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Graphics
Image
File Formats
 Graphics
are a big part of graphics design, some would say the most important!
Understanding why some print well and why some don't is important information
to have. This section will help you understand them. Want
the whole story? Try
reading our graphics overview!
Image
File Formats: A Variety of Features
When
a computer file is saved on your computer, it will be saved, whether you
realize it or not, as a certain type of file. Some programs don't give
any
file format options. This type of file is called a "native"
file and can only be opened by the program that created it (sometimes
it can with translation software). Other programs will offer several different
file format choices. A file that can be opened by ....read
more
Vector
vs Bitmap Images: Which Is Best?
A
designer will come into contact with two kinds of computer image files.
They may look the same but upon closer inspection, one finds that they
are quite different in many ways.Vector artwork is prepared in a vector-drawing
program (makes sense) and is based on PostScript
code. A designer...read
more
BMP
and WMF: Uniquely Windows Graphics Files
Both
the BMP and WMF image file formats are very unique to the Windows platform.
It's pretty rare that you'll find either on a Macintosh system. Neither
of these formats are very useful in the production of professional page-layout
and should be avoided for that purpose. BMP (Bitmap)
files, as is the case with the...read
more
EPS
Images: A Confusing File Format
EPS
(Encapsulated PostScript) files can contain either vector or bitmap images.
If you haven't already done so, it might be a good idea to be familiar
with the difference between
vector and bitmap images before you read any further. Vector EPS files
- these files are...read
more
GIF
Images: Web Files and More
 GIF
(Graphical Interchange Format) files are graphic images that can be displayed
on any computer. The online-service provider CompuServe first developed
this format for the purpose of transferring graphics via phone lines to
their subscribers. (CompuServe, for those who don't know, is a proprietary
online-service in the same vein as America Online, which bought it in
1998.) Because GIFs files are small and can be easily displayed on different
computer platforms,...read
more
JPEG
Images: Versatile and Spacesavers
JPEG
(Joint Photographic Experts Group) images, like GIFs,
are graphic image files
that Web browsers like Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer can read
and display. But, while GIFs are limited to use on-screen because of their
8-bit, 256-color
maximum, index color mode, JPEGs
can be used for a whole lot more. JPEGs are bitmap
images and can...read
more
PDF
Files: Useful When You Need Them
Though
PDF files are not actually graphic
image files, many frequently group them together because they are
a means of displaying images on the Web or on other computers. PDFs are
a pretty unique animal. These files are created by the Acrobat
program and come with a world of possibilities....read
more
PICT:
A Very MacIntosh Format
PICT,
which is an abbreviation for PICTure, can contain either vector or bitmap
image information and is found uniquely on Macintosh systems. If this
format was well-designed then it would be a very helpful format to use
in graphic design. Unfortunately, this format is not engineered nearly
as well as the PostScript-based
EPS file format
and PICTs frequently cause problems for imagesetters used to produce film.
A printer or service bureau does not leap for joy when they find a PICT
format graphic in a page-layout document. There are, however, a few solid
uses for this file format...read
more
TIFF:
A Very Flexible File Format
This
graphic image format
is one of my favorites because of it's versatility. The acronym TIFF stands
for Tagged Image File Format. TIFFs are bitmap
images which means that they are made up of tiny pixels
and the quality of the image is dependent on the image file's resolution.
The TIFF format is very common in graphic design. Most every image-editing
program can...read more
Tip: Want info on Graphic
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