Image File Formats

There are two main categories for graphics--bitmap and vector. Both of these file types will work well in Photoshop CS2. A Photoshop file can contain both types of data. But, there are some differences between the two.

Bitmap vs. Vector Based Graphics--Adobe website


Bitmap Images
JPEG (photographs), JPG (photographs), TIFF (scanned images), RAW (digital negative), PNG (web graphics),
GIF (animated graphics), BMP (Windows)

• Called Raster images--made up of a grid of dots known as pixels.
• Pixels are editied rather than objects or shapes.
• These are the most common electronic medium for photographs, paintings.
• They lose detail when scaled; they are resolution-dependent.
• Images contain a fixed number of pixels.
• Each pixel is assigned a location and color value.

Vector Images
PDF (Adobe), SWF (Flash), CDR (CorelDRAW), EPS (Illustrator), DXF (AudoCAD), SVG (Two-Dimensional), WMF (Windows Metafile)

• These are made up of mathematically defined lines and curves called vectors.
• Can be moved, resized, or changed without losing the quality of the graphic.
• Can be scaled to any size and printed at any resolution without losing detail; they are resolution-independent.
• Best choice for bold graphics such as logos.

Comparison of graphics file formats