Film Formats

JPG – Some cameras will have options for different JPEG quality levels (e.g., low, medium, and high). The better the photo quality, the less compression the camera will perform on the original photograph.

JPG Benefits – Quicker file transfer times, due to the smaller file size

TIFF – TIFF is commonly used in the photography industry; it’s generally requested by publishers. Even if the end file format will be a JPEG, the initial file is often a TIFF

TIFF Benefits – Ability to manipulate photos extensively in editing software

TIFF Negatives – Longer transfer and loading times due to file size

RAW – RAW files are generally available on advanced compact cameras, DSLRS , and MIORRLESS cameras

DNG – This file format, created by Adobe, is an attempt to provide a standard RAW file for all manufacturers and cameras

PNG –  PNGs are compressed in a lossless format, and therefore retain all detail. But unlike other file formats, PNG quality doesn’t mean big file sizes – and this is useful on the internet, because you need pages to load quickly

GIF – Like PNGs, GIFs are ideal for use on the internet. Lossless compression means image quality is not sacrificed, and like PNGs, GIFs offer the ability to maintain transparency

BMP – BMPs are large files, as color data is saved in each individual pixel without any compression. As a result, BMPs provide a high-quality digital file, which is great for use in print but not ideal for the web

PSD – This file type is what Adobe Photoshop uses as a default to save data. The big advantage of the PSD is that it allows for manipulation on specific individual layers, rather than on the main image itself