A few scanning tips

www.scantips.com
Image File Formats - JPG, TIF, PNG, GIF
Which to use?
The most common image file formats, the most important for cameras,
printing, scanning, and internet use, are JPG, TIF, PNG, and GIF.
JPG is the most used image file format. JPG is the file extension for JPEG
files (Joint Photographic Experts Group, a committee of ISO and ITU).
Digital cameras and web pages use JPG files, because JPG heroically
compresses the data to be very much smaller in the file. JPG uses lossy
compression to accomplish this feat, which has a strong downside. A
smaller file, yes, there is nothing like JPG for small, but this is at the
cost of image quality. However, this compression degree is optionally
selectable (with an option setting named JPG Quality in your editor), to
be lower quality smaller files, or to be higher quality larger files.
Small file size and high image quality are opposites. Your digital camera
offers that choice too, the menu usually called Image Quality (you do
want to select best quality in the camera). In general today, JPG is
rather unique in this regard, of using lossy compression allowing very
small files of lower quality, whereas almost all other file types use
lossless compression (with larger files). The meaning of Lossy is
discussed Below.
Frankly, JPG is used when small file size (for transfer or storage, web
pages, email, memory cards, etc) is more important than maximum
image quality. But a High Quality setting to create JPG is good enough
in most cases, if we don't overdo the compression. Perhaps good
enough for some uses even if we do overdo it (web pages, etc). But if
you are concerned with maximum quality for archiving your important
images, then you do need to know two things: 1) JPG should always
choose higher Quality and a larger file, and 2) do NOT keep editing and
saving your JPG images repeatedly, because more quality is lost every
time you save it as JPG (in the form of added JPG artifacts... pixels
become colors they ought not to be - lossy). More at the JPG link at
page bottom.
TIF is lossless (including LZW compression option), which is considered the
highest quality format for commercial work. The TIF format is not
necessarily any "higher quality" per se (the same RGB image pixels,
they are what they are), and most formats other than JPG are lossless
too. TIF simply has no JPG artifacts, no additional losses or JPG artifacts
to degrade and detract from the original. And TIF is the most versatile,
except that web pages don't show TIF files. For other purposes
however, TIF does most of anything you might want, from 1-bit to 48-
bit color, RGB, CMYK, LAB, or Indexed color. Most of the "special" file
types (for example, camera RAW files, fax files, or multipage
documents) are based on TIF format, but with unique proprietary data
 tags — making these incompatible unless expected by their special
software. Web browsers cannot show TIF files.
TIF format is very versatile. There are many TIFF formats for all kinds of
data and compressions. CCITT data for standard text document storage,
which supports multiple pages in one file. Standard fax is another TIFF
format. Designers can be assigned special data tags to declare other
data and compression types. One case is that some camera Raw files
are actually TIF format, but with unique proprietary data tags for their
special purpose, which then is no longer compatible with TIF viewers.
GIF was designed by CompuServe in the early days of computer 8-bit video,
before 24 bits or JPG was used, for video display at dial up modem
speeds. GIF discards all Exif data, which because GIF was designed for
video screen purposes, GIF does Not retain printing resolution values.
