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Image file formats: Choosing the right image file format

Sep 07, 2021

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JPG and PNG format are the most commonly used picture formats however the differences between the two of them are not very commonly known. While the differences are hard to tell but at a closer look one can really understand how they are designed for different areas. Though before understanding any of that you first need to understand the basic difference between pixel and vector graphics.


Pixel graphics are based upon pixels that are the individual dots which make up a picture or graphic when they are put together in large numbers. This means that the higher the number of the pixels, the higher the resolution and size. Since the pixels have a defined size this means enlarging such an image can stretch the pixels and ruin graphic quality.


Vector graphics compose images of two-dimensional objects which have a defined position, dimension and color. This makes them flexible and easily scalded in comparison to pixel graphics so there’s no need to worry about quality. These graphics are particularly suitable for picture formats that must be used in different sizes.


The most common picture formats JPG and PNG are both pixel graphics. An example of vector graphics would be the PDF format. You can also convert these for example you can convert PDF to JPG by using an online or offline converter.



Choosing the right image file format


Choosing the right image file format definitely depends upon how you plan to use the image. Other factors that may impact you choice may include:




  • Do you plan to use the image in the same size or different sizes?

  • Is the image supposed to be for web or for print?

  • How high should the image quality be?

  • What should be the file size of the image?

  • Does the image need diverse shades of colors?



If you need an image for a print, your main concern would definitely be quality considering file size and loading time is more relevant for web purposes.Web purposed images may be acceptable with file comparison and lower quality to make the image load faster. This is basically done by removing data from the image and reducing pixels and may be referred to as lossy compression. There's an option of lossless compression as well where the quality is maintained even after the reduction of the file size. This is done by compressing pixels of the same color category together and removing metadata. You can also look up more information on Google’s WebP- Format.



The most common pixel formats


The most common pixel formats that are available to you are as follows




  • JPG/ JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group

  • PNG: Portable Network Graphics

  • GIF: Graphics Interchange Format

  • TIFF: Tagged Image File Format

  • BMP: Windows bitmap

  • PSD: Photoshop Document


The most common vector formats


The most common vector formats that are available to you are:




  • PDF: Portable Document Format

  • AI: Adobe Illustrator format

  • EPS: Encapsulated PostScript

  • SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics


Conclusion


Choosing the right image file format depends upon the way you intend to use it. The files that are meant to be on the web and the files that are meant to be printed may need different specifications. For web images you can go for compression to speed up the load time, for printable images your focus must be on image quality and file size. In the end it all sums down to the usage.