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Types of Image Files

1. JPEG (or JPG) - Joint Photographic Experts Group

JPEGs might be the most common file type you run across on the web, and more than likely the
kind of image that is in your company's MS Word version of its letterhead. JPEGs are known for
their "lossy" compression, meaning that the quality of the image decreases as the file size
decreases.

You can use JPEGs for projects on the web, in Microsoft Office documents, or for projects that
require printing at a high resolution. Paying attention to the resolution and file size with JPEGs is
essential in order to produce a nice looking project.

2. PNG - Portable Network Graphics

PNGs are amazing for interactive documents such as web pages, but are not suitable for print.
While PNGs are "lossless," meaning you can edit them and not lose quality, they are still low
resolution.

The reason PNGs are used in most web projects is that you can save your image with more
colors on a transparent background. This makes for a much sharper, web-quality image.

3. GIF - Graphics Interchange Format

GIFs are most common in their animated form, which are all the rage on Tumblr pages and in
banner ads. It seems like every other day we have a new Grumpy Cat or Honey Boo Boo
animated GIF. In their more basic form, GIFs are formed from up to 256 colors in the RGB
colorspace. Due to the limited number of colors, the file size is drastically reduced.

This is a common file type for web projects where an image needs to load very quickly, as
opposed to one that needs to retain a higher level of quality.

4. TIFF - Tagged Image File

A TIF is a large raster file that doesn't lose quality. This file type is known for using "lossless
compression," meaning the original image data is maintained regardless of how often you might
copy, re-save, or compress the original file.

Despite TIFF images' ability to recover their quality after manipulation, you should avoid using
this file type on the web -- it can take forever to load. TIFF files are also commonly used when
saving photographs for print.

5. PSD - Photoshop Document

PSDs are files that are created and saved in Adobe Photoshop, the most popular graphics editing
software ever. This type of file contains "layers" that make modifying the image much easier to
handle. This is also the program that generates the raster file types mentioned above.

The largest disadvantage to PSDs is that Photoshop works with raster images as opposed to
vector images.

6. PDF - Portable Document Format

PDFs were invented by Adobe with the goal of capturing and reviewing rich information from
any application, on any computer, with anyone, anywhere. I'd say they've been pretty successful
so far.

If a designer saves your vector logo in PDF format, you can view it without any design editing
software (as long as you have downloaded the free Acrobat Reader software), and they have the
ability to use this file to make further manipulations. This is by far the best universal tool for
sharing graphics.

7. EPS - Encapsulated Postscript

EPS is a file in vector format that has been designed to produce high-resolution graphics for
print. Almost any kind of design software can create an EPS.

The EPS extension is more of a universal file type (much like the PDF) that can be used to open
vector-based artwork in any design editor, not just the more common Adobe products. This
safeguards file transfers to designers that are not yet utilizing Adobe products, but may be using
Corel Draw or Quark.

8. AI - Adobe Illustrator Document

AI is, by far, the image format most preferred by designers and the most reliable type of file
format for using images in all types of projects from web to print, etc.
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Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for creating artwork from scratch and therefore more
than likely the program in which your logo was originally rendered. Illustrator produces vector
artwork, the easiest type of file to manipulate. It can also create all of the aforementioned file
types. Pretty cool stuff! It is by far the best tool in any designer's arsenal.

9. INDD - Adobe Indesign Document

INDDs (Indesign Document) are files that are created and saved in Adobe Indesign. Indesign is
commonly used to create larger publications, such as newspapers, magazines and eBooks.

Files from both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator can be combined in Indesign to produce content
rich designs that feature advanced typography, embedded graphics, page content, formatting
information and other sophisticated layout-related options.

10. RAW - Raw Image Formats

A RAW image is the least-processed image type on this list -- it's often the first format a picture
inherits when it's created. When you snap a photo with your camera, it's saved immediately in a
raw file format. Only when you upload your media to a new device and edit it using image
software is it saved using one of the image extensions explained above.

RAW images are valuable because they capture every element of a photo without processing and
losing small visual details. Eventually, however, you'll want to package them into a raster or
vector file type so they can be transferred and resized for various purposes.

As you can see from the icons above, there are multiple raw image files in which you can create
images -- many of them native to certain cameras (and there are still dozens more formats not
shown above). Here's a brief description of those four raw files above:

 CR2: This image extension stands for Canon RAW 2, and was created by Canon for
photos taken using its own digital cameras. They're actually based on the TIFF file type,
making them inherently high in quality.
 CRW: This image extension was also created by Canon, preceding the existence of the
CR2.
 NEF: This image extension stands for Nikon Electric Format, and is a RAW file type
created by (you guessed it) Nikon Cameras. These image files actually allow for
extensive editing without changing file types, provided the editing takes place using a
Nikon device or Nikon Photoshop plugin.
 PEF: This image extension stands for Pentax Electronic Format, a RAW image file type
created by Pentax Digital Cameras.

Working with images is a lot more complicated than you'd think at first glance. Hopefully this
guide has provided a better understanding of the standard file types and which are most
appropriate for your project.