GIF always uses lossless LZW compression, but it is always an indexed
color file (1 to 8-bits per pixel). GIF can have a palette of 24-bit colors,
but only a maximum of 256 of them (which colors depend on your
image colors). GIF is rather limited colors for color photos, but is
generally great for graphics. Repeating, don't use GIF with indexed color
for color photos today, the color is too limited. GIF does offer
transparency and animation. PNG and TIF files can also optionally
handle the same indexed color mode that GIF uses, but they are more
versatile with other choices too (can be RGB or 16 bits, etc). But GIF is
still very good for web graphics (i.e., with a limited number of colors).
For graphics of only a few colors, GIF can be much smaller than JPG,
with more clear pure colors than JPG). Indexed Color is described at
Color Palettes (second page of GIF link below).
PNG can replace GIF today (web browsers show both), and PNG also offers
many options of TIF too (indexed or RGB, 1 to 48-bits, etc). PNG offers
an 8-bit mode to replace indexed 256 color GIF files, or a 24-bit mode
for a possible 16.7 million colors for photos. PNG was invented more
recently than the others, designed to bypass possible LZW compression
patent issues with GIF (which never actually became an issue). And
since PNG was more modern, it offers other options too (RGB color
modes, 16 bits, etc). One additional feature of PNG is transparency for
24 bit RGB images. Normally PNG files are a little smaller than LZW
compression in TIF or GIF (all of these use lossless compression, of
different types), but PNG is a bit slower to read or write. That patent
situation has gone away now, but PNG remains excellent lossless
compression. Less used than TIF or JPG, but PNG is another good choice
for lossless quality work.
Camera RAW files are very important of course, but RAW files must be
processed into regular formats (JPG, TIF, etc) to be viewable and usable
in any way. Make no mistake, Shooting Raw is a philosophy, not just a
setting. RAW involves a little easy extra work, but offers substantial
benefits, one of which is we can choose our settings AFTER we can
actually see the image, and see what it needs, and see what helps it,
and can still change our minds and try something else. Some may
debate it, but many cannot imagine NOT taking advantage of the
 greater opportunities of RAW. Others think any extra step is too much
trouble, and are satisfied with JPG — but my own biased opinion is they
just don't know yet, or don't care. :) More detail Below.
We could argue that there really is no concept of RAW files from the
scanner (scanners are RGB). Vuescan does offer an output called RAW,
which is 16 bit, but RGB, not raw like from cameras. The difference is
that it only defers gamma correction until a later pass. And its file can
include the scanners fourth Infrared noise correction channel data if
any. Vuescan itself is the only post-processor for these Vuescan raw
files (except any Photoshop-like Levels can adjust gamma). But scanner
color images are already RGB color, instead of Bayer pattern raw data
like from cameras.
Camera RAW images are not RGB, and must be converted to RGB for
any use (our monitors and printers expect RGB images). The idea and
big advantage of camera raw is that all camera and JPG processing
options (such as white balance and contrast) are deferred until later,
when we can see the image to decide what it precisely needs without
having to undo JPG processing. That makes it better, and much easier
to get it right. Then the converted RGB image can be saved only one
time as high quality JPG (no JPG artifact issues). When and if the image
needs additional processing, we discard that JPG copy and resume from
the raw archive original.

