| Name |
Type |
Summary |
|
GIF
(Graphic Image File)
Indexed color file, mostly
for the web. |
Bitmap |
GIF87a was the original web graphic file format.
The current version, GIF89a, supports 1-bit transparency
and simple animation. GIF is the best web option
for images with flat, solid colors - the sort
of images you normally create in Vector drawing
programs like Illustrator. GIF is rarely a good
choice for non-Web use and one of the worst for
high quality print. GIF is a "lossless"
format meaning that even after the file has been
compressed no quality is lost from the image quality. |
|
JPEG
(Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Compressed, lossy file format,
mostly for photo-type images on the web. Can hold
RGB data; many compression levels and other options
available. |
Bitmap |
Developed
by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEGS are
perhaps the most well-known of the graphics family,
being used in many areas of digital life, including
websites, digital cameras, mobile phones, and a
variety of other media. JPEGS allow full colour
photographic quality images to be saved in relatively
good detail with lossy compression applied. The
greater the level of compression, the more quality
is lost from the image. It is possible to create
a very large high quality JPEG with no compression
to achieve outstanding quality in printed reproduction,
as well as very small compressed files for websites,
which makes JPEGS a very versatile option for a
plethora of uses. |
|
PNG
(Portable Network Graphics)
Designed to replace the GIF
on the web, but hasn't. |
Bitmap |
Recent
substitute for GIFs (and some JPEGs) online. Many
technical advantages over GIFs - for example, multi-bit
transparency map, metadata for color management
(gamma and profile) - but also larger file sizes.
There is very uneven browser support so far, so
it hasn't really caught on. |
|
SVG
(Scalable Vector Graphics)
Vector graphics for the web |
Vector |
This
Adobe-sponsored standard for placing true Vector
graphics online has failed to catch-on in any significant
way. Although approved by the W3C (the body which
governs Internet standards) there is poor browser
support and very little interest in this file type. |
|
TIFF
(Tagged Image File Format)
Prepress file format for raster
data such as photos. |
Bitmap |
TIFF
remains a popular format in press and sign studios.
It is strictly a Bitmap-only format, which cannot
support any type of Vector data, and can have levels
of compression applied. TIFF supports a very wide
range of colour models and resolutions and is known
for its versatility and reliability, although it
does produce very large files when used with high
quality images. |
|
EPS
(Encapsulated Postscript File)
PostScript format. |
Supports
Bitmap and Vector |
A PS
(PostScript) file is a simple text file, and there
are basically three things you can do with it: dump
it to a printer; convert it to PDF via Acrobat Distiller;
or - if you're a PostScript programmer - edit it
directly in a text editor. An EPS file is an extended
version of the PS format. Basically, it is a PS
file together with some other files stuffed into
an "envelope". The other files included
in an EPS may consist of a low-resolution preview
image, font data, clipping path data, Vector and
Raster information, and so on. These days EPS is
a widely-used standard in many graphic studios because
of its versatility and convenience. |
|
AI
(Adobe Illustrator)
Native format of popular Vector
art creation software |
Vector |
Adobe
Illustrator format is widely-used by many graphic
studios because it is easy to work with and can
be saved as PDF or EPS with minimal fuss for portability.
As well as designing Vector-based graphics, AI can
embed Bitmap images. |
|
PDF
(Portable Document Format)
Adobe's attempt at a "universal"
file format. |
Supports
Bitmap and Vector |
Adobe's
PDF file, also known as Adobe Acrobat file, is a
genuine attempt at making documents totally portable.
A PDF file is a slightly-editable type of PostScript
file which can contain virtually any type of data
that a document needs in order to display properly.
Adobe offers the Acrobat Reader free of charge so
that PDFs can be exchanged easily. PDFs are good
for a number of things, from creating books and
manuals to generating artwork proofs and production
files. |
|
PSD
(PhotoShop Document)
Native format of popular Bitmap
art creation software |
Bitmap |
Adobe
Photoshop is one of the most widely-used products
in the industry, renowned for its wealth of creative
tools and useful options for designers and digital
graphic artists. Any graphics file saved in the
PSD format can maintain the layers and effects that
were generated in Photoshop thus making it fully
editable in the software. |
|
BMP
(Bitmap)
Microsoft's own home-grown
image format |
Bitmap |
Microsoft's
own Bitmap BMP file type is used in the Windows
environment for various purposes, such as displaying
icons, but has very little purpose outside of that
remit. BMP files are unsuitable for web use or for
print. |
|
CDR
(CorelDraw)
Native format of popular Vector
art creation software |
Vector |
CorelDraw
is similar to Adobe Illustrator in that it is primarily
a Vector graphics creation product which can output
files in many different useful formats and can embed
Bitmaps. |
|
SWF
(Small Web Format)
Popular online Flash media
file |
Vector |
Macromedia
Flash is widely used online to produce Vector-based
graphics and animation. It has no real use outside
of web design. |
|
