This article will delve into image file types and formats, outlining their unique features and the scenarios where they are most suitable.
From the dawn of the computer, we’ve seen numerous formats emerge as digital images have become more prevalent. Each format is tailored to enhance image quality and efficiency. Even today, in 2024, image file types are changing. You may have noticed an increase in websites serving WebP image files over the last year. This is one example of image formats constantly evolving.
Understanding these file variations is crucial for individuals and businesses handling images, as it facilitates the organization, storage, and sharing of visual content. An image is just an image, right? Well, not so much.
Let’s find out why.
Photo, rasters, vectors, and more. Learn about these different filetypes below. License these images via Shankly Photography, Danussa, Bug_Fish, and Blackspring.
The Importance of Choosing the Correct File Type and Format for Your Project
Opting for a specific format ensures your project’s success and optimal performance. You might consider an image format a one-and-done job, but that’s not true.
When making this choice, several factors come into play, such as intended use, compression requirements, animation demands, and web loading speeds. Choosing the file type for your project is essential since different types cater to varying applications.
When working on a design project, you might use a vector file, like SVG or EPS, to maintain image quality and ensure scalability. However, compression requirements are vital for social use when deciding what file format to use.
Formats like JPEG offer compression ratios, making them great for reducing file sizes without compromising quality. You wouldn’t want to export a 50 MB TIFF file for an Instagram post (not that Instagram supports that format). However, excessive compression can lead to loss of detail and artifacts, so striking a balance is critical.
Moreover, it’s crucial to consider web loading times when choosing a file type. Large file sizes can significantly slow webpage loading speeds, resulting in a negative user experience. As noted in the introduction, many platforms are moving toward WebP image delivery, which allows for smaller images without the quality loss of a compressed file.
Now, let’s run through the most frequent format types you will be working with.
Exploring Popular Image File Formats
JPEG
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is one of the most commonly used image file formats, particularly favored for its efficient compression techniques that significantly reduce file sizes while maintaining a reasonable level of image quality. It works best for photos and complex images with colors and details.
However, it’s worth noting that JPEG uses lossy compression methods, which means some image data is lost during compression. As a result, each time you save a JPEG image again, there’s a decrease in quality.
JPEG may not be the option for images that need adjustments or detailed preservation. However, its ability to work seamlessly with software and devices makes it a flexible choice for sharing images to social media, email, and the web.
PNG
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a file format recognized for its quality and lossless compression. Unlike JPEG, PNG ensures that no image details are compromised during compression, making it perfect for graphics containing lines, text, or solid color areas such as logos, icons, and designs.
Moreover, PNG supports transparency features that allow the creation of images with backgrounds. If you’re an aspiring motion graphics artist, PNG files will save you a lot of headaches when importing external elements.
However, be wary of simply googling for a PNG file. For whatever reason, many PNG results return a JPEG with a fake transparent background. You are better off finding a vector file from the Shutterstock library.
Although, it’s worth noting that retaining higher fidelity does come at the cost of file size. This is also why PNG isn’t typically used to store photos—500 high-quality PNG photographs vs. 500 high-quality JPEGs is going to eat up a lot of storage space.
While PNG files may be larger than JPEG files, their exceptional image quality and transparency support make them a preferred option for web graphics. Are you uploading your business logo to Facebook? Make it a PNG so it’s safe from the wrath of Facebook’s file compression.
GIF
The Graphics Interchange Format, commonly called GIF (not JIF!), is a bitmap image format introduced by CompuServe in 1987. It quickly became popular thanks to its compatibility and ease of use across various applications and operating systems.
One feature that sets GIFs apart is their ability to support animated images, making them perfect for creating simple yet engaging animations and short looping videos without audio.
Likewise, another notable benefit of GIF files is their capability to include transparency. By designating a color as “transparent,” a GIF allows the background of a webpage or another image underneath to show through.
This feature is perfect for web graphics, like buttons or banners, that must blend with different backgrounds. There’s no need to make multiple images if you have an animated ad across your website that houses multiple colored pages.
Even though it has been around for quite some time, the GIF format continues to be used on the internet for sharing amusing and captivating animations on social media platforms, forums, and message boards. Its straightforward nature and broad support have kept it relevant over the years.
However, newer formats such as WebP or APNG (Animated Portable Network Graphics) offer superior quality and compression capabilities for animations or images requiring richer color schemes.
TIFF
Also known as Tagged Image File Format, TIFF is a format used in the publishing and printing industry due to its flexibility and adaptability. It allows for high-quality images with lossless compression options.
One aspect that sets it apart is its capability to accommodate layers and pages in a document, which is ideal for complex graphic designs and thorough scans. In the publishing industry, TIFF files are commonly employed for storing images intended for printing in magazines, books, and brochures.
Its support for CMYK color mode is beneficial for full-color printing processes. TIFF is also widely chosen for scanning documents for archival purposes where preserving the quality is crucial.
It can accommodate high-resolution images in color, grayscale, or black-and-white formats, making it suitable for scanning documents such as photographs, artwork, and textual content.