I strongly recommend always archiving your original unedited image from

camera or scanner. Especially for JPG, archive the first pristine copy (which
is automatic with Raw files). Your download folder should be your permanent
archive location of the camera's unchanged original file, and edited copies go
elsewhere. Good practice is when editing that image, always save any
change to a different file in a different location, always. Never overwrite or
delete your only original file. Always keep your pristine original, because you
can't otherwise go back. Or else there could be times when you realize the
edited image is damaged, especially important on the really special ones.
JPG especially, each JPG compression is lossy. If you did edit that original
JPG file a few times, for white balance, brightness, resampling or cropping,
JPG quality suffers with each new JPG compression (lossy), and it is
irreversible if the original image is lost. You can't go back, so don't risk
destroying your pristine original image. Any work should only make a
copy. Beginners tend to worry about the disk space used by that archive,
but this is just the nature of the game, JPGs are small anyway, and disks are
inexpensive (a 4 TB Western Digital USB 3.0 external drive is about $100
USD). Disk space becomes a trivial concern. Retaining your original image is
not trivial. Make a frequent backup too, onto another disk. It's a choice of
being safe now, or sorry later.

Different color modes have different size data values, as shown.

Image Type Bytes per pixel Possible color Compatible
combinations File Types
 1
1 bit /8 byte per pixel 2 colors, 1 bit per pixel. TIF, PNG,
Line art One ink on white paper GIF
8-bit Up to 1 byte per 256 colors maximum. TIF, PNG,
Indexed pixel if 256 colors For graphics use today GIF
Color
8-bit 1 byte per pixel 256 shades of gray Lossy: JPG
Grayscale Lossless:
TIF, PNG
16 bit 2 bytes per pixel 65636 shades of gray TIF, PNG
Grayscale
24 bit RGB 3 bytes per pixel Computes 16.77 million colors max. 24 Lossy: JPG
(8-bit mode) (one byte each for R, bits is the "Norm" for photo images, Lossless:
G, B) e.g., JPG TIF, PNG
32 bit CMYK 4 bytes per pixel, for Cyan, Magneta, Yellow and Black ink, TIF
Prepress typically in halftones
48-bit RGB 6 bytes per pixel 2.81 trillion colors max. TIF, PNG
(16-bit Except we don't have 16-bit display
mode) devices

A few features of common file types

File Property JPG TIF PNG GIF
Web pages can show it Yes Yes Yes
Uncompressed option Yes
Lossy compression Yes
Lossless compression Yes Yes Yes
Grayscale Yes Yes Yes Yes
RGB color Yes Yes Yes
8-bit color (24-bit data) Yes Yes Yes
16-bit color (48-bits) Yes Yes
CMYK or LAB color Yes
Indexed color option Yes Yes Yes
Transparency option Yes Yes
Animation option Yes
There are four sizes of a digital image.
Image Size is dimensioned in pixels, which is what determines how the
image might be suitably used. The FIRST number you need to know about
using a digital image is its dimensions in pixels.
The camera sensor is dimensioned in mm, but it also has dimensions in
pixels. For example, a full frame 36x24 mm sensor might be divided into
6000x4000 pixels. The sensor size in mm is all important for computing Field
of View or Depth of Field. And the sensor mm dimensions also affect the
necessary enlargement factor to print size, but the pixel dimensions are also
important for viewing the image on screen or paper.
Data Size is its uncompressed size in bytes when file is opened into
computer memory (and image size viewed on the monitor screen is still
dimensioned in pixels).
File Size is its size in bytes stored in a file (which is Not a meaningful
number regarding how the image might be used. Image size is in pixels).
Data compression can affect file size drastically smaller, but it is still the
same image size in pixels. So saying “I have an 8 megabyte JPG file” says
nothing to describe the image size. Image size is dimensioned in pixels.
Print Size is its size when printed on paper (paper is dimensioned in inches
or mm). The size of film is also inches or mm. Sensor size (mm) or film size
(mm) must be enlarged to the print or viewing size. By varying the printing
resolution (pixels per inch on paper), we can print the image about any size
we wish, but the quality will vary. 250 to 300 dpi are usual high quality
goals.
In strong contrast to paper, monitor screen size is dimensioned in
pixels, and image size is also dimensioned in pixels. The image pixels fit the
screen pixels one for one, so to speak. A 600x400 image will show as
600x400 pixels on the screen. If the image size is larger than the screen
size, we normally are shown a temporary resampled copy of more suitable
smaller size. However, print paper is dimensioned in inches or mm, so
images for printing must be scaled to be spaced out so many pixels per inch
or mm (often called dpi, jargon for pixels per inch on paper). See basic
differences, and more detail between using images printed or on the video
screen.
The most common type of color image (such as any JPG file, but Not Raw
files) is the RGB 24-bit choice. Note that uncompressed 24-bit RGB data is
three bytes per pixel, regardless of image size. However many/most files
are compressed into a smaller file size (JPG is normally compressed to
unusually small size, which can involve some quality losses). Compressed
files are uncompressed again when opened into computer memory for
showing (the count of pixels remains unchanged).

