• Made up of tiny square pixels aligned to a grid
• A high number of possible colors (color depth)
• Not up-scaleable without a loss in image quality
• Typically larger files sizes (for photos)
• Difficult to accurately convert to vector image
Joint Photographic Experts Group
• Most likely the file type you are most familiar with
• Is not recommended for print production
• Typically used for high quality print photography and low resolution online use
• Does not support transparent backgrounds - the background is always white (unless filled with color)
• Will lose quality if scaled over its pixel width
• Great file format to compress photo images
Portable Network Graphic
• Designed for transferring images on the Internet - best used for text, graphics, and online use
• Is not recommended for print production
• Supports transparent backgrounds
• Will lose quality if scaled over its pixel width
Graphics Interchange Format
• Defined as a lossless format for image files that supports both animated and static images
• Limited colors
• Supports transparent backgrounds
• Supports reduced file size
• Used specifically for online use
Photoshop Document
• Files that are created and saved in Adobe Photoshop
• Supports transparent backgrounds
• Can store multiple layers of photos, graphics, text, and filters for modifying purposes
• Used for editing mainly raster images
• This is the file type most designers create when actively editing photos
• Will lose quality if scaled over its pixel width
• Made up of geometric curves and fill-ins
• Best used on print and large scaled artwork
• Able to be infinity scaled without loss in quality
• Transparent background
• Typically smaller file sizes (for simple images like logos)
• Not suitable for complex graphics (rasterization may be needed)
• Easy to convert to raster image
• Best for professional printing
Encapsulated Postscript
• Used for logos and uncomplicated vectors
• Is easily editable and is not limited to a single design program - unlike Ai files
• Perfect for large format printing
• Supports transparent backgrounds
• Scalable without loss in quality
Scalable Vector Graphic
• Designed for scalable web use
• Is easily editable and is not limited to a single design program - unlike Ai files
• Supports transparent backgrounds
• Speaks more code languages than other files (PNG, GIF, or JPG) and uses shapes numbers, and coordinates to create graphics in browers
• Supports interactivity and animation
• Primarily for online use, but can be used for print
.Ai
Adobe Illustrator
• Files that are created and saved in Adobe Illustrator
• Supports transparent backgrounds
• This is the file type most designers create original artwork and logos in
• Used for illustrations and graphics that are mainly vector based
• Can store multiple layers for modifying purposes
• Scalable without loss in quality
Portable Document Format
• File type many of us have worked with on a regular basis
• Mainly used to emailing and sharing documents without loss in quality
• Can be created and edited in many different programs with viewing versatility
• Most often what you send to a printing company
• Can store multiple layers for modifying purposes