back to an image and saving
over and over. Say you are manipulating the image over time it doesn’t lose
quality.
The advantages of TIFF are that it is a high quality file due to its larger bit depth
than JPEG and it is also lossless.
However the trade off for this is that it is a large file size which leads to less
storage and less TIFF files to store in comparison to JPEG for example.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG’s are bitmap files that are much smaller than JPEG file sizes. They are
clipped so that background are removed and are very useful for photo
manipulation. PNG is not lossy when compressed. This means that when
compressed and then saved and opened. There is no loss of quality and it is the
same file size
PNG’s are used frequently on stock image websites so that the main subject of
the image is clipped and doesn’t require photo manipulation to remove the
background.
Advantages of PNGs is that it is lossless during compression and it can have
clipped backgrounds
Disadvantages however include the fact that you can’t put multiple images on
one file and that it is not the best quality file format for images.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
GIF is a format that can store animated or singular images whilst using only a
small amount of storage space. They compress images to a maximum 8-bit colour
depth, which is bad for images or animations where quality matters.
GIFs are mostly used to show multiple image animations as they are much
smaller than video file sizes, but GIFS have no audio.
The advantages of GIFs is that they are a small file size suitable for multiple
image animations
However they are very lossy and low quality, and mustn’t be used in instances
where you require high quality or audio for the animations
2. RAW
RAW files are files that are created using a camera; they are basically the full
image as seen by the sensor. They allow you to process the image yourself rather
than the camera compress the file so that you cannot edit it past a few basic
changes.
Camera RAW is used so that in post, you can edit lots of different components,
even as deep as the exposure.
The advantages of RAW is that it gives you complete control over what the image
will turn out, which goes past what you can do on the day with the settings of the
camera and lens
However the disadvantage is that you cant take as many photos on the card if the
file size was JPEG due to it being a larger file, also it can clog up the writing of the
image to the card, as the write speed may not be fast enough to keep up with fast
bursts of shots of a RAW files as it can do with a JPEG file
PSD (Photoshop Document)
Photoshop documents are layered formats that can be fully manipulated in
Adobe Photoshop. They can be saved as the image that it currently is, or in
Photoshop different elements can be moved around and then changed. It allows
for full creative control of the image.
This file is used by Adobe Photoshop as its default file save for manipulation of
images
The advantages of PSD’s is that it allows for movement of images and changes
within the layering of image stacking
However the disadvantage is that the file can only be opened on adobe products
and will struggle to open at full file size on others and their file size is large due
to their preservation of different layers.
AI (Adobe Illustrator)
Adobe Illustrator files is a creative file that allows for manipulation and use on
Adobe illustrator.
Mainly graphic designers and animators to create and develop graphical content
on Adobe Illustrator use this.
The advantages of this are that it is the most common editing file in use today
due to it being used with a massively popular application for graphics.
However the disadvantage is that it can only be opened on some adobe
applications and will not on anything else. So if you don’t have the adobe
applications the file won’t open.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
PDF Files are a file that captures every element of a document as an electronic
image you can manipulate, view, print and forward on to someone else.
PDF Files are primarily used for electronic versions of books and documents so
that they can be viewed on computers as opposed to a paper version of it.
The advantages of this is that it is very high quality, with most if not all aspects of
the document being captured by the computer
However its disadvantage is that PDFs can only be created on some Adobe based
applications and a few others like it, so if you don’t have the right software you
cannot make a PDF File.
3. Rasterizing
Rastered images are images composed from pixels on the screen. This can be
composed from either millions or billions depending on the resolution of the
images.
This is used a lot and is usually a common standard for the standard of
resolution of the file
The advantage of rasterizing files is that it is easy to distinguish singular pixels
and get locations of images for tiny manipulations
But the disadvantage of this is that due to their being pixels attributed to
everywhere, when the image is zoomed in the pixel size zooms in with it and
creates a blur and distortion on the image.
Vectorizing
Vector files are files that use hundreds of thousands of different tiny lines and
curves to create an image.
The uses of vector images are primarily used on any hard-edged graphics, where
if it were pixels it would show a harsh distortion. On the edges of the curve.
The advantages of vector files are that data is shown in its original resolution
without any worry of losing quality on any hard edges where pixels may distort
colour changes.
The disadvantages of this is that vector files cannot be used to store images
where pixel by pixel there is a difference as it will be hard for the curve to change
when there is a colour change frequently. Moreover making a vector file takes
longer than a pixel due to the algorithm for the changing of colour on the line.