Calculate the Four Sizes of an Image

Specify image size with one of these two options:

Image Size x pixels

Megapixels and Aspect Ratio

Data Type

Bytes
Add estimated Exif size (optional)
KB

If Printed at pixels per inch

Image Size

Data Size

File Size
Print Size

<h3>This Calculator requires JavaScript be enabled in your browser.</h3>

Best file types for these general purposes:

Photographic Images Graphics, including
Logos or Line art
Properties Photos are continuous Graphics are often solid colors, with
tones, 24-bit color or 8-bit few colors, limited to 256 colors, with
Gray text or lines and sharp edges
For Unquestionable TIF LZW or PNG (lossless PNG or TIF LZW (lossless compression,
Best Image Quality compression, without JPG artifacts)
and no JPG artifacts)
Smallest File Size JPG with a higher Quality TIF LZW or GIF or PNG
factor can be both small (graphics/logos without gradients
and decent quality. normally permit indexed color of 2 to
16 colors for smallest file size)
Maximum TIF or JPG TIF or GIF
Compatibility:
Windows, Mac, Unix
Worst Choice 256 color GIF is very JPG compression adds artifacts,
limited color, and is a smears text and lines and edges
larger file than 24-bit JPG
These are not the only choices, but they are good and reasonable choices.
More information:
PNG Format TIF Format JPG Format GIF Format Raw files
Major considerations to choose the necessary file type include:
 Compression quality - Lossy type for smallest files (JPG), or Lossless
type for best quality images (TIF, PNG). Compression varies with type of
compression, but degree of compression also varies with the image
content (bland areas with sparse detail, like walls or sky, compress very
effectively, But high detail areas compress less effectively).
 8-bit mode full 24-bit RGB color is normal for photos (TIF, PNG, JPG).
Or Indexed Color is for graphics (PNG, GIF, TIF).
 16-bit mode (48-bit RGB color data) is sometimes desired (TIF and
PNG). Wide-range tonal shifts (gamma and white balance) in the initial
editing processing can benefit from more than 8-bits. Scanners and
cameras are at least 12-bits for this reason.
 However our monitors and printers expect 8-bit data. And JPG is only 8-
bits.
 Type PNG-24 is 24-bit RGB color for photos. PNG-8 is Indexed color for
graphics, a maximum of 256 colors.
 GIF is indexed color only (for graphics today), but indexed is also an
option in TIF and PNG.
 Transparency or Animation is used in graphics (GIF and PNG).
 Documents - images of graphics and text - line art, multi-page, fax, etc
- this will be TIF files. Text commercially uses G3 or G4 compression,
but LZW works too.
 Commercial prepress wants CMYK color (TIF files).
See Properties chart above. We select the file type that supports the
properties we need.
The only reason for using lossy compression is for smaller file size, usually
for internet transmission speed or storage space. Web pages require JPG or
GIF or PNG image types, because some browsers do not show TIF files. On
the web, JPG is the clear choice for photo images (smallest file, with image
quality being less important than file size), and GIF is common for graphic
images, but indexed color is not normally used for color photos (PNG can do
either on the web).
Other than the web, TIF file format has been the undisputed leader when
best quality is desired, largely because TIF is so important in commercial
printing environments. High Quality JPG can be pretty good too, but don't
ruin them by making the files too small. If the goal is high quality, you don't
want small. Only consider making JPG large instead, and plan your work so
you can only save them as JPG only one or two times. Adobe RGB color
space may be OK for your home printer and profiles, but if you send your
pictures out to be printed, the mass market printing labs normally only
accept JPG files, and only process sRGB color space.

What does JPG Quality Losses mean?

What are JPG artifacts?
Something we all need to know, but it takes more to show this, so it was
placed on its own page.

