Research Guides: All About Images: Image File Formats (2024)

FAQs

Research Guides: All About Images: Image File Formats? ›

Common Image File Formats. There are numerous image file types out there so it can be hard to know which file type best suits your image needs. Some image types such as TIFF are great for printing while others, like JPG or PNG, are best for web graphics.

The most common image file formats include JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP, and PDF. Read on to learn more about which files will best meet your imagery needs.

If you want to have the smallest file size possible, and maximize your space, then you should probably go with JPG images. They traditionally use a 10:1 compression ratio. While PNG images are higher quality, they are also much larger once the compression image is done.

JPG and JPEG are interchangeable file extensions representing the same image format established by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. The distinction lies solely in their naming; JPG was used when file systems limited extensions to three characters. Their functionality and compatibility are identical.

All digital images are either raster graphics or vector graphics. Different file types designate different types of graphics. Jpg (“jpeg”), gif, tiff, and png files are generally raster, while eps and ai files are vector.

There are two primary types of images used in print and other applications: Pixel-based raster images and line-based vector images.

The two formatting guidelines that are mostly adhered to in research papers for publication purposes are the APA and MLA formats.

Which image format is the highest quality? ›

Along with RAW, TIFF files are among the highest quality graphic formats available. If you're printing photos—especially at enormous sizes—use this format. You are making a high-quality scan. Using TIFF to scan your documents, photos and artwork will ensure that you have the best original file to work off of.

Portable Network Graphics files (PNGs) are compressible and like JPEGS, can handle 16 million colors. They're mostly used for web graphics, logos, charts, and illustrations, rather than high-quality photographs, because they take up more storage space than JPEGs.

While PNGs offer high-quality compression, JPGs take up less space and will load faster on the web. The decision between JPEG and PNG isn't just an abstract ultimatum, it's a choice that impacts how you edit, share, print, and archive your images.

Make sure the image is on your computer. Click the “File” menu and select “Open.” Locate your image and click “o*k.” Click “File,” then click the arrow next to “Save As.” A list of image types, including JPEG, will appear.

Are JPG and JPEG the same? JPG and JPEG are acronyms that both stand for Joint Photographic Experts Group. There's technically no difference between the two, except for the file extension (image.jpeg vs. image.jpg). But by using our JPEG to JPG Converter, you can easily convert a batch of .jpeg images to .jpg files.

As an open-source format, WebP is designed to be a superior replacement for older image formats like JPEG, PNG, and GIF. This innovative approach focuses on creating smaller, higher-quality images to make the web faster.

Answer. A PDF is a document file type (which can include images with the text) while a JPG is an image file type (which can include text on the image). Generally speaking, a PDF is a text document that is created from converting a word processing type document. A JPG is a photograph or other image.

PNG's high-resolution images offer superior color depth and can deliver high-quality prints on home or industrial printers. Meanwhile, lossy compression could make JPG photos become blurry or lose color when they're printed.

PNG is short for Portable Network Graphic, a type of raster image file. It's particularly popular file type with web designers because it can handle graphics with transparent or semi-transparent backgrounds.