This document discusses various digital image file formats used in graphics. It provides information on raster and vector graphics, as well as specifics on common file formats like JPEG, TIFF, GIF, BMP, PSD, AI, FLA, WMF. It also covers topics like image capture methods, compression techniques, optimizing images for web use, and how file size can be affected.

1. Print Formats
By Max Lancaster

2. Types of Digital Graphics
In this industry there are two types of formats that is used in
graphics. These are called Raster's and Vector. Raster’s are
made up of pixels in a square grid which contains fixed
resolution. The square grids are called Bit Maps and they are
the sole creators of Raster graphics.
The other example are called Vectors. Vectors are created by
Paths/strokes. Vectors establishes a star and end of a point of a
image that contain curves and the points between them. The
positive side of using vectors is that you can scale the image
big or small and not loss of quality. These are useful for logos.

3. Raster Graphics

4. JPEG • JPEG broken down into a meaning stands for Joint Photographic
Experts Group
• JPEG is the most common image format used by digital cameras
and other photographic devices, it is the most popular format for
storing and transmitting photographic images on the internet
• The most founding place to find JPEG files in the media is in web
applications because it is a format that does’t require editing to the
image so the quality is good when you post somewhere like social
media (Facebook)
Advantages Disadvantages
-Can Display millions of colors
-It uses simple compression algorithm
which allows images to apply so that the
quality of the image is as high as possible
-Loss of image quality if you edit them
-JPEG images are not useful for designers
as the format doesn't not support
transparency
-‘Great for photographs, graphic artwork,
banner ads’
-JPEG files are very small meaning when
transferring across computers it has less
storage space needed and quicker
uploads
-When you export a JPEG file in any size
on to the PC, every time you save the
image the quality of the image degrades,
which is bad if you’re a designer that has
to use lots of images.

5. TIFF
• TIFF simply means Tagged Image File Format
• This format allows you use loss less compression which allows you to edit
and re save the image without losing quality. However Tiff files are useless a
image is compressed by JPEG
• These sort of files are used for desktop publishing which is a key part of the
media for graphic designers. This format is also allows you to create
multiple pages for a topic and never lose quality of the images. For example
Magazine company's when creating they use TIFF file format to see page to
page images for the cover and see the quality as it is going to be.Advantages Disadvantages
-Tiff files are good format as it doesn't’t lose quality every time
you save the image compared to JPEG which does. This is a
useful format for the use of editors, as when creating front
covers of magazines you wont have to resize the image as it will
fixed to that page sizes.
Tiffs format purposes in the media is to not good for re sizing
images like on posters. If you have a specific image that a
company wants to use that image, however as it is Tiff file
format it will be harder to re –size and the bigger that you
enlarge the image the less quality it looks. That is why you
would use a format which is vectorised.
-Uncompressed image retains maximum amount of image data
from the camera
- Tiff formats are very small file size which is result means you
can send tiffs across through email making it useful if they
-Slow speeds when transferring to online galleries that do
support TIFF files making that website really slow to use.
-Most website and online images galleries do not support tiff
uploading making it hard to use them.

6. GIF
• GIF simply means Graphic Interchange Format
• A GIF file format is where you can hold multiple images,
which lets you create simple animations. If you have an
image of simple design that has big solid patches of color,
a GIF handles that job well.
• GIFs are good at creating easy animation sequences
• The normal place to find GIF are on social media/internet.
• It is a loop of images to create the appearance of a video
Advantage Disadvantages
-A GIF file has a small file size making it easier to transfer across
the computers, which have can easily uploaded onto different
programs like social media.
-Transparent backgrounds are providing allowing shapes and
objects to place on top of other. This is good for editors,
designers and creations of online buttons
-The often have a ‘Blocky’ or ‘Pixel’ appearance
- When using Giffs for animations the format only has 265
colours so therefore can lose quality than other formats.
- Another disadvantages of using GiFFs for animation use is
that the after it has been coded into the file than you
cannot go back and edit the image( if quality is poor) They
are a output format.
-A Giff is abled to be viewed easier online as they load quickly.
This benefits Giffs on websites and social media useful
-Giff images are also for saving with without losing colour
-Giffs can slow down a webpage down due to it file sizes is so
large that the memory of the website has to use more of it
data, however websites will massive amounts of data like social
media pages can take up Giff Animations, but we don’t see

