There are a lot of different file types out there... and unfortunately, they are not all created equally. It's important to know the differences between the file types, along with their pros and cons. The most popular file type is a JPEG. As a photo student, you've surely heard of the Photoshop format: PSD - although have you heard of the PNG? Last but not least, there's the TIFF and the GIF. (This could turn into a nursery rhyme... but I"ll refrain - and stick to the game!)
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| Screenshot from Prof. F's Computer: File Format Choices in Photoshop |
As seen in an article published on PetaPixel, "The well-known JPEG format is the standard for compatibility. No
matter how you wish to share your photographs, whether on a social
network or to a print shop, the JPEG is likely to be supported. JPEG is
great for sharing photos because you know there won’t be any trouble
reading the format" (Archambault, web). What's great about a PSD file is that you can open this file in any Adobe product. When working with layers in Photoshop, you safe the file as a PSD to preserve those files. You may choose to flatten the layers later - and save it as a JPEG to conserve file size if you're going to e-mail it.
"The PNG format is a lossless file type, which means it can preserve your images without any loss in image quality" (Archambault, web). One of the more popular reasons that PNG files are used is that they allow for transparency. Let's say you'd like to put your logo over one of your images prior to uploading it to the web. You may save your logo as a PNG file to avoid any unwanted white backgrounds.
If you've ever worked with a TIFF file, the first thing you know is that the file size is huge! "TIFF is compatible with almost all image-editing and graphics
applications currently available. In addition, TIFF supports a large
number of color standards including CMYK, RGB, Lab, Indexed Color, and
Grayscale Images" (Archambault, web). The second thing you probably know about TIFF files is that they are great if you want to print! The rhyming counterpart of "TIFF": the GIF. If you're looking to have some fun - this is the file for you as it's typically used to create files that can deliver a fast paced change in speed, like animation!
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| Szakaly, David, Untitled - (Example of a GIF), ND. |
To read more about these five file types from PetaPixel's article, click "here"!
01. Archambault, Michael. "5 Common File Types in Photography and When You Should Use Each One." PetaPixel RSS. N.p., 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
02. "OMG Gif-splosion!" Projection Mapping Central. N.p., 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
03. Szakaly, David. "Dvdp." Dvdp. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.