Scribd
Upload
37 views

Common Image Formats: What To Use When: Cons Best Uses Photoshop Document .PSD Pros Format

Common image formats each have pros and cons for different uses: - Photoshop (.psd) files fully support layers and editing but are proprietary; TIFF (.tif) files are uncompressed but large, making them best for archiving master copies. - GIF (.gif) uses lossless compression and supports transparency, so it is best for web hosting but limited to 256 colors. - JPEG (.jpg) uses lossy compression that reduces file sizes, so it is good for web hosting and embedding in documents. - PNG (.png) also allows transparency with less efficient lossless compression than GIF, so it can be used for web hosting by most browsers. - JPEG2000 (.jp2) may

Uploaded by

Pidoon Esm
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
37 views

Common Image Formats: What To Use When: Cons Best Uses Photoshop Document .PSD Pros Format

Common image formats each have pros and cons for different uses: - Photoshop (.psd) files fully support layers and editing but are proprietary; TIFF (.tif) files are uncompressed but large, making them best for archiving master copies. - GIF (.gif) uses lossless compression and supports transparency, so it is best for web hosting but limited to 256 colors. - JPEG (.jpg) uses lossy compression that reduces file sizes, so it is good for web hosting and embedding in documents. - PNG (.png) also allows transparency with less efficient lossless compression than GIF, so it can be used for web hosting by most browsers. - JPEG2000 (.jp2) may

Uploaded by

Pidoon Esm
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Common Image Formats: what to use when

FORMAT

PROS

Photoshop
Document

Files can be fully manipulated with Adobe


Photoshop (including layers, transparency,
text, etc)

.psd

Supports a range of metadata

TIFF

Uncompressed format (files retain


information)

.tif or .tiff

CONS
Proprietary format (dependent on a company)

Use while actively editing images

Limited compression (large file sizes)

Store a copy of your files in .psd, but save a


master/archival copy of important images in
another format, such as .tif

Uncompressed format (files are large)

Current standard for preservation, long term


storage, archiving

Not supported by web browsers

Allows a range of metadata

GIF

Lossless compression

.gif

Supported by all web browsers

BEST USES

Master copy of image


Allows limited colour (only 256 unique colours), so
not good for photographs

Web hosting

Lossy compression (images lose information when


created and when re-saved)

Web hosting

Presentations

Allows transparent parts of image

JPEG

Supported by all web browsers

.jpg or .jpeg

Efficient compression (images take up less


space)

Presentations
Embedded in documents

Open format

PNG

Supported by most web browsers

.png

Allows transparent parts of image


Lossless compression
Non-proprietary format

JPEG2000
.jp2 or .jpx

Not supported by all web browsers (especially


"transparency" feature)
Compression is not as efficient as JPEG
(compressed files take up more space)

Master copy of image


Sometimes: web hosting (a small minority of
browsers users may not be able to view)

Offers lossless compression (images don't


lose info over time) or lossy compression

Not currently supported by most web browsers


and various other programs

Possibly: Preservation, long-term, archiving

.jpx form uses XML to store metadata

Some versions (e.g. .jpx are proprietary)

Note: keep an eye out for wider-spread use and


support for this format

Allows transparent parts of image

Possibly: Master copy of images

April 2011

You might also like