Graphic File Types
There are a wide variety of file types available for graphics -
some are specific to a particular program others are generic and can
be opened by any program.
Different file types are a little like different languages. Some
languages are very specific to a certain part of a country. Not
everyone can understand these languages. Some file types are very
specific to one software program and other software programs can not
understand them. PDD and PSD are examples of files specific to
particular programs (PhotoDeluxe and PhotoShop). Other programs
(like Internet Explorer or Paint) do not understand these kinds of
files and can not read them. Other languages are more widely
understood. People in many countries can exchange information with a
shared language. There are a number of files that are like widely
understood languages. These "generic" file types can be understood
and read by almost every computer with an Internet connection.
Note: If you plan to share images with other computers and other
users, use generic files. If you use the file type specific to your
program, others can only open it if they have the exact same program
as you. Those listed below are some of the most common generic
files. JPEG
Any computer that can see images on the Internet can see JPG
files.
JPG images give you the best continuous-tone color and the smallest
file size – best for photographs and web images.
This is a compressed file format. That means that it "squishes"
the file to make it as small as possible. This is good because it's
faster to transfer than a larger file. Most programs have a slider
that allows you to control the quality and file size.
JPG uses lossy compression. (That means that some image quality
is lost every time you save a JPG file - just like a copy of a copy
of a copy on a Xerox machine.) JPG IS BEST FOR SENDING PHOTOS
OVER EMAIL OR ON THE WEB. GIF
Any computer that can see images on the Internet can see GIF
files.
This is good if your image requires sharp detail, contains line
art, or needs to have transparent areas. It supports RGB and
indexed-color. This compressed file uses a loss-less compression
scheme. It does not compress a photo as well as JPG. GIF is
good for line drawings or sharp detail. BMP
Any Windows computer can see a BMP file.
A standard Windows image format. BMP format supports RGB,
indexed-color, and grayscale. Any Windows-based computer can read a BMP
file. This file is not compressed, so it is very large to send over
the Internet.
BMP is OK for images you save on your hard drive, but tends to
make files too large to send over the Internet. TIFF
You generally need an art program to see TIF files.
A TIF (Tagged-Image File Format) is used to exchange files
between applications and computer platforms. TIF is a flexible
bitmap image format supported by virtually all paint, image-editing,
and page-layout applications. Also, most desktop scanners can
produce TIF images. The TIF format supports CMYK, RGB, grayscale,
and indexed-color. Not all computers can read a TIF file - it
depends on the software installed.
TIFF is good for sharing images with other high-end computer
systems.
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