Difference in photo and graphics images

Photo images have continuous tones, meaning that adjacent pixels often
have very similar colors, for example, a blue sky might have many shades of
blue in it. Normally this is 24-bit RGB color, or 8-bit grayscale, and a typical
color photo may contain perhaps a hundred thousand RGB colors, out of the
possible set of 16 million colors in 24-bit RGB color.
Graphic images are normally not continuous tone (gradients are possible in
graphics, but are seen less often). Graphics are drawings, not photos, and
they use relatively few colors, maybe only two or three, often less than 16
colors in the entire image. In a color graphic cartoon, the entire sky will be
only one shade of blue where a photo might have dozens of shades. A map
for example is graphics, maybe 4 or 5 map colors plus 2 or 3 colors of text,
plus blue water and white paper, often less than 16 colors overall. These few
colors are well suited for Indexed Color, which can re-purify the colors. Don't
cut your color count too short though, there will be more colors than you
count. Every edge between two solid colors likely has maybe six shades of
anti-aliasing smoothing the jaggies (examine it at maybe 500% size).
Insufficient colors can rough up the edges. Scanners have three modes to
create the image: color (for all color work), grayscale (like B&W photos),
and lineart. Line art is a special case, only two colors (black or white, with
no gray), for example clip art, fax, and of course text. Low resolution line art
(like cartoons on the web) is often better as grayscale, to add anti-aliasing
to hide the jaggies.
JPG files are very small files for continuous tone photo images, but JPG is
poor for graphics, without a high Quality setting. JPG requires 24-bit color or
8-bit grayscale, and the JPG artifacts are most noticeable in the hard edges
of graphics or text. GIF files (and other indexed color files) are good for
graphics, but are poor for photos (too few colors possible). However,
graphics are normally not many colors anyway. Formats like TIF and PNG
can be used either way, 24-bit or indexed color — these file types have
different internal modes to accommodate either type optimally.

Basics
Our digital images are dimensioned in pixels (not bytes, and definitely not
inches). And a pixel is simply a color definition, the color that this tiny dot of
image sampled area ought to be. Put all those colored dots together, and
our brain sees the image. The losses of image data we are speaking about is
about the altered color of the pixels.

Image Size Goal for

desired Print Size
To print x

inches
mm

at dpi resolution
<h3>This Calculator requires JavaScript be enabled in your browser.</h3>
This simple calculation can serve two purposes:
 Scanning: The multiplication inches x dpi will show the output image
size created (pixels) if the area is scanned at the dpi resolution.
Scanning 8x10 inches at 300 dpi will produce 2400x3000 pixels.
 Printing:The multiplication inches x dpi will show the required image
size (pixels) to print this paper size at the dpi resolution. 2400x3000
pixels printed at 300 dpi will fill 8x10 inches on paper.
Call it dpi or ppi as you prefer, but (since it’s about image pixels instead of
ink dots), the idea is that this resolution is the spacing of the pixels on
paper, pixels per inch.
It's important to realize that an area scanned at 300 dpi will create the
pixels necessary to also print the same size at 300 dpi.
Or for example, you could scan at 150 dpi and print at 300 dpi for a half size
copy.
Or you could scan at 600 dpi and print at 300 dpi for a double size copy.
The concept either way is pixels per inch, in the scanner and in the printer.
But NOT on monitor video screens. Images are shown on the video screen
at their actual size in pixels. Image pixels are shown one for one on the
screen pixels, so to speak. There are no inches or mm inside video monitors.
You might have bought a 23 inch monitor, but its screen is dimensioned in
pixels.
300 dpi is likely what you want for printing a high quality photo copy job (a
line art scan of black text or line drawings can better use 600 dpi, but 300
dpi is plenty for photo work).
This dpi number does NOT need to be exact at all, but planning size to have
sufficient pixels to be somewhere near this size ballpark (of 250 to 300
pixels per inch) is a very good thing for printing.
Image data consists of pixels, and pixels are "colors", simply the storage of
the three RGB data components (see What is a Digital Image Anyway?).
Any 24-bit RGB image will use three bytes per pixel (see Color Bit-Depth -
Memory Size).
So for example- any 10 megapixel camera image data will occupy 3x10 = 30
million bytes, by definition of RGB color. This number is the "data size"
(when opened into computer memory for use). A TIF file will be near that
size (and is lossless), but JPG is normally compressed very heavily (lossy,
not lossless) to store in a JPG file of perhaps 1/10 this size (variable with
JPG Quality setting), which is "file size" (not image size and not data size).
This example image size is still 10 megapixels (dimensioned in pixels, width
x height), and the data size is 30 million bytes, but the JPG file size might be
3 MB (lossy compression takes a few liberties). The image will still come out
of the JPG file as the same 10 megapixels and the same 30 million bytes
when the 3 MB JPG file is opened. We hope its quality also comes out about
the same — the JPG losses are altered color values of some of the pixels).
Image size (pixels) determines how we can use the image — everything is
about the pixels. See a summary of digital basics.
All photo editor programs will support these file formats, which will generally
support and store images in the following color modes:

