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Tuesday 10 January 2012

Image file formats - Advantages and Disadvantages

A simple table i wrote a while ago on different file formats for image storage and their advantages and disadvantages. I hope people may find it useful!

File Format

Advantages

Disadvantages

JPG

Small File Size – Ideal for web use and email.

Varying rates of compression reduce file size further, at a cost of loss of original image quality

Recognised file format on all computers as well as displaying on digital photo frames, mobile phones, DVD players etc.

Ideal for small prints such as instant photo booths.

Can embed colour space profiles as well as ITPC Metadata

Lossy compression, as the file is compressed to save space, it loses some of the original file data and therefore degrades image quality

Further editing on the image can degrade quality even further.

Only suitable for smaller print output, as on larger images, compression artefacts and noise can be present on final print.

TIFF

Uncompressed image retains maximum amount of image data from the camera.

Can be compressed to reduce file sizes using mathematical algorithms such as ZIP or TAR without loss of image data

Can also use lossy compression such as JPG algorithms to reduce file size

Recognised format by most computers, cross compatible with both MAC and PC’s

Standard format for printing either at home or dedicated Photo lab.

Can embed colour space profiles as well as ITPC Metadata

Large file sizes, around 20mb for a 10 megapixel image, so larger storages devices needed for long term archival use.

Good specification computer needed to process and load images.

Most website and online images galleries do not support tiff uploading.

Slow speeds when transferring to online galleries that do support TIFF files

PSD

A format created by Adobe for Photoshop use, it contains all the original image data as well as any layers, adjustments and full image history.

Ideal for use when processing images as a user can save the file and then go back to it at a later date

Generally only recognised by Photoshop software and certain other image manipulation software

Camera RAW

Uncompressed image, direct from camera sensor

Best image quality overall as well as flexibility in post processing

Things such as white balance, exposure, colour space, contrast, saturation can all be adjusted by software easily

It is a non destructive format, therefore any changes made such as cropping or adjustments can be undone and the image reverted back to its original state.

Can embed colour space profiles as well as ITPC Metadata

Needs dedicated RAW converter to process images such as Adobe RAW or Cameras own software

Good specification computer needed to process and load images.

Most website and online images galleries do not support RAW uploading.

Not recommended for use when sending to printing labs or similar due to incompatibilities and the nature of the file type.

Large file sizes, approx 12mb for a 10 megapixel file.

Adobe Digital Negative

Similar camera RAW,  created by Adobe as a standardised format

Uncompressed image, identical to original Camera RAW file

Best image quality overall as well as flexibility in post processing

Things such as white balance, exposure, colour space, contrast, saturation can all be adjusted by software easily

It is a non destructive format, therefore any changes made such as cropping or adjustments can be undone and the image reverted back to its original state.

Slightly smaller file sizes compared to Camera RAW, approximately 8mb for a 10 Megapixel image

Cross compatible with all Adobe software so no additional RAW converter needed

Can embed colour space profiles as well as ITPC Metadata

Needs Adobe Software or compatible to open and process image

Good specification computer needed to process and load images.

Most website and online images galleries do not support Adobe Digital Negative uploading.

Not recommended for use when sending to printing labs or similar due to incompatibilities and the nature of the file type.

Large file sizes, approx 8mb for a 10 megapixel file.

15 comments:

  1. this is a great page !!! and so helpful

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  2. So Fallout 4 came out at let me say, it is exactly the same as the third. The scenery, game play the whole atmosp... I got the wrong game ;_;

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  3. you must be felling ill cuz there is a huge difference in Fallout 4 and 3.
    sorry if i sound harsh or like i am trying to be disrespectful its just there actually a huge difference in the games besides the same feel and better graphics

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  4. Thanks for the useful and easy to understand advice ... much appreciated :-)

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Wonderful helpful to me. Thanks for share this post.
    clipping path service

    ReplyDelete
  7. and fallout 3 is better then 4 btw

    ReplyDelete