File Types Flashcards
Advantages of Raster Images
- Full colour capture due to the methods used
- Full resolution with lossless image capture best for photographs and scans.
Disadvantages of Raster Images
- Large file sizes.
- Don’t convert well to vector graphics because of pixels.
- Don’t scale well due to pixilation.
- Quality is determined by the capture device or resolution display.
Advantages of Vector Graphics
- Small file sizes
- Easier to edit and manipulate as lines, points can be tweaked easily.
- Can be scaled infinitely without the loss of resolution.
- Convert easily to Raster format
- Suitable for where block colours are used.
Disadvantages of Vector Graphics
Only suitable for structural based line/shape graphic images such as technical drawings and logos which may contain one or two simple colour fills.
Describe PDF files
- Used when you need to save files that cannot be modified but still need to be easily shared and printed.
Advantages of PDFs
- Can be compressed easily, can retain quality while reducing file size
- PDFs can be locked, watermark and secured making them extremely useful in protecting company data.
- They are compatible with virtually all computers and mobile devices
- Can be used to store and present both Vector and Raster Graphics.
Disadvantages of PDFs
- Can be difficult to edit unless you have specific PDF editing software which is costly.
- Can end up with a massive overall file size where there are a number of large raster graphics embedded.
Describe BMP files
The mapping of small pieces of information in its 1s and 0s.
Refers to the array of pixels in an image
Advantages of BMP
*Full colour mapping ensures amazing quality and detail
*Pixel values may be modified individually or as large groups by altering a palette to change colours/specific features within the image.
*Bitmap files translate well for printing ensuring colour and resolution are excellent.
Disadvantages of BMP
*They can be very large files
*Data compression can shrink the size of pixel data reducing the resolution/quality of the image.
*Resizing can result in slow rendering due to the data these files use up.
*They do not scale very well due to pixilation.
* Like most raster graphics editing specific detail within an image can be difficult due to the ways pixels are stored.
Describe JPEG files
JPEGs were designed to reduce the file size of bitmaps but retain the quality and colour achieved in the Bitmap.
Advantages of JPEG
- Lower file size but still retains excellent colour quality and resolution.
- format is compatible across multiple platforms
- suitable for full-colour realistic images with a lot of colour and contrast transitions
- picture quality is high with small degree of compression.
- Prints extremely well in print based graphics items.
Disadvantages of JPEG
- image may “fall apart” into individual – 8×8 pixel blocks when you squeeze it blurring the image.
- JPEG is less suitable for working with text or monochrome graphics.
- format does not support transparency.
- every next step of compressing the image degrades its quality.
Describe PNG files
Was designed for web based design
Advantages of PNG
- minimum compression loss ensures good resolution across multiple platforms.
- When you re-save image, quality is not lost
- PNG retains enough quality to produce a good array of colours.
- Supports transparency
- small size files that retain a high level of quality.
Disadvantages of PNG
- doesn’t support animation.
- ill-suited for working with full-colour images and cannot reproduce the vivid colours in BMPs or JPEGS.
Describe TIFF files
Used for exchanging raster graphics (bitmap) images between application programs
Advantages of TIFF
– tiff format isn’t compressed and it means that no data is lost
– The images are therefore accurate and high quality.
- Images retain their colour.
Disadvantages of TIFF
– It’s still not supported everywhere
– The large size of the images is incompatible with web usage.
– Due to the bigger size it’s harder to email a tiff image and digital cameras can’t store many images.
Describe SVG files
They are designed to handle both vector and raster graphics
Advantages of SVG
- Small size compared to raster images
- Flexibility of editing due to the way vector graphics are created.
- scalability without changing the image quality/losing resolution.
- it’s possible to open SVG files in any browser
Disadvantages of SVG
- the file size can grow very fast, if the object consists of a large number of small elements.
- it’s impossible to read a part of the graphic object, only the entire object and it slows you down.
Describe DWG files
This is file extension for Technical CAD Drawings. These drawings to be easily interpreted and edited using CAD
Advantages of DWG
- Easily understood across a variety of 2D and 3D CAD programs.
- Small in file size
- High potential and range of capabilities for creating, editing and developing 2D and 3D technical graphics work
- Layers can be used to make the editing of graphics simple and quicker.
Disadvantages of DWG
- Can only be viewed using CAD software programs.
- DWG is less widely supported then DXF.
Describe DXF files
This is a file extension for a graphic image format typically used with AutoCAD software.
Advantages of DXF
- The DXF file format is the most compatible vector file type and can be opened in virtually all CAD and DTP programs.
- The never lose resolution and allows for excellent detail at any scale
- DXF files are commonly used to exchange data between different CAD programs used to support vinyl cutting, laser cutting ect
- Layers can be used to make the editing of graphics simple and quicker and DXF can be divided into smaller components for editing
and developing graphic items.
Disadvantages of DXF
- Some applications can not deal with line widths in DXF Files therefore graphics lose some key features.
- Complex DXF files can become large in size.
Describe AI files
Adobe Illustrator file - It is Vector based graphic and is used to design logos, and illustrations.
They have small file sizes and allow for transparency’s.
Describe EPS files
a vector based graphic primarily used for printing large scale documents.
.EPS is popular due to its compatibility with printers.
Describe WMV files
(Windows Media Video) It contains compressed video format and is one of the most common types. This file type is popular as the file sizes are small in comparison to MP4 however they can only be used on Microsoft media players.
Describe AVI files
(Audio Video Interleave) .AVI files have less compression than similar file formats and therefore the file can be quite large. This can be an issue if sharing or streaming.
Describe 3GP files
(Third Generation Partnership) is used on mobile devices, however they can also be viewed on PC’s. Smaller file sizes than MP4.
Describe MOV files
(Apple QuickTime Movie) This file type has a high quality, but with that comes a high file size. This file type not only stores video and audio but also subtitles.
Describe MPEG files
(Moving Picture Experts Group) The compression of an .MPEG makes it suitable for quicker streaming and downloading. This can be opened on Mac and Windows without additional software/apps. It only stores video and audio.
Describe STL files
Commonly used for 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD).
Describe 3DS files
Store information on the makeup of 3D vector graphics
Describe VRML files
A 3d model file
