FILE FORMATS

File formats are designed to ensure that information can be encoded and stored. There are

several file formats which allow for the storage of graphics, texts, audio and video files. Some

formats allow for compression of the data which makes it easier for files to be shared via social

media and across the internet. Other formats serve as a replacement for deprecated formats or

those that are not private. This segment provides an overview of the file formats which are used

mainly for graphic files.

BMP- Windows Bitmap

BMP is a raster (lossy) graphic image file format that was invented by Microsoft. There

is no compression. The file format also offers rich high quality images. As a result the files can

be extremely large.

EPS- Encapsulated PostScript

This is the file extension that is usually used with vector based images in adobe

illustrator. Although this file format is still being used it is not very current and has generally

been replaced by the PDF format. Its widespread use allows for the exchange of images, logos

and drawings with no compression.

GIF- Graphics Interchange Format

This is a lossless file format for images that contain less than 256 colours. However, if

there are many more colours, more than 99 percent of the colours may be lost. The format has

mainly been associated with online use and can be used for graphics and logos that have very

few colours.

JPG- Joint Photographic Experts Group

The jpeg file format was created so that it could be the standard for photographers.

While image quality can remain very high, this file format provides for compressing images.

With every copy of the image the quality diminishes due to its raster qualities. JPG analyzes the

images and information that is less visible to the eye is discarded. It is not the most ideal for

storing art files.

PCT- Macintosh Picture

The Macintosh picture image file was created for the Quickdraw Macintosh program.

This format was originally in an 8 color format but with the newer version provides for

thousands of colours. The format has a lossy type compression format. It is no longer widely

used as a result of the invention of the PDF.

PCX- PC Paintbrush

This file format has also generally been replaced by other formats such as GIF, JPEG and

PNG. PCX was one of the very first file formats for bitmap images. The file format has a simple

lossless compression using run length coding.

PDF- Adobe Portable Document Format

The file format was developed for the sharing of documents which contain text and

images. Both vector graphics and raster images are supported by this file format. Documents are

presented in a manner that clearly displays fonts, graphics and other information.

PNG- Portable Network Graphics

The PNG format is a file format that was developed to improve the GIF format. The file

type however, does not support animation and like GIFs it it used to store graphics on the

internet. The format provides lossless compression of the raster graphic file format.

PSD- Photoshop Document

The PSD file is the file format used for Photoshop documents. Even after the file is saved

the file format still provides the user to work with individual layers of an image. The file format

is not a lossy file format. A PSD image must be reformatted to jpg, png, tif or gif format to be

shared.

TGA-Truevision Targa

This file format supports both uncompressed and compressed TGA file formats. Targa is an

advanced raster graphics file that is commonly used for animation, gaming and video production.
TIF- Tagged Image File Format

Tiff is a lossless image file format and is used for storing very large, high quality raster

graphics. This is an ideal format for archiving photographs and graphic art. File sizes can be

very large. As a result of the large file size, this format is not suited for the web. The file format

is can also be used for scanned documents and faxes.

WMF- Windows Metafile

This file type contains graphic information for both vector graphics and bitmap

components. Software used to open it usually include word, PowerPoint and publisher since it

was developed by Windows.

FILE FORMAT ABBREVIATION COMPRESSION USE

TYPE
Windows Bitmap BMP Generally Hardly need for use
uncompressed; large Stores digital bitmap
and lossless images
Encapsulated EPS Uncompressed Exchanging images,
PostScript drawings, logos.
Good for vector
images in adobe
illustrator

Graphics Interchange GIF Compressed, lossless Web images with less

Format than 256 colours
Joint Photographic JPEG Compressed, lossy Choice for photos on
Experts Group the web
Ultimate format for
digital photos
Macintosh Picture PCT Uncompressed, Ideal for both vector
compressed(using and bitmap images
jpeg compression)
PC Paintbrush PCX Uncompressed Works with graphic
(without RLE), images
Compressed(with
RLE)- Lossless
Portable Document PDF Compressed- lossless To present documents
Format which include fonts,
texts and graphics
Portable Network PNG Compressed- lossless Display of web
Graphics images without loss

Photoshop Document PSD Uncompressed Document format for

photoshop editing
software
Truevision Targa TGA Compresssed/ Used in industry
Uncompressed video, computer
games and animation
Tagged Image File TIF Uncompressed/ To store digital faxes,
Format Compressed (lossless) scanned documents,
high quality graphics
and photographs
Windows Metafile WMF Uncompressed, Specific to the
Compressed versions: windows platform
WMZ, EMZ used in word,
powerpoint and
publisher
 References:

Digital Image File Types Explained. Retrieved from

http://users.wfu.edu/matthews/misc/graphics/formats/formats.html

Fisher, T. (2016). What is a PSD file? Retrieved from https://www.lifewire.com/psd-file-

2622194

https://techterms.com/definition/bmp

Opening TIF Files. Retrieved from http://file.org/extension/tif

The EPS File Format. Retrieved from https://www.prepressure.com/library/file-formats/eps

WMF. Retrieved from http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/w/wmf.htm

 USING FILE FORMATS

File formats are necessary to help in storing information in several forms. From graphics,

to text, to audio and video file formats are important.

As a photography enthusiast, I would certainly use varied file formats. Jpegs would most

likely be used since it offers a quality image that is not extremely large. These images will allow

for quick printing or upload to the internet. At times, depending on the clients needs, I would

also use TIF for extremely large billboards. The large file size would allow for high quality

lossless files that would maintain its pixel resolution.

To ensure that RAW files are handled efficiently the PSD file format can be used to

convert these files in Photoshop, since it is not any software that allows the opening of RAW

image files.

Finally, as a teacher I would surely be working with word documents. I would use PDFs

for preparing word documents that I would like to share with students and other colleagues.

In this technological age we therefore cannot escape the use of file formats.