However, one drawback of TIFF is that the files can be pretty large, which may not be convenient for web usage or sharing images via email. You would need a dedicated cloud drive to share TIFF files.
WebP
WebP, developed by Google, is an image format that offers lossless and lossy compression designed explicitly for web images. Using WebP enables webmasters and developers to create richer images that enhance website speed.
In fact, WebP lossless images are 26% smaller than PNGs, while its lossy images are 25-34% smaller than JPEGs at the SSIM quality index. With support for transparency (alpha channel) and animation, WebP presents an alternative to replace PNGs and GIFs for web performance.
HEIF
HEIF (High-Efficiency Image File Format) is introduced alongside the HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Compression) standard. It is made to keep images looking better while using less space than JPEG. One great thing about HEIF is that it can hold images in a file, which is perfect for live photos and sequences.
HEIF also supports 16-bit color, giving a range of colors and a better dynamic range compared to 8-bit JPEGs. This format comes in handy for devices with limited storage space. Not all platforms and software fully support it yet.
RAW
RAW isn’t one format but a mix used by camera brands (like CR2 for Canon and NEF for Nikon). RAW files store data from the camera sensor, giving photographers control over editing the final image.
Although RAW offers top-notch quality without compression loss, it results in large file sizes. It’s great for photography where editing is crucial but may not be convenient for everyday use or sharing due to its size and need for special software.
EPS
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a file type used to store vector graphics that include both text and images. In essence, an EPS file is like a PostScript program saved as one whole with a low-resolution preview enclosed inside. This setup enables software to show a sneak peek of the file’s contents.
EPS files are tailor-made for being inserted into documents, which makes them perfect for logos and illustrations that need to be resized without losing quality.
One of the advantages of EPS lies in its compatibility across software and operating systems, making it a dependable option for graphic designers seeking to share their creations with clients or printers. These files can accommodate vector and raster graphics, offering versatility in handling image types.
Nevertheless, the utilization of EPS has somewhat waned with the emergence of formats like PDF and SVG, which also support vector graphics and enhance functionality.
Despite this shift, EPS remains a choice for high-resolution printing and situations where compatibility with systems is paramount.
SVG
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a format for vector images that relies on XML to portray two graphics and applications. Unlike raster images, SVG graphics can be resized without losing quality, making them perfect for logos, icons, and intricate illustrations that need to look sharp at smaller sizes.
SVG allows for interactivity and animation, enabling engaging web graphics. Its text-based structure also means SVG files can be searched, indexed, and compressed efficiently. Widely compatible with web browsers and design software, SVG is a nice choice for web design user interface components and scalable icons.
BMP
BMP (Bitmap Image File) is an image file format used to store images. Also known as bitmap or DIB (Device Bitmap), BMP files hold color data for each pixel in the image without compression, resulting in file sizes, particularly with high-resolution images.
This format supports color depths ranging from monochrome to 24-bit color. It can include alpha channels for transparency, if needed.
As a result of its simplicity and extensive support in Windows systems, BMP is commonly used in Windows applications for graphical user interfaces and basic images.
Image Types: Raster vs Vector
When dealing with images, you encounter two types: raster and vector. It’s essential to grasp the differences between these types to handle and edit pictures efficiently.
Raster Images
Raster pictures consist of a grid of dots known as pixels. Each pixel in an image is given a color value, forming the picture. As such, when you drastically zoom in on a raster image, you’ll notice individual pixels, resulting in a decrease in quality and a fuzzy appearance.
Similarly, enlarging the image will quickly reveal a loss of quality. These images rely on resolution, meaning their quality is tied to pixel density.
This is why cameras with a higher number of megapixels on their sensor tend to cost more. They produce photos with better clarity and images that can be cropped to a high level without detriment to the detail.
High-resolution raster images contain a large number of pixels, which allows them to display detailed and complex images. Common raster file formats include JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP.
Raster images are ideal for photographs and intricate artwork that demand color gradients and shading nuances. They are widely used on the web, in digital photography, and for screen display, where the image is viewed at its intended size.
Vector Images
Vector images, on the other hand, use mathematical formulas to represent images as shapes, lines, and curves, known as vectors. These vectors establish the image based on points and their relative positions, enabling vector images to be resized without compromising quality.
This scalability makes vector graphics well-suited for logos, icons, and other creations that necessitate frequent resizing or display in dimensions.
Unlike raster images, vector graphics are unsuited for displaying detailed photographs or images with complex color gradients. However, they are perfect for designs that require crisp, clean lines that can be easily edited or updated. Common vector file formats include SVG, AI (Adobe Illustrator), and EPS.
Vector images are predominantly used for graphic design and branding materials, where precision and scalability are required. They offer flexibility and efficiency, especially for designs that need to be used across multiple media of different sizes.
Save As
In the often changing world of images, it’s evident that picking the right image file format is more than just a technical choice—it’s a strategic one. Whether you’re a photographer focused on maintaining photo quality, a business working to boost your visibility, or a designer crafting graphics for platforms, knowing how to choose the right file type is crucial.
License this cover image via fran_kie.
Recently viewed
${excerpt}