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Image Formats

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Raster Formats #

Raster images are made from tiny rectangular pixels whose grids form an image. Can be used for any project with imagery. Tendency to blurring or pixelation if an image is smaller than required in a project.

GIF

  • print/digital
  • (Graphics Interchange Format)
  • Best used for simple shapes, logos, diagrams, and cartoon-style imagery.
  • Features animation capabilities.

JPG/JPEG

  • print/digital
  • (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • Universally used because of its compression feature, which can significantly reduce file size.
  • Not recommended when a transparent background is needed.

JPEG XL

  • print/digital
  • Features reversible recompression of existing JPEG files, as well as high-resolution HDR.

PNG

  • print/digital
  • (Portable Network Graphics)
  • Supports 8-bit color palettes with optional transparency for all palette colors.
  • Best used when a transparent background is needed in both digital and print projects.

WebP

  • print/digital
  • Specifically created by Google to reduce digital image file size to speed up web page loading to replace JPEGs as the primary format for photographs.

TIF/TIFF

  • print only
  • (Tagged Image File Format)
  • Primarily for photographs in the printing business.

BMP

  • print only
  • (Windows bitmap)
  • One of the earliest forms of image format with a simple structure.

Vector Formats #

Vector images are made of points, lines, curves, and shapes that are based on mathematical formulas. Great for projects that require size reduction or enlarging without blurring, pixelation, or loss of sharpness, e.g., web fonts, signage, screenprinting, etc.

EPS

  • print only
  • (Encapsulated PostScript)
  • Created by Adobe, one of the earliest vector formats.

SVG

  • print/digital
  • (Scalable Vector Graphics)
  • Features scripting, so may be used in web applications, like font icons, or animation.

PDF

  • print/digital
  • (Portable Document Format)
  • Versatile format to present documents, text, and images. Now more universally preferred by printers.

Capture Formats #

Camera capture formats before they’re converted by software into output formats.

HEIC

  • (High Efficiency Image File)
  • Created by Apple, a new image container format that compresses photos in order to save space on Apple devices.

EXR

  • (OpenEXR bitmap)
  • An open-source high-dynamic-range image file format created by the Industrial Light & Magic visual effects company.

RAW

  • An unprocessed digital negative, a file originating from a camera, with more data than a JPEG.
  • They are much larger files, so they are best converted to smaller formats like JPEG or PNG.

Software Formats #

Image-editing software formats.

PSD

AI

AFDesign

AFPhoto

Inkscape

Lottie

brand, images, software