Color data mode of File Types, bits per pixel

JPG
RGB - 24-bits (8-bit color), or Grayscale - 8-bits
Always uses lossy JPG compression, but its degree is selectable, for higher
quality and larger files, or lower quality and smaller files. JPG is for photo
images, and is the worst choice for most graphics or text data.
TIF
Versatile, many formats supported.
Mode: RGB or CMYK or LAB, and others, almost anything.
8 or 16-bits per color channel, called 8 or 16-bit "color" (24 or 48-bit RGB
files).
Grayscale - 8 or 16-bits,
Indexed color - 1 to 8-bits,
Line Art (bilevel)- 1-bit
For TIF files, most programs allow either no compression or LZW
compression (LZW is lossless, but is less effective for color images). Adobe
Photoshop also provides JPG or ZIP compression in TIF files too (but which
greatly reduces third party compatibility of TIF files). "Document programs"
allow ITCC G3 or G4 compression for 1-bit text (Fax is G3 or G4 TIF files),
which is lossless and tremendously effective (small). Many specialized image
file types (like camera RAW files) are TIF file format, but using special
proprietary data tags.
24-bits is called 8-bit color, three 8-bit bytes for RGB (256x256x256 = 16.7
million colors maximum.)
Or 48-bits is called 16-bit color, three 16-bit words (65536x65536x65536 =
trillions of colors conceptually)
PNG
RGB - 24 or 48-bits (called 8-bit or 16-bit "color"),
Alpha channel for RGB transparency - 32 bits
Grayscale - 8 or 16-bits,
Indexed color - 1 to 8-bits,
Line Art (bilevel) - 1-bit
Supports transparency in regular indexed color, and also there can be a
fourth channel (called Alpha) which can map RGB graduated transparency
(by pixel location, instead of only one color, and graduated, instead of only
on or off).
The APNG version also supports animation (like GIF), showing several
sequential frames fast to simulate motion.
PNG uses ZIP compression which is lossless, and somewhat more effective
color compression than GIF or TIF LZW. For photo data, PNG is somewhat
smaller files than TIF LZW, but larger files than JPG (however PNG is
lossless, and JPG is not.) PNG is a newer format than the others, designed to
be both versatile and royalty free, back when the patent for LZW
compression was disputed for GIF and TIF files.
GIF
Indexed color - 1 to 8-bits (8-bit indexes, limiting to only 256 colors
maximum.) Color is 24-bit color, but only 256 colors.
One color in indexed color can be marked transparent, allowing underlaying
background to be seen (very important for text, for example). GIF is an
online video image, the file contains no dpi information for printing.
Designed by CompuServe for online images in the days of dialup and 8-bit
indexed computer video, whereas other file formats can be 24-bits now.
However, GIF is still great for web use of graphics containing only a few
colors, when it is a small lossless file, much smaller and better than JPG for
this. GIF files do not save the dpi number for printing resolution.
GIF uses lossless LZW compression. (for Indexed Color, see second page at
GIF link at page bottom).
GIF also supports animation, showing several sequential frames fast to
simulate motion.
Note that if your image size is say 3000x2000 pixels, then this is 3000x2000
= 6 million pixels (6 megapixels). Assuming this 6 megapixel image data is
RGB color and 24-bits (or 3 bytes per pixel of RGB color information), then
the size of this image data is 6 million x 3 bytes RGB = 18 million bytes.
That is simply how large your image data is (see more). Then file
compression like JPG or LZW can make the file smaller, but when you open
the image in computer memory for use, the JPG may not still have the same
image quality, but it is always still 3000x2000 pixels and 18 million bytes.
This is simply how large your 6 megapixel RGB image data is (megapixels x
3 bytes per pixel).

