Imagine you are uploading a photo on a website, but you noticed that the image is not appearing. You try to upload it again, only for the same thing to happen again. Usually, this happens when the format of your image is not correct. The best solution is to look for an image converter to solve this. Familiarize yourself with different file formats. That is what we are going to talk about in this article!
What is an image converter?
Image conversion is the process of converting a photo from one file format to another. It also involves compressing, resizing, or editing photos. An image converter is a platform where such actions happen. You’ll need an image converter before you upload a photo on a website, send a picture via email, or make simple edits. You can find here the best image converter.
Why are there different photo formats?
There are a lot of file formats with different uses. Some websites would use a file format to save bandwidth and space. Huge file formats could take some time to load compared to when you use a specific file format. If a website has hundreds of photos, then not converting each image can crash a site. To know the advantages of using each file format, keep on reading!
PNG
PNG, or Portable Network Graphics, is one of the most used photo formats. The PNG format can preserve the colors of your photo on a transparent background. It is because PNG is a lossless compression format. The quality of the picture is the same after compression. PNG is the best for web graphics, line art, and for when you send photos via the internet. PNG is not the best pick for print media.
JPEG
JPEG, or Joint Photographic Experts Group, supports its lossy compression. Unlike the PNG format, the quality of the photo decreases after you compress it. This file format has been around for over 30 years. If your priority is the reduced file format instead of the quality of the photo, then use the JPEG format. You can use JPEG for photo prints and even web images. You can store several JPEG photos without it occupying too much space.
TIFF
TIFF, or Tagged Image File Format, supports a lossless format. TIFF is hard to edit or alter, which makes it ideal when you want to secure your photo. It is also the best file format or archiving. Businesses often use this file format because they are not vulnerable. The file size is larger compared to a JPEG format. Yet, you can preserve the quality of your photo using the TIFF format. TIFF is not used for web images but rather for printing photos.
PSD
A Photoshop Document, or PSD, contains high-quality image data. You can access it using the same Adobe program. You can also share the PSD with other people, as long as they also have the proper software to access it. WIth PSD, you can layer your images and can hold up to 30,000 pixels. Graphic designers and layout artists use this format for their projects. But, they can render it to another file format if they want to upload their works on the internet or print them.
SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics is the best for two-dimensional vector images. Based on its name, SVG is scalable which means the sharpness of the photos will not change after scaling. SVG is best for small-scale projects like logos or icons. Compared to other photo formats, SVG is more complicated to use and edit. Each pixel is precise since it uses mathematical equations for all the elements of the photo. You need a program to create one, those that support vector files.
TGA
Created in the early 80s, Truevision Graphics Adapter is best for video game graphics. TGA is also a famous format in the VFX industry. It is another lossless format where preserving data is not a problem. Since TGA is not the usual format that people would use, you need another program to open TGA files. For example, you can use Photoshop or GIMP to access TGA files.
GIF
Graphical Interchange Format is a format where a series of images are on a loop. You have seen this on your social media accounts. These short animations are in a lossless format. Even though GIFs are still famous, this format already exists for more than 30 years! You could say that this file format is not as new as the other formats.
RAW
When you go on a photo shoot, photographers would usually use the RAW file format. The RAW file format is a photographer’s best friend. Shooting RAW gives you the best quality possible since images are uncompressed. The RAW file format is what the sensors of your camera can see. They are also easier to manipulate and edit. RAW file format exhibits more colors compared to other file formats. Adjusting the brightness of the picture is also not hard with this file format.
EXIF
If you use a digital camera, it uses the Exchangeable Image file format. This file format shows shutter speed, focal length, aperture, and ISO. EXIF gives this information to help photographers improve. You can use the metadata to recreate the settings for future use.
WebP
WebP was created by Google in 2010. It is an alternative format for JPEG or PNG. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, depending on your preference. WebP is best to use when you need to upload the photo on the web. Once uploaded, the WebP preserves the quality of the picture, yet you don’t need much data for it to load. WebP also supports animation and transparency.
Know when to use a photo format!
There you have it! These are some photo formats available. There are different recommended photo formats depending on the industry. Knowing which file format to use makes it convenient for you. Your photos would always be in its best form possible. If you are someone who is on the web daily, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with these file formats. In case you need a specific file type, you can use an image converter to format your photos.