Original Blog Entry: The Best Image File Format, Guide. Last Update.

MonEl — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 20:52:40 GMT

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Don't take these as being 100% right.

For more information use a Web search engine.

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Best to use if you want good enough quality images (pictures and print):

Bitmaps = TIFF

Vectors = PDF , EPS, SVG

Animated Images = GIF

WEB = PNG-24

PNG-24 format if you need transparency

For desktop wallpapers = BMP

For Graphics whenever possible use Vectors drawing, editors,paint programs and file types and Not Raster

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JPEG/JPG = one of the most widely used image formats,

but maybe not the best-one to use, TIFF and PNG-24 might be better

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Vector Image formats PDF , EPS, SVG

Raster Image formats TIFF, GIF, PNG-24, Etc

A mix of both of them = EMF - Enhanced Metafile

Whenever possible use PNG-24, TIFF, PDF, EPS, SVG, EMF, use only GIF if you need moving pictures.

TIFF is the best possible choice OverAll, for Raster Images.

But for the Web (Internet) I would use PNG-24 as all or most Web browsers nowdays can display PNG images.

Raster vs. Vector:

Vector images = Simple graphics such as logos and illustration, Etc

Raster images = Such as digital photographs, Etc

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The web, for instance, displays 72dpi (72 dots or pixels per inch) a relatively low pixel density. Raster images with a low DPI like 72dpi look nice and crisp on the web.

But this same low DPI image may not be suitable for printing on a brochure or packaging.

To correctly print an image, it should be at least 300dpi, a much higher pixel density than the web displays.

Resizing a low DPI image pulled from the web to fit the dimensions of your print project won t work because the same finite number of pixels only get bigger and begin to distort.

For example, let s say you want to print your logo at 2″x3″ on a brochure. If have a 72dpi jpg of your logo and it s 2-inches by 3-inches, it will need to be stretched to more than 3 times the size to get it up to 300dpi. That 72dpi logo may look great on your computer monitor, but when it prints at 300dpi it will look pixilated.

Instead you should use a vector version of your logo (.EPS or .AI) or create a raster (JPG) with the exact dimensions desired and at 300dpi.

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Resolution and Color Depth

72 pixels per inch (ppi)

Printer type Output dpi Output LPI Scanning ppi

Laser printer 300 55-65 120

Laser printer 600 65-85 150

Ink-Jet printer 300 50-60 110

Dye-Sub printer 300 55-70 125

Imagesetter 1250+ 120-150 300

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2 Good enough Image Viewers are:

Irfanview and XnViewMP, I use the portable editions and both are freeware.

Don't ask me any questions about any of that, because I don't know.

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