7. BMP
• The meaning of BMP is Bitmap image file
• Bitmap images can be used for storing raw image data
• The BMP format stores color data for each pixel in the
image without any compression.
• Most of the time used for printable images
Advantages Disadvantages
-Does not degrade when saved multiple times like JPEG
does. As BMP is a raster graphic the file format be easily
created from existing pixel data stored in an array in
memory. Also BMP files can create larger groups so you
can have multiple images without any of them losing
quality
-The draw backs of the using BMP is that they are
normally large file size and if you have multiple with a
large variety of colours means that the data compression
can shrink make the size of pixel data. However the file
can me expanded for the quality to come back on the
images but this can slow down the reading and rendering
process dramatically.
-A main advantage of BMP is that it is supported by
virtually every device meaning that transferring these
files are very simple and easy. This would be very useful
for photographers.
-Lacks all the other features of the other formats
-The file size of the format is very large compared to
other files. This is because there is No compression,
which results in very large files then it will take longer to

8. Vector Graphics

9. PSD
• The meaning of the PSD is Photo Shop Document
• This is a format which uses image manipulation to
allow you to turn a image into high quality photo. This
format is used in Front covers images for magazines.
• It is able to save layers, page formatting and swatches
Advantages Disadvantages
-You can save your piece of work at any time and go back to it
later because the software saves everything that you did last
time without losing affect in quality or forget any piece of work
-A PSD file format is a good format for manipulating and
changing images with control over separate image channels,
layers and paths. This is a primary example of a vector graphic
as it used paths and strokes to create the best image as
possible and without losing quality
-The main disadvantages of using a PSD file format is that it
only works within certain applications, not useful for display on
the web or other online services. If this is so then placing
images on websites might lose its quality and make the images
look pixelated or not even appear at all.
-On any PSD file the file size is huge this is because they contain
a lot of Photoshop specific data that specific piece of data from
the program. This is impact the downloading time for the file
when transferring onto another computer.
-Using a PSD is useful if you were a designers because using
PSD as a file format doesn't’t lose quality, all image
represented in high resolution.
-No loss of quality when you save it several times or change the
file format.
-Is not suitable for a blog or website and you can’t always print
it the image.
- The file size will be effected if you are working on a project
that contains thousands of layers

10. Ai • Ai broken down to the definition means Adobe illustrator Art
• This is the format program creator for the development of logos for business companies. This is
because within the logo detail in the image is necessary, so you can scale the image big and small so
that the designers can make sure the the image is perfect.
• Adobe Illustrator is the most common vector art editing program in use today
• Its best for Creating, editing, and printing vector artwork
• It is drawing program which is vector based
Advantages Disadvantages
-Ai file format gives the user more control over text and its
formatting with options like paragraph composing. This is very
useful for editors form magazine pages to work and fit the
images and text so none of them lose quality or makes mess.
-Using Ai software/format there is a wider compatibility for a
native vector format, most advanced vector format available.
This means none of the images used in the program can be re
shaped and not lose any quality within the process.
-Takes time to learn the software to be able to use for design
purposes
-Newer versions may have compatibility issues, not a standard
file format
-An Ai file requires specific software to open which limits where
it can be viewed.
-All of the projects that is contained within the program have
small in sizes so allow easy sharing, mailing and use.
-As it is a vector based program it allows the creation of
graphics that are scalable to any extent without losing
resolution, with smooth and sharp lines that are perfect for
print.
-Image after finished can not be opened in other format, this
means that if you edited a logo in this format but the area of
the company doesn't’t have that specific file format then it will
be very difficult to transfer it into another format which can be
accessed. However doing this my re solve into worsen quality
of the image.

11. FLA • FLA means simply Flash File
• This piece of software/format is used for designing and creating
animation and games. Flash file allows the designer to use a
variety of colors and shapes to create their own ideas, you can
even import JPEG files into the program to be used.
• Flash files also access MP3 files. This would be useful if you were
creating a animation that had a song. Other sounds can be
accessed throughout the program. This format is used over the
internet on websites.
Advantages Disadvantages
-Can be easily converted into different formats which allows
you to access the file on different devices with no problem
-Flash has no issues with cross browser compatibility. This
means that there is no problem about the coding when
transferring onto different browsers.
-The primary that flash is a disadvantage is because that the file
sizes are very larger even when transferring it into a different
format. If the file size is very large features on a website with
the file on would take a very long time to load.
-
-Flash Files are small because Flash uses vector formats
-Flash can be used to replace text elements on HTML Web
pages with ‘equivalents’ making it useful to be placed on
websites.
-Flash program contains audio, animation, video and game
handling and interactivity. Flash is vector-based, but allows
incorporation of bitmaps where needed.
-Another disadvantage is that the only devices that you can
access an FLA is on the computer and some new piece of
software. However it cannot be accessed on mobile phones.
-Unless properly coded, most Flash Websites lack alternative
text and can be difficult for screen readers.
-Flash content takes longer than usual to load compared to
standard websites. The more your Flash content the slower the
Web page will load

