File Types Quiz Flashcards
raster vs. vector
pixels vs. lines
raster
made up of a grid of dots aka pixels, each assigned a different color value. this limitation allows us to capture images 1 to 1.
most images are
raster-based
with raster-based images, there are a
limited number of pixels
photoshop is ___-based while adobe illustrator is ___-based.
raster
vector
with raster-based images, we can ___ but not ___ pixels
remove
add
vector
made up of basic geometric shapes, such as lines and curves; continuous lines and anchor points. limited to the images you can create.
compare vector size to raster size.
for raster-based images, we want to have the most pixels as possible to begin with. file types in vector are much smaller.
the file type size of vector-based images make them great for
logo creation and motion graphics
the 5 file types
- JPEG
- PNG
- GIF
- TIFF
- BMP
JPEG (joint photographic experts group)
common file format for digital photos and other digital graphics. when JPG files are saved, they use “lossy” compression
lossy compression
image quality is lost as file size decreases
JPEG files are a great option for
- making smaller file sizes
- images with more than 256 colors
- acting as a catch-all
JPEG offers __bit color with up to __million colors
24, 16
24 bit = 2^24
JPEG file best uses
- b&w images
- images with complex coloring
- still life imagery
- real life photographs
PNG (portable network graphics)
a raster graphics file format that supports lossless data compression. PNG was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for GIF, and is the most used lossless image compression format on the Internet.
lossless compression
no data lost
with PNG, you can save
a transparent or opaque background
alpha channels
where info is held about transparency. ex- in Photoshop, there are 3 files (R, B, G) and when transparent, an alpha channel will appear, too
2 types of PNG image format
PNG-8 and PNG-24
3 characteristics of alpha channels
- transparency can be set between opaque and completely transparent, allowing for a faded look
- PNG formats can go on any background and still maintain appearance
- older browsers can have trouble with PNGs because they can’t handle alpha channels
PNG file best uses
- web images, flat areas of color, logos, transparent or semitransparent images
- great for text images
- images in the middle of the editing process
- complex images like real-life photographs if file size is not an issue
GIF (graphics interchange format)
image file format commonly used for images on the web and sprites in software programs. unlike the JPEG image format GIFs uses lossless compression that does not degrade the quality of the image.
GIFs store image data using indexed color, meaning
each image can include a max of 256 colors
GIFs have fewer colors so
files start even smaller than JPEGs
GIFs come alive with
animation (it’s an animated file type)
dithering
a process for GIFs to make the file even smaller by combining two pixel colors to make one
GIFs technically could be transparent but
it’s just clunky
GIF file best uses
- simple images like line drawings, color borders, and simple illustrations
- animations
- web graphics with not many colors
- very small icons
TIF or TIFF (tagged image format file)
an image format file for high-quality graphics. they were created in 1986 as a file format for scanned images in an attempt to get all companies to use one standard file format instead of multiple.
whether compressed or not, TIFFs
do not lose any image data
TIFF compression types
LZW, ZIP, JPEG
ZIP compression
lossless
JPEG compression
lossy
TIFFs are huge files so
you shouldn’t see them on the Web
TIFF file best uses
- images that will be sent to print
- if images are being edited and layers are needed
- high quality digital photography
- big files to create with
BMP (bitmap image file)
raster graphics image file format used to store bitmap digital images, independently of the display device (such as graphics adapter). used in way old stuff.
technically some BMPs
have alpha channel
___ is the go-to for final transparency delivery
PNG
get BIG files to start with, such as
TIFF or JPEG > 10 MB
BMP file best uses
- images that will be sent to print
- if images are being edited and layers are needed
- if you need to preserve layers, and alpha transparency
- good for any type of bitmap (pixel-based) images
use JPEG for
web graphics
use PNG for
web graphics
logos
line art
use GIF for
web graphics
animation
clip art
use TIFF for
print graphics
use BMP for
print graphics
