There are different types of file formats used for different purposes in graphic design work. A common file format is PSD, which is the default format for Photoshop files that allows images to be saved with layers for future editing. Another popular format is JPEG, which compresses file sizes but can reduce image quality when resized. Other formats discussed include GIF, PNG, TIFF, RAW and EPS, each with their own advantages and disadvantages for uses like vector images, photos, animations and printing.

1. A file format is the way in which a file is saved. File formats are designed to serve different types
of data, such as JPEG for images or raster data as well as things like AI for vector data.
[1]A metafile is a file that can store multiple types of data and therefore they can be exchanged
from different systems and software and can include both vector and raster data.
[2] There are two different types of images, raster and vector. Raster graphics are made up of
pixels, whereas vector graphics are composed of paths. A raster image, such as a GIF is a
make up of pixels of various colours, which together form an image
.[3] There are different types of file formats that are used for different reasons, especially within
design work. A very common file format used within design work is psd, which stands for a
photoshop document, and is the default file format that any work saved from photoshop is saved
in. What makes a psd special is that after the file has been saved, the file allows the image to be
saved with its individual layers so that they can still be edited after this.
[4] PSD files are commonly used in print, photography and graphic design work to name a few,
and they have both advantages and disadvantages such as that they can preserve layers which
means they can be edited multiple times easily especially if being edited again after saving on
another pc, however the file sizes can be considerably large and therefore difficult to transfer or
email across to someone like a business client who requires the psd file.
[5] Another very popular file format would be JPEG, which compresses the file size and makes
it far smaller which in turn saves space on hard drives of computers, it can be reduced to as
little as 5% of its normal size, but this does compromise the images detail.
[6]There are multiple advantages and disadvantages to a JPEG is that it is a small file size and
therefore doesn’t take up a lot of hard drive space on your computer, as well as this it is

2. compatible and can be displayed well on various different browsers and text/graphics design
programs on a different portfolio of devices from PC’s to Android to IOS Systems. There are
also disadvantages to JPEG images, such as that when an image is stretched it can blur
massively and lose quality whereas other file formats can cope with this, as well as this it does
not support transparency which can be necessary in graphic design work. JPEGS are very
suitable for photographers that are taking still images.
[7] Another file format that has become more popular recently is a GIF, which allows animations
to play continuously. A GIF can support as many as 256 colours and also has ‘lossless’
compre
ssion
meanin
g that it
doesn’t
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data.
[8] Another very popular file format, comes in the shape of PNG, which is a raster file and is
very popular due to the fact that it supports ‘lossless’ data compression, which means that when
compressed the image remains at its quality and does not lose any detail which can be
considered a massive advantages and is also ‘the most used lossless image compression
format on the internet.
[9] Despite these advantages, there are also disadvantages such as the fact that despite
supporting 256 colours, it is usually avoided when using an image that has many colours as the
gif may struggle to give optimum quality.
[10] A TIFF file is a file format that is used for swapping raster images between applications.
The TIFF, or Tag Image File Format was created in 1986 by Aldus Corporations, who are now
owned by and are part of Adobe, one of the most common things TIFF’s are used for is faxing.
TIFF files can be created in various different programs, this can be in Adobe’s Photoshop and
Illustrator and is used to create high quality files to then give off a true to screen print which
means that when printed, the image looks as clear as it did on your computer's monitor.
[11] A rather unknown file format comes in the shape of a RAW file, which is basically an
image, but as it is seen by the camera's sensor, and instead of the camera processing the

3. image itself, and then turning into a JPEG, it allows you to process the image yourself and that
is why it is very popular with photographers, which is the type of graphic work this file is used
for.
[12] The biggest positive that I can see when looking at the specs of a RAW file is the fact that
an 8-bit raw file can reproduce a whopping 68 billion colours but a 14-bit can reproduce an
unbelievable 4.3 trillion colours, which obviously will enhance the colours of a photo, helping to
make it look far neater and crisp than a jpeg image. However the file sizes are absolutely huge
because of this making it very difficult to transfer.
[13] Another file format that is used commonly in the graphic design industry is an EPS file,
which stands for Encapsulated Postscript Vector file, there are advantages and disadvantages
to this such as that an EPS file can accurately reproduce digital images through PostScript
printers which then makes EPS filed images look perfect on paper and gives a far better quality
of printed image than the other file formats which are available, however a disadvantage would
be that EPS files require adobe programs and PostScript printers which for businesses that
operate in the graphic design work isn’t a problem but this makes it fairly inaccessible for those
new to the industry of desktop publishing without splashing a fair amount of cash which some
may not have, nor be willing to spend. Another disadvantage is that your PC must also support
PostScript printing, and the quality that you are shown on your computer screen could be
potentially different to the quality of the colours and detail that the image offers when printed,
and could be a letdown.
[14] There are many different programs that can create a vector image, some of these are
InkScape (Mac, Win, Linux), DrawIt (Mac), SK1 (Linux), Xara Xtreme (Mac, Linux), Skencil
(Linux) and Scribus (Mac, Win, Linux, OS/2).
[15] Just like vector images, there are multiple applications that will support and create Raster
images and these include Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Fireworks, Corel
Photo Paint (CPP), GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) as well as Microsoft Paint.
Bibliography
[1]http://dpbestflow.org/file-format/file-format-overview
[2]http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/metafile
[3]http://pc.net/helpcenter/answers/vector_and_raster_graphics
[4]http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/PSD-Adobe-Photoshop-default
[5]https://agnessalcf.wordpress.com/capturing-manipulating-images/questions/advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-jpeg-and-psd-files/
[6]http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/J/JPEG.html
[7]Born G, 1995, The File Formats Handbook, Cengage Learning EMEA
[8]Shafran A, 2000, Paintshop pro web graphics third edition, Muska and Lipman
[9]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics
[10]http://www.motocms.com/blog/en/pros-cons-types-image-extensions/
[11]http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/TIFF-Tag-Image-File-Format
[12]http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/adam-savage-dont-let-science-scare-you/

4. [13]Poppy E, 2004, Forms, Folds and Sizes: All the details graphic designers need to know but
can never find paperback.
[14]http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/publishing/articles/73337.aspx
[15]https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/20-vector-graphic-editors-reviewed/
Books
1 - Digital Manga Workshop - Jared Hodges and Lindsay Cibos - Page 44
2 - The complete animation course - Thames+Hudson - Page 106
3 - Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Classroom in a book - Page 188
4 - http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/PSD-Adobe-Photoshop-default
5 - Collins Complete Photography Course - John Garrett and Graeme Harris - Page 24
6 - Collins Complete Photography Course - John Garrett and Graeme Harris - Page 25
7- Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Classroom in a book - Page 188
8 - Graphic Design School - David Dabner - Page 133