File types and formats

1. Digital Graphics
File Formats
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2. Raster Graphics
There are two main types of Digital Graphics, one of these is
called ‘Raster Graphics’. Raster Graphics are made up of
bitmaps, bitmap images have a fixed resolution, which can
result in distortion when resized. Bitmaps are a graphic
made up of pixels, these pixels record the colour information
of each section of the image or photograph, and when put
together make one complete image.
These pixels are measured in megapixels, which means how
many million pixels are in the image, for example 5
megapixels equals to 5,000,000 pixels.
A raster file is usually difficult to change or modify without it
becoming compressed or losing quality and information. A
compressed image means that an image has less megapixels,
this results in an unclear and unfocused image.
Files such as JPEG, GIF, BMP and TIFF are all examples of Raster
Graphics.

3. Vector Graphics
Another Digital Graphic is ‘Vector Graphics’ these are
made up of ‘Vectors’ which are defined by start and
end points, which can be a line, square, triangle or a
curvy shape. This type of graphics can also be known
as paths, because of the way the graphic is made up.
This type of Digital graphics is useful as it has no loss
of definition when being resized, meaning it is good
for contexts such as logos, as it can be used for
different purposes, from small letter heads to
billboards.
Vector Graphics are better to change and modify a image
file than a Raster File, as it doesn't lose quality when
compressed. Vector files are usually converted into
Raster files, making it easier to view or share.
Files such as PSD, AL, FLA and WMF are all examples of
Vector Graphics.

4. Raster Graphics

5. JPEG
Stands For JPEG stands for ‘Joint Photographic Experts Group’.
And is usually seen as .jpg or .jpeg on the end of image
files.
Used For/Example It is most often used for photography purposes, as well
as web formats. This type of file is mostly known , as it
is usually the file that images are saved as when
downloading from the internet or saving from
cameras.
Advantage A JPEG file can be adjusted to create different
compression sizes, this is useful to save storage space
and to change the image quality depending on
purpose. This type of file is also supported by every
image editor and web browser, as well as every digital
camera, and is the universal image format.
Disadvantage JPEG files lose image quality when edited and saved,
due to the compression each time it is edited. JPEG
files that are saved as small files due to storage also
have less quality.

6. TIFF
Stands For TIFF stands for ‘Tagged Image File Format’
Used For/Example This type of file is most used by graphic
designers as it is used for desktop publishing.
Advantage It is useful as it can save multi-page documents
to a single TIFF file, in Adobe InDesign, and has
the option of lossless compression, meaning the
image or file doesn't lose any quality. This
makes it a good file type to edit and adjust
images or files.
Disadvantage As compression is not used in this file format,
this results in a large file size, which in result
takes up more storage. making it problem to
send via email.

7. GIF
Stands For GIF stands for ‘Graphics Interchange Format’
Used For/Example This type of file is used for short digital animations,
which is mostly found on the internet, for instance it is
usually found on the blogging site ‘Tumblr’. It is a
series of images in a loop which gives the impression
of a video. Without sound.
Advantage This type of file is useful as it gives the appearance of a
video, but isn't as bulky, and doesn't need the viewer
to press play and listen to anything. This makes it
useful to demonstrate or illustrate something, or to
show a part of a video.
Disadvantage The disadvantages of this type of file include a lack of
colour support, meaning the images may be poorer
quality, as well as when a GIF file is produced it is
impossible to go back and edit it.

8. BMP
Stands For BMP stands for ‘Bitmap Image File’
Used For/Example BMP files are similar to TIFF and JPEG files,
and are used for storing bitmap digital
images.
Advantage This type of file is good because it no loss
when compression occurs, which is great
for defined, high quality images
Disadvantage The disadvantages of this file type is that it
is completely uncompressed, and are
massive files which take up a lot of storage
space.

