• Most images files fit into one of two general categories-- raster files and vector files and each category.
  • The way we are planning on using an image will have a big impact in which file format we decide to go with.
  • Will you be printing it? Emailing it? Uploading to a website? 
  • The main three basic factors are:
     1. Compression:
  • Is it important that the particular image remain true, or is it okay to sacrifice some quality in exchange for a faster loading or sending.
     2. File size:
  • Do you have more storage space than you will ever fill up, or are you working with limited hard drive or server space.
     3. Speed of Transmission:
  • Do you plan on sending the file frequently, like within emails, or documents.
     Raster images:
     - JPEG
     - GIF
     - PNG
     - BMP
     - TIFF
     Vector images:
     - PDF
     - EPS

     - JPEG:  
  • JPEG is short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, and is the most popular among the image formats used on the web.
  • JPEG files are very ‘lossy’, meaning so much information is lost from the original image when you save it in a JPEG file.
  • This is because JPEG discards most of the information to keep the image file size small; which means some degree of quality is also lost.
     Original image

     JPEG image
      Advantages of JPEG:
  • Compatible in most OS (Mac, PC, Linux).
  • Most used and most widely accepted image format.
  • Rich colors, great for photographs that need fine attention to color detail.
     Disadvantages of JPEG:
  • They tend to discard a lot of data.
  • Cannot be animated.
     - GIF:
  • GIF is a lossless raster format that stands for Graphics Interchange Format.
  • This is also a widely used web image format, typically for animated graphics like banner ads, email images and social media memes. 
  • GIF compresses images by reducing the number of colors in rich color images, thus reducing the number of bits per pixel.
  • GIF is most suitable for graphics, diagrams, cartoons and logos with relatively few colors.

giphy
      Advantages of GIF:
  • Can do small animation effects.
  • ‘Lossless’ quality–they contain the same amount of quality as the original.
     Disadvantages of GIF:
  • It’s the oldest format in the web, having existed since 1989. It hasn’t been updated since, and sometimes, the file size is larger than PNG.
     - PNG:
  • PNG is a lossless raster format that stands for Portable Network Graphics. Think of PNGs as the next-generation GIF. 
  • This format has built-in transparency, but can also display higher color depths, which translates into millions of colors. 
  • PNGs are a web standard and are quickly becoming one of the most common image formats used online.

     Advantages of PNG:
  • Supports transparency better than GIF.
  • In a lot ways better then GIF. To start, PNG often creates smaller file sizes than GIF.
     Disadvantages of PNG:
  • Not all web browsers can support PNG.
  • Not good for large images because they tend to generate a very large file, sometimes creating larger files than JPEG.
     - BMP:
  • The Windows Bitmap or BMP files are image files within the Microsoft Windows operating system.
  • These files are large and uncompressed, but the images are rich in color, high in quality, simple and compatible. 
  • BMP files are also called raster or paint images.
  • BMP files are made of millions and millions of dots called ‘pixels,’ with different colors and arrangements to come up with an image or pattern.
  • Thus when you make a BMP image larger or smaller, you are making the individual pixels larger, and thus making the shapes look fuzzy and jagged.
     Image result for bit map images
      Advantages of BMP:
  • Works well with most Windows programs and OS, you can use it as a Windows wallpaper.
     Disadvantages of BMP:
  • Does not scale or compress well.
     - TIFF:
  • TIFF is a lossless raster format that stands for Tagged Image File Format. 
  • Because of its extremely high quality, the format is primarily used in photography and desktop publishing. 
  • When you scan a document or take a photo with a professional digital camera. Do note that TIFF files can also be used as a “container” for JPEG images. 
     Advantages of TIFF:
  • High quality image format, all color and data information are stored.
     Disadvantages of TIFF:

  • Very large file size–long transfer time, huge disk space consumption, and slow loading time.

     - PDF:
  • 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.  
  • These files have a powerful vector graphics foundation, but can also display everything from raster graphics to form fields to spreadsheets.
  • Both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator can export straight to PDF, making it easy to start your design and get it ready for printing. 
       
     Advantages of PDF:
  • It is great for posters, flyers, magazines and booklets. 
  • PDFs will keep your entire design in one package, making it easy to view, download or print.
    Disadvantages of PDF:
  • We cannot edit design in PDF, but use other applications for the contents.
  • For images we can edit raster images with Photoshop and vector graphics with Illustrator. When we are done, we can combine those into a PDF for easy viewing.
     - EPS:
  • EPS is an image format that stands for Encapsulated PostScript. 
  • 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.
 

     Advantages of EPS:
  • With an EPS file, don’t have to worry about the size of design, it will always appear at the correct resolution.
     Disadvantages of EPS:
  • It does not deal with raster images.