Software Information

Photoshop Files and Formats


People often ask me: What image file formats will Photoshop open or save in? What are the advantages/disadvantages?

Photoshop has the capability to open and save many different graphic files. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Note: When you open an image file other than a Photoshop one, that image will default to the background layer.

.psd, .pdd, .eps
Photoshop File. This format preserves the information in all the layers. If you're going to continue working with a picture, this is the best format to use. File size can be quite large, however. Note: It is advisable to save your work in the most up to date Photoshop format available. For example: if you have Photoshop CS and are sent a Photoshop 7 file, you should save it as a Photoshop CS file to preserve any elements that may not be supported by Photoshop 7.

.jpg, .jpeg .jpe
This format compresses the images, so that information (details and colour subtleties) are lost. You can choose how much you want to compress the image. Good format for use on the web. Small file sizes. Millions of colours.

tif, .tiff
Common in use with early scanners. Will produce high quality images, but very large files. Not for use on the web.

.gif
Pronounced both "Gif" and "Jif", this file is one of the most popular for web graphics as it loads quickly. 8 bit format (256 colours max.). It has possibilities for transparent colour and animation.

.png
New format for use on the web that is intended to replace both gif and jpeg. Compressed, millions of colours, transparencies. It compress in a different way than jpeg, and has advanced possibilities, such as alpha channel (opaque or partly transparent colours). The only trouble is: Internet Explorer doesn't support these! In 8 bit (256 colours) mode it compresses better than gif.

.bmp
Windows bitmapped image. Used by Microsoft Windows applications. Good quality, large file size. Not for use on the web.

.wmf
Windows MetaFile. Useful for clipart, and can be used to make large area, small sized background files.

.pcx
Older general purpose format. Practically obsolete now. Not for use on the web.

.psp
Internal format for Paint Shop Pro, useful if you want to swap files between these two applications.

.pcd
Kodak PhotoCD format, used with Photo Developing - although most photo processors will save your photos as jpegs if you ask them to.

.pdf
Portable Document File. Adobe's file system that allows electronic cross platform sharing of documents.

So what's the best format for web graphics: gif or jpeg?

The general rule of thumb is to use gifs for diagrams, line drawings, illustrations, and images that contain large areas of flat colour, and jpegs for photographs and images with continuous colour tones. The jpeg format has a very good compression rate, but compression reduces the quality of the image, so it's best to experiment with the tools in Image Ready until you have the optimal quality/file size. The gif format, on the other hand, has a smaller file size - but a limited range of colours.

Shaun Pearce is a writer and video maker. His latest production, "Photoshop Master", is an interactive video tutorial series. It shows you how to get the most from Photoshop, and can be downloaded from http://www.learnphotoshopfast.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Reuters

US Justice Dept probing Google/ITA deal: sources
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The US Justice Department is looking into allegations that Google Inc's purchase of airline ticketing firm ITA Software Inc will cost ...
Justice Department Probes Google's ITA Software Deal: ReportABC News
Google-ITA Software Deal Probed by Department of JusticeCar Rentals
US Department of Justice probes Google's ITA AcquisitionSiliconindia.com
PC Pro -Emii.com -m-Travel.com
all 68 news articles »


Pallas Athena Signs OEM Agreement with Magic Software
MarketWatch (press release)
Pallas Athena is a global provider of BPM and Case Management software. Its innovative BPM|one solution brings simplicity to complexity, and empowers ...

and more »


Pervasive Software to Present at the Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investor ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Pervasive Software (NASDAQ:PVSW) helps companies get the most out of their data investments through agile and embeddable software and cloud-based services ...

and more »


Austin Energy Selects Autodesk Utility Design Software to Optimize Facility ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The Autodesk Utility Design solution will interface with the utility's Geographic Information System (GIS) software, enabling Austin to optimize its ...

and more »


The Age

Macho Duke Nukem Returns After a Decade in Limbo
ABC News
AP By LOU KESTEN AP Writer When Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. pulled the plug on the long-in-development "Duke Nukem Forever" last year, most observers ...
Duke Nukem Forever Demo Is LikelyCinema Blend
Duke Nukem Forever to Finally Release Sometime Next Year (TTWO)Comtex Smartrend
Gearbox Software: Duke Hasn't Nuked Our Other ProjectsPSX Extreme (press release)
I4U -Spong -Soft Sailor (blog)
all 440 news articles »


Red Bend Buys VirtualLogix for Mobile Virtualization
PC World
Red Bend, a mobile software management company, has acquired VirtualLogix to stake its claim in the emerging field of mobile ...
Red Bend Software acquires VirtualLogixBizjournals.com
Red Bend Software acquires VirtualLogixGlobes
Run multiple mobile OS and fix your bugs remotelyGoMo News

all 26 news articles »


EADS Astrium Selected Data Visualization Software From Advanced Visual Systems ...
MarketWatch (press release)
WALTHAM, MA, Sep 08, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- EADS Astrium, Europe's leading space company, has deployed a software system for measuring antenna ...

and more »


ReadWriteWeb (blog)

Salesforce.com Readies Native Mobile Chatter Apps
PC World
Salesforce.com is working on a series of native mobile applications for its Chatter collaboration software, the company ...
Salesforce.com Chatter Mobile soon: iPhone, iPad, Android, RIMComputerworld (blog)

all 40 news articles »


Eye-Fi Adds Software Development Program
PC Magazine
The addition of a developer program typically means that more and more software applications will be able to take advantage of thew capabilities the Eye-Fi ...

and more »


Software AG Named a Leader in Business Process Management Suites by ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Forrester Research, Inc. stated: "The IDS Scheer acquisition gives Software AG one of the deepest benches for process skills and capabilities in the market. ...

and more »

Google News

Home | Site Map

Powered By: Free Work At Home Business Opportunity!

© 2006