A Guide: Different Image Formats and Their Uses

There are many different types of files out there that are made for a specific use. For images, the most popular files are either in JPEG or PNG. The type of file format that you use, however, for sending or uploading images, will depend on the platform you’re using. This is due to the fact that certain images are resized after making adjustments and modifications to them.

For text and colour-heavy materials, you will find that the most commonly used formats are either DOCX or PDF. These may be images that are produced after utilising some of the best Photoshop color wheel and editing options with the help of editing software like Photoshop, which plays a crucial role in digital imagery.

But what are the differences between these image file formats and how can they affect the quality, size, or overall look of the file? In this article, we’ll be discussing the different image file formats that are mostly used today. We’ll be giving you a rundown of what their differences are and how you can use them for your uploads and other activities. So read on to learn more.

JPEG or JPG Images

The file format JPEG (or JPG) is the most common type for photos. This is the most popular of image file formats because it can easily be read or viewed on mobile devices. The size is compressed so that uploading them or viewing them on social media or the internet is much easier and faster. What makes this a great format is that once the data is compressed, other information from the file is not seen. This is ideal for sharing with other people or keeping for storage. JPEG images are great for viewing on the web. But their usually low resolution doesn’t make them the best choice for printing since text-heavy JPEG images often come out grainy or pixelated.

PNG Images

The PNG file format is also great for storing or sharing through the internet. They’re mostly used for images that have a solid background. You’ll mostly see PNG files on animated photos or logos. But just like JPEG images, they’re also not the best for printing unless they have been converted to better quality.

TIFF Images

TIFF image files are also commonly used across different platforms. In this format, large files, images, and artwork can be sent in their original format without losing quality. TIFF images are suitable for reproduction or printing. Don’t confuse it with a rar file, though. As opposed to rar files that are being compressed for faster transfer and require a convert rar to zip tool for the extraction, TIFF files are sent uncompressed.

GIF Images

GIF formats are used for static and animated images. You will mostly see this online for memes and messenger apps. They are basically looped moving images or videos that play automatically without audio. They’re not the best choice for reproducing complex and colored images but are great for simple images that have solid-colored areas.

PDF Files

PDF files are the best choice for sharing documents easily. These files are compatible with almost all platforms, operating systems, and software, making them the most preferred format. When a document doesn’t need modification or the sender wants to keep the original look of the file, he or she will send it in a PDF file. This file can easily be read, downloaded, or printed. Reproducing or printing PDF files are great because they’re made for text-heavy files and they very often look like their original form once printed.

PDFBear for File Conversions

But in some cases that you may need to edit a PDF file to fill in blanks or add your signature, you will need a PDF to Word converter. PDFBear is a great and easy to use tool for you to convert any PDF file to Word format so you can easily edit them. The user interface of the website is easy to navigate. All you need to do is upload or drag and drop the file that you want to convert to the website and you can download your converted file in seconds!

PDS Files

This is a Photoshop file that was developed by Adobe. They’re often used in designs and edited images or graphics. These files are quite large and you’ll find that they may contain multiple layers for future editing. This type of file is also great for reproducing or printing.

EPS Files

EPS files are images, vectors, and texts. These image files are great for resizing because they’re not made of gridded pixels so that quality won’t be compromised. Most logos or large-scale artwork are in the EPS format and are supported by numerous editing software applications.

Takeaway

Well, those are the most common image file formats you’ll find on the web today. We hope that our article on these formats helped you know about the differences and how you can use them for your work, school, and other activities. It’s also good to have a good file converter in case you need to convert these image files to something editable. This is why we highly recommend PDFBear for converting image files because it’s quick and easy and it’s absolutely free to use!