Summary
The most common image file formats, the most important for general
purposes today, are JPG, TIF, PNG and GIF. These are not the only choices
of course, but they are good and reasonable choices for general purposes.
Newer formats like JPG2000 never acquired popular usage, and are not
supported by web browsers, and so are not the most compatible choice.
PNG and TIF LZW are lossless compression, so their file size reduction is not
as extreme as the wild heroics JPG can dream up. In general, selecting lower
JPG Quality gives a smaller worse file, higher JPG Quality gives a larger
better file. Your 12 megapixel RGB image data is three bytes per pixel, or 36
million bytes. That is simply how big your image data is. Your JPG file size
might only be only 5-20% of that, literally. TIF LZW might be 65-80%, and
PNG might be 50-65% (very rough ballpark for 24-bit color images). We
cannot predict sizes precisely because compression always varies with image
detail. Blank areas, like sky and walls, compress much smaller than
extremely detailed areas like a tree full of leaves. But the JPG file can be
much smaller, because JPG is not required to recover the original image
intact, losses are acceptable. Whereas, the only goal of PNG and TIF LZW is
to be 100% lossless, which means the file is not as heroically small, but
there is never any concern about compression quality with PNG or TIF LZW.
They still do impressive amounts of file size compression, remember, the
RGB image data is actually three bytes per pixel.
Camera RAW files is one way to bypass this JPG issue, at least until the last
one final save as JPG when required. And it offers additional processing
advantages too. Better easier tools in RAW than JPG has, the RAW data has
wider range than JPG has. Much the same controls as in the camera, which
you would have needed anyway, but this step is done after you see the
camera results, to know exactly what it still needs, and can simply tweak
and judge it by eye (as opposed to settings in the camera done in advance,
as hopeful wishing).
We hear: But RAW images require an editing step first. Some people do
seem terrified of the word "edit", but no matter what, we do always have to
stop and look at our images on the computer, every one of them. That is the
same extra step. Surely we have to crop them a bit, and resample smaller,
and many of mine will need a slight Exposure or White Balance tweak to be
their best. It makes a tremendous difference. That is the same editing, a few
seconds each, a few clicks, and then the file must be saved again. You might
as well do this step in the RAW software, which has better easier tools to do
it, and more range to do it., and of course, we can SEE the image now. If
your session included 100 images of same lighting situation, just select them
all, edit ONE of them (say White Balance and Exposure, even Cropping, etc),
and the same edit clicks are applied to all of the selected RAW images in one
click. Extremely convenient. And no JPG artifacts of course, no losses, and
any changes can easily be Undone anytime later, with full recovery of our
original RAW master copy. RAW is the trivial, easy, and good way, Day and
Night good, if you care about these things. Much more about Raw files here.
We all have our own notions, but here is a popular opinion about the
ultimate, in quality, in versatility, in convenience. RAW files are popular
indeed, from most DSLR cameras. When we take any digital picture, the
camera has a RAW sensor, but normally processes and outputs the image as
a JPG file. But often we can choose to output the original RAW image
instead, to defer that JPG step until later. We cannot view or use that RAW
file any way other than to process it in computer software and then output a
final TIF or JPG image, however postponing this processing offers a few
serious advantages, better editing options, and we can bypass all JPG
artifacts entirely, until the one final output Save for whatever purpose. RAW
allows us to tweak exposure and color, and defer White Balance decisions
until later when we can see the image first, and judge any trial results. The
12-bit RAW file offers greater range for any of our adjustments, often on
multiple files simultaneously. And RAW always preserves the intact original
version, so we can easily back out any editing changes we made, crop size
for example. An argument is made that processing RAW requires this extra
step, but of course, same is true of any editing that is required. RAW is the
easy way, with the best results.
The Next button will browse through the descriptions on the next pages, or you can use these
shortcut links directly:
JPG Format PNG Format TIF Format GIF Format Raw files
Copyright © 1997-2020 by Wayne Fulton - All rights are reserved.