5 Essential Image File Formats and When to Use Them

Different formats can be used when organising and storing digital images. These formats may store data in uncompressed, compressed, or vector formats. There are several different types of image file formats and these are five of them.

JPEG/JPG

Joint Photographic Experts Group created the file format we know as JPEG or JPG in 1992. It is a raster file format with lossy compression, which uses inexact approximations and partial data discarding to represent the content.

JPEG is one of the most widely used formats online, especially for photos, email graphics, and large web images like banner ads.

There are several instances when graphic design services would use the JPEG/JPG file format, like when you are dealing with online photos. JPEG images will offer you a great amount of flexibility, making it ideal for web images that need to be downloaded quickly.

The high-resolution files with low compression are also ideal for editing and printing.

PNG

Portable Network Graphics, known as PNG, is a lossless raster format that is sometimes referred to as the next-generation GIF.

PNG is a file format with built-in transparency. It can also display higher colour depths, which translates into millions of colours. It is a web standard that is quickly becoming one of the most common image formats used online.

Unlike GIFs that only have on/off transparency, PNG files have a variable alpha channel that can have any degree of transparency. Due to this, it is the ideal file format to use when you need high-quality transparent web graphics.

You should also use PNG if you have illustrations with limited colours. This is because PNG files are best with a small colour palette, but any image will work in this file format.

PNG is also great if you need a small file for your social media marketing strategy, for instance. They can shrink to incredibly small sizes, especially images that have simple colours, shapes or text.

PDF

Portable Document Format or PDF is a format used commonly to display documents and graphics correctly regardless of the device, application, browser, or operating system. PDF files have a powerful vector graphics foundation.

This file format is a near-universal standard and a digital marketing agency is likely to request files in this format when sending a final design into production. This is made simple by programmes like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator exporting straight to PDF.

A content marketing agency will boost a brand’s visibility in several ways and content can be published online in the form of posters, flyers, booklets and magazines. When publishing such files online, you may want to use a format like PDF.

PDF is the ideal format to use if you want to display documents on the web as it will keep the entire design in one package, making it easy to view, download or print.

PSD

When creating files using Adobe Photoshop, you will likely use the image file format known as PSD. PSD files contain various graphic layers as well as other data from Photoshop like notes, text information, and layer masks.

With PSD, you can save layers and layer folders, enabling you to work on different layers multiple times. PSD files also retain transparency and translucency and saves vector graphic elements. It also compresses images without dropping the quality.

You would typically use PSD when you need to edit artwork for digital platforms or print or when you have to create a website or app mock-up.

You should also consider using the PSD file format if you are working with animation and video, as Photoshop makes it easy to put together simple video clips and add graphics, filters, text, and animation.

A proprietary vector image format that stands for Adobe Illustrator, AI is based on the EPS and PDF standards developed by Adobe. AI files are primarily vector-based but can include embedded or linked raster images.

AI is a file format that you can use when you need to create a logo, icon or brand mascot. You can also move and alter every single element in a design with a click or two, making AI an ideal format if you want to edit a vector design.

In addition to this, you may also use AI when you want a one-page print piece, making the programme ideal for posters, flyers, notecards and business card