12. WMF
• WMF-Windows Meta File
• This format are very similar to a Adobe illustrator
Art file format. WMF and Ai both used to create
for logos because you can scale big or small
• We find WMF mainly in windows is only clip art
Advantage Disadvantage
-Contain both vector and bitmap image information.
-Images that are saved in a WMF file format and scale big
and small without losing quality. This format has vector
and bitmap components.
-This file format can only be accessed on Window programs
only
-WMF is a Microsoft’s Proprietary which means that it is not
compatible with most of the other operating systems
WMF formats contains a large proportion of video and audio.
This information is contained in smaller storage spaces within
the program. This makes WMF an ideal format for streaming
videos over the internet and creating videos with high quality
audio.
-WMF files are normally supported on many modern portable
video devices
-WMF is its compatibility with non-Windows platforms this is
not very useful if your transferring for example a file as a WMV
over to a Mac which doesn't’t support the claims of the
program.
-For WMV program it has disadvantage as it lacks the cross-
platform compatibility that would make it a more standard
video format better.

13. Capturing and Optimizing

14. Compression
• ‘Lossless and Lossy compression are terms that describe
whether or not, in the compression of a file, all original
data can be recovered when the file is uncompressed’
• ‘Lossless compression algorithms reduce file size with no
loss in image quality’
• ‘Lossy compression is the class of data encoding
methods that uses inexact approximations to represent
the content. These techniques are used to reduce data
size for storage, handling, and transmitting content’
• Lossy= Advantage- Lossy compression can make a
multimedia file much smaller than its original size.
Disadvantage- it cannot be used in all types of files
because it works by removing data
• Lossless=Advantage- Lossless compressions single
advantage is keeping the quality of a image as a whole.
Disadvantage- Doesn't’t reduce the file size of any
format like Loos compression does to any format.

15. Image capture
Method Scanner
How is this used for image capture of graphics Scanners is a ‘device that optically scans images and converts it
to a digital image’
Advantage=scanners are very accurate and can produce
reasonably high quality images
Disadvantage=images can take up a lot of memory space
Images lose some quality in the scanning
Method Camera
How is this used for image capture of graphics Light enter the lens of a camera and it is then recorded by a
sensor, these sensors record the information for all the pixels
which is then produced into a image
AD=Massive Photo Storage, Operating Speed, Editing and
Sharing Options
DIS=Battery Consumption, Complexity
Method Graphic Tablet
How is this used for image capture of Graphics These are piece of equipment which allows the designer to use
a mouse/pen to create drawings graphics and digital
handwriting
AD=more effective than mouse input,
DIS=slower then paper drawing

16. Optimizing
Why would you Optimise? You would Optimise so that images can be
uploaded onto the web which are easy for
people to view in good quality
How Can you optimise? -You can optimise a image onto the web by changing the
image size in Photoshop
Images cant be optimise if they have a large file size
because it takes longer for it to download.
Advantages to Optimizing? -By optimizing an image you reduce the file size of a
image so that it can download faster onto the web.
- You get a better look of the image because the
optimizing process allows to get rid of all the parts of the
image that you don’t need or don’t look good.
Disadvantages to Optimizing? -Reduces pixel information in a image this normally
occurs if images are no more than 500 pixels wide

17. File Size
What could affect a Working Scale document file size? The file size is the main cause of this working scale. This mainly
occurs in Photoshop after you save a project where the file
compresses, causing the file size to get smaller. But some
documents mainly an images can also create a bigger colour
paletteis added on as well as pixels are added to the image.
This would change the file size as more data is required for the
image quality.
How could you reduce the file size of a working scale
document without affecting the quality?
The best way to reduce the file size of any document is
converting it into a Lossless format like a PNG where none of
the quality is affect. Whereas a format like JPEG (lossy) would
affect the quality of the image every time you save it.
What is an advantage of scaling up images before exporting? PSD is a vector graphic and does’t get affect if you enlarger the
fix shape as the quality will not change. Vector and Bitmaps are
different when coming to file size. Scaling up an image
sometimes brings out more colours of the image depending on
much you scale the image up to.
What is a disadvantage of scaling up images before exporting? The sole reason of scaling up a image is that the quality will
degrade because there wont be any available pixels in the
document to fill the enlargement requirements. This causes the