File Types

1. JPEG (JPG) — Joint Photographic Experts Group

JPEGs are the most common image formats you will come across in photography. They are great for
sharing images of different sizes and resolutions. JPEGs are known for being a ‘lossy’ file format. We lose
quality when switching to this file format, so it is best to edit your images before turning them into a
JPEG.

JPEGs are also a universal image format. All internet browsers will support the displaying of these
images. But because this is a raster image format, it is not the best to use with text.

We use this image file format to achieve a reasonably small file size, making the uploading process a lot
quicker and easier. If you have ever used the camera setting where images save in both RAW and JPEG,
you have probably noticed the difference in the photos.

It is not only a difference in the resolution but the colors and tones as well. It is due to JPEG’s conversion
of color from the RGB format into a format for storing the image.

2. PSD — Photoshop Document

As you can probably guess, PSDs are Photoshop files. It will be helpful to get familiar with this file type.

You can only create or open these files in Adobe Photoshop. The main point you want to remember is
that PSDs are a sort of in-between file. It is a great way to generate file types because Photoshop can
read a vast range of files and export many image file types.

Photoshop files are great because they are a lossless compression format. It means that you can take
your original files and edit them without compromising the image quality.

Not only does it keep your information, but it also stores your revised information in layers. This storage
is beneficial, as it means you can access individual manipulations from any computer.

3. PNG — Portable Network Graphics

PNG files are raster graphic files that are useful for their lossless compression of data. They were created
as an improvement on the GIF file format.

PNGs filled a void that allowed people to use partial or total transparency in their image file formats. An
image will seem not to have defined edges, making websites even more fluid and aesthetically pleasing.
These qualities make it ideal for web-based uses. PNG files provide a small file size for a lossless format,
meaning the images will load quicker on a website. This quality works well for the web, but it will not
hold up when printing.

4. PDF — Portable Document Format

Another universal file format that I am sure most people are familiar with is Adobe’s PDF. We know this
file format for saving, sorting, and reading text-based documents.

Its whole purpose is to present written and visual information in a clear way. A PDF is most commonly a
vector file, but it can be a raster depending on how it’s created.

The most helpful feature of this file format is its access by a lot of software. It means that it is the most
convenient way to send files that contain both images and text. You will come across this when sending
portfolios or entering competitions.

Another good feature of PDFs are the fact they keep text indexable and searchable. This aspect lets you
copy information stored on these file types.

5. GIF — Graphics Interchange Format

Anyone with the internet is familiar with the wonderful world of GIFs. They are most commonly known
for their animated form, providing short video clips embedded on a web page.

People initially favoured them for the drastic reduction in file size due to how they handled the colors.
GIFs turned everything into a compressed 8-bit file.

This reduced file size was crucial for its time. Computers hadn’t had the best processing power, and web
pages needed to load quickly.

Even though advancements in image formats have come about, the GIF is not obsolete due to its small
file size. It can help present images you don’t want people to take and you don’t want to ruin with a
watermark.

But for this file type, remember, it is speed over quality.

6. TIFF — Tagged Image File Format

TIFFs are known for being large raster files with lossless compression. They are big files that won’t
compromise your images, making them ideal for professional photographers. Its primary use is for
storing and editing photos. Its great file size means that TIFFs are perfect for printing, ensuring you don’t
lose information along the way.

This file type does come with its issues. As it doesn’t lose any information, the file sizes can be pretty
significant. It means you’ll encounter a long loading time—a small price to pay for a professional file
type.

If you have been using JPEGs from your camera, you may notice the limitations you face when in post-
production. If so, I highly recommend you start using TIFF files for more editing options. It is the file type
some high-quality scanners will work in.

7. HEIF — High-Efficiency Image File Format (.HEIC)

High-efficiency image files were created as a competitor to JPEG files. You will find them on newer
phones and devices where companies wanted higher quality images than JPEGs.

It HEIFs are not better quality images. Their usefulness is due to their compression, being almost twice
as efficient as a JPEG. It is still known as a ‘lossy’ file format, sacrificing some of the image’s information.

With its compression advantage, you would think this would be the go-to file format for images. The
kicker is that significant web browsers do not support it. Plus, you cannot open these files on many
devices—making the accessibility of a JPEG a lot more preferable.

8. BMP — Bitmap

The bitmap image format is an early raster file type. It was heavily used in the past due to its mapping of
individual pixels without hardly any compression.

This lack of reduction means that BMP files often become extremely large. It makes BMP files
impractical to store and handle compared to other file formats.
BMPs are now one of the outdated image file types—there is no reason you would choose this over
other image formats.

You will still see it occasionally used because it doesn’t require any graphics adapter to display the
images data. Its simplicity lends itself well to most devices and internet browsers due to its device-
independent image format.

9. RAW — Raw Image File

Any device with an image sensor can create a RAW image file. It can be from a camera sensor or various
scanners. RAW files take data from these sensors and produce a file with minimal processing.

These files offer a 14-bit color channel. It means the information sorted is much greater than JPEGs.

More data means being able to bring more out of your image. It is why you hardly want to change your
image from this file state when editing.

You will find that only specific editing programs will open these files. It is ideal, as you will edit and
export the image from its initial state.

The file type is also an advantage because most image editing software will keep the original file safe
and untouched while letting you work on a separate file.

It is the most considerable file size you will find on this list due to its extensive nature. I heavily
recommend this file for taking your photos because it is the highest possible quality you can get from an
image file.

RAW File Formats and Companies

Here is a list of different RAW file formats and the companies associated with them:

.3fr = Hasselblad

.arw .srf .sr2 = Sony

.crw .cr2 .cr3 = Canon

.dcs .dcr .drf .k25 .kdc = Kodak

.dng = Adobe
.fff = Imacon scanners

.gdr = GoPro

.nef .nrw = Nikon

.orf = Olympus

.pef .ptx = Pentax

.r3d = Red Camera

.raf = Fuji

.raw .rwl .dng = Leica

.rw2 = Panasonic

.x3f = Sigma

Most Common Picture Format

The three most common image file formats in photography are JPEG, TIFF, and different RAW files. Of
course, you will want to keep your photographs as high-res as possible, so I suggest TIFF files for
printing. As you will see most of your digital photos on a screen, JPEGs are high quality enough for your
digital devices.

Many programs will offer a range in quality for exporting your JPEG file. So make sure you pick an option
that doesn’t compromise the quality too much but that you can open quickly and easily.

Measuring Resolution for Web and Print

File Types

1. JPEG (JPG) — Joint Photographic Experts Group

2. PSD — Photoshop Document

3. PNG — Portable Network Graphics

4. PDF — Portable Document Format

5. GIF — Graphics Interchange Format

6. TIFF — Tagged Image File Format

7. HEIF — High-Efficiency Image File Format (.HEIC)

8. BMP — Bitmap
9. RAW — Raw Image File

RAW File Formats and Companies