9. Vector Graphics

10. PSD
Stands For PSD stands for ‘Photoshop Document’
Used For/Example This type of file is used for editing images, it is
used in professional contexts such as magazine
covers and advertisement images, this type of
file works in Adobe Photoshop.
Advantage The advantage to this file type is that you can
manipulate images and you are able to save the
layers you have created, meaning you are able
to go back to your editing at a later date,
without loss of quality due to compression. PSD
files also support transparency settings.
Disadvantage PSD files are usually large, as they have to save
all the layers, with no compression, meaning
more storage space is taken up by the file, and
making it unable to be sent via email as teh file
is too big.

11. AI
Stands For AI stands for ‘Adobe Illustrator Art’
Used For/Example This type of file is usually used to create
original graphics and images such as
company logos.
Advantage AN advantage to this type of file is that the
image can be scaled small or big, due to
the fact that the file will have no loss in
definition, meaning it is good for
professional looking images and contexts.
Disadvantage This type of file only work in Adobe
Illustrator, meaning that you can not edit
or use this type of file in other editing
software.

12. FLA
Stands For FLA stands for ‘Flash File’
Used For/Example This type of file is usually used to create
mobile content, animations, as well as
games.
Advantage This type of file is good as it can produce
high quality files with a small file size and
include sound and video, making it great
for animations. The small file size is good
for saving space and sharing Flash files via
email.
Disadvantage A disadvantage to this type of file is that
Flash files must be converted into SWF
format before they can be uploaded and
viewed on the internet, and can not be
seen unless a Flash Player is installed.

13. WMF
Stands For WMF stands for ‘Windows Metafile’
Used For/Example This type of file is similar to AI files, as it is
used for logos
Advantage WMF files can be portable between
different applications, as they contain both
vector and bitmap graphics, meaning it is
versatile when creating an image. Similar
to the AI file, WMF files can also be scaled
small or bigger and have no loss of
definition.
Disadvantage An disadvantage to this type of file is that
it is mainly only compatible with Microsoft
Window software.

14. File Format Capture
and Optimising

15. Compression
Definition Image compression happens when editing and
saving an image multiple times, it can also occur
if the image size is reduced due to storage
space. When an image is compressed the
amount of information the file has reduces,
meaning the quality of the image is reduced.
Advantage An advantage of compression is that when a
bigger file is compressed, it allows you to save
storage space, it also makes it easier to upload
or send an image on the internet.
Disadvantage A disadvantage to compression is that when a
file is compressed it loses information, meaning
the images quality worsens, and when an image
is compressed too much, pixels usually start to
become bigger and visible, due to the lose of
pixel information

16. Image Capture
Method Scanner
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
Scanners are used to produce a digital image of physical objects
or images, for example printed photographs, hand drawn
images, or other flat objects. Scanners are helpful, as they allow
you to produce a digital replica of a physical document, allowing
you to digitally manipulate the image and upload it to your
computer and other devices.
Method Camera
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
Cameras are used to take photographs, as well as video
footage. Cameras are used for a wide range of
photography purposes, most professional uses use
high quality cameras, DSLRs, to capture images.
Method Graphics Tablet
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A graphics tablet is a tablet that you use with a computer
instead of a mouse, allowing you to create digital drawings,
selection and handwriting using a pen instead of a mouse. This
is great for precision and allows you to create hand drawn
images straight onto a computer.

17. Optimising
Why would you optimise? Optimising images is a great way to reduce the time it
takes for the image to load when on the web, as well
as faster and easier downloading from sites. It
compresses large files into smaller more accessible
files
How can you optimise? You can optimise an image in Adobe Photoshop, using
the tool ‘Image Size’ to get the size you desire. You can
also optimise an image by reducing the bit depth,
toning down the amount of colour within the image, as
well as reducing the images resolution.
Advantage to optimising Optimising is great for reducing an image file, so that it
can be easily viewed online, as well as faster
downloading.
Disadvantage to optimising Optimising may reduce the quality of an image if
enlarged, so it is best to keep he original image.