Photoshop Files and Formats

People often ask me: What image formats Photoshop file open or save in? What are the advantages / disadvantages?

Photoshop has the ability to open and save many different graphic files. Here are some of the most popular.

Note: If an image file other than a Photoshop one, that image is open by default to the background level.

. psd,. PDD. eps

Photoshop file. This format keeps the information of all layers. If you continue with a picture, then this is the best format to use. File size can be quite large, however. Note: It is advisable to save your work in most current Photoshop format. For example: If you have Photoshop CS, and sent a Photoshop 7 file, you should save it as a Photoshop CS file to all elements that are not supported by Photoshop 7 received.

. jpg,. jpeg. jpe

format compresses the images so that information (details and subtleties of color) are lost. You can choose how much you wish to compress the image. Good format for use on the Web. Small file sizes. Millions of colors.

tif,. tiff

Common in use with early scanners. Will produce high quality images, but with very large files. Not for use on the Web.

. gif
Marked

both “GIF” and “Jif” this file is one of the most popular for web graphics as it loads quickly. 8-bit format (256 colors max.). It has possibilities for transparent color and animation.

. png

New format for use on the Web, which is intended to replace both GIF and JPEG. Compressed, millions of colors, transparencies. It is compressed in a different way than jpeg, and has advanced possibilities, such as alpha channel (opaque or partially transparent colors). In 8-bit (256 colors) mode compresses better than gif.

. bmp

Windows bitmap image. Used by Microsoft Windows applications. Good quality, large file sizes. Not for use on the Web.

. wmf

Windows Metafile. Useful for clipart, and can be used to make large, small, his background files.

. pcx

Older general purpose format. Practically obsolete now. Not for use on the Web.

. PSP

internal format for Paint Shop Pro, useful if you want to exchange files between these two applications.

. pcd

Kodak Photo format will be used with photo development – although most photo processors will save your photos as JPEGs to when you ask them.

. pdf

Portable Document File. Adobe the file system, the electronic cross platform sharing of documents possible.

So, what is the best format for web graphics: GIF or JPEG?

The general rule of thumb is to use gifs for diagrams, containing drawings, illustrations and images, large areas of color, and JPEGs for photographs and images with continuous tones. The JPEG format has a very good compression, but compression reduces the quality of the image, so it is best to experiment with the tools in Image Ready until you have the best quality / file size have. The GIF format, on the other side has a smaller file size – but a limited range of colors.