Vector images can be resized easily without loss of quality making them an ideal format for initial logo designs and illustrations to be used in multiple sizes. JPG short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, and pronounced jay-peg is a file format best used for photo images which must be very small files, for example, for web sites or for email. JPG uses lossy compression lossy meaning "with losses to quality".
Lossy means that some image quality is lost when the JPG data is compressed and saved, and this quality can never be recovered. File compression methods for most other file formats are lossless, meaning "fully recoverable". TIFF files can be saved in a variety of color formats and in various forms of compression.
TIFFs use lossless compression to maintain image integrity and clarity and are often used for professional photography. GIF short for Graphics Interchange Format is a file format for storing graphical images up to colors. It uses a lossless compression method which makes for higher quality output. A PNG file can be saved with a transparent background which allows you to place your image on top of another image without an outlining white box. GIF files are probably the most popular on the web being used in logos and color images.
Once compressed, the reduced information cannot be recovered, but this information loss is usually not detected by most users. Raster images A raster file is composed of pixels, or tiny dots, that come together to form an image.
The more pixels, the better the quality of the image in its original size or larger versions. However, the more pixels, the larger the file size and the more space it will require to store.
Vector graphics Vector graphics , also known as scalable vector graphics SVGs , are graphics consisting of anchored dots connected by lines and curves. Unlike images made of pixels, vector graphics are not resolution independent and can be scaled up and down without a loss in quality or details. A PNG, or portable network graphic , is a raster file that supports lossless compression.
Its transparent background allows it to be embedded into other images or graphics without additional editing steps. This higher-resolution format delivers higher-quality images and clearer text, but the larger file size can slow down website performance and document load times. Choose a PNG format when you need a smaller file that maintains its original quality. They are commonly used for websites and are supported by all major browsers and operating systems. If you do land on using a PNG, consider looking for an online tool like tinypng.
A GIF, or graphics interchange format , is a lossless raster file format that can be exported in many highly-customizable settings to cut down on the file size. Made popular in the early days of the web, the GIF format was commonly used because of its ability to compress images into very small file sizes.
With compression techniques that limit GIFs to colors, their file size makes for fast-loading visuals. Additionally, a GIF can have transparency but may leave a white outline on colored backgrounds. One downside to GIF files is that they use the indexed color palette, which limits color choice and can leave photos looking flat and lackluster.
GIF files are also saved in a single-layer format, meaning all edits are saved into one image layer and cannot be reverted.
While a small file size is ideal for presentation and web page load times, GIF limitations should be taken into consideration before selecting this file format.
A TIFF, or tagged image file format , is a lossless raster format hailed for its extremely high image quality. Often the format used by professionals in creative industries, these files require a large amount of storage space and are a challenge to share unless zipped or sent using file-sharing tools. A TIFF file is a great choice when high-quality is your goal, especially when it comes to printing photos or even billboards.
TIFF is also an adaptable format that can support both lossy and lossless compression. This allows each page in a TIFF file to be compressed differently if desired. TIFF is best for any raster images that you intend to edit and is relied on to preserve quality.
It offers options to use tags, layers, and transparency and is compatible with photo manipulation programs like Adobe Photoshop. But if you plan to edit digital images in a working storage format, consider TIFF your go-to.
While a TIFF file might be the original creative file, it will likely be converted to another format to be used in slide decks, websites, and other marketing materials. Vector images are digital artwork in which points, lines and curves are calculated by the computer.
Unlike raster images, vector images are resolution in dependent. Because your image will always render identically, no matter the size, there is no such thing as a lossy or lossless vector image type. Vector images are typically used for logos, icons, typesetting and digital illustrations.
Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard image editor that is used to create, design and edit vector images though it can also incorporate raster images, as well.
PDF stands for Portable Document Format and is an image format used to display documents and graphics correctly, no matter the device, application, operating system or web browser.
At its core, PDF files have a powerful vector graphics foundation, but can also display everything from raster graphics to form fields to spreadsheets. Because it is a near universal standard, PDF files are often the file format requested by printers to send a final design into production. Both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator can export straight to PDF, making it easy to start your design and get it ready for printing. Although it is used primarily as a vector format, an EPS file can include both vector and raster image data.
Typically, an EPS file includes a single design element that can be used in a larger design. It can be searched, indexed, scaled and compressed and can result in smaller file sizes than other file formats, which makes it ideal for web.
SVG files can be edited in graphic editing programs as well as text editors. AI is a proprietary vector image format that stands for Adobe Illustrator. Like those formats, AI files are primarily a vector-based format, though they can also include embedded or linked raster images.
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