Image File Formats

• Image File Formats are standardized means of organizing and storing digital images.
• Every image need to be stored or saved in any one of the this formats.
• Image files are composed of digital data in one of these formats that can be convert into pixels for use on a computer display or printer.

The Major Image File Formats are:

Raster Formats:

JPEG:

• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a lossy compression method.
• The JPEG filename extension is .JPG or .JPEG.
• JPEG format is mainly used for color photographs.

GIF:

• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is in normal use limited to an 256 colors.
• The GIF filename extension is .GIF.
• Due to its animation capabilities, it is still widely used to provide image animation effects, despite its low compression ratio compared to modern video formats.

PNG:

• The PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file provides a patent-free replacement for GIF.
• The PNG filename extension is .PNG.
• PNG is designed to work well in online viewing applications like web browsers and can be fully streamed with a progressive display option.

TIFF:

• The TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format is a flexible format that normally saves eight bits or sixteen bits per color (red, green, blue) for 24-bit and 48-bit totals.
• The TIFF filename extension is .TIFF or .TIF.
• TIFF image format is not widely supported by web browsers. 
• TIFF remains widely accepted as a photograph file standard in the printing business.

Exif:

• The Exif (Exchangeable image file format) format is a file standard similar to the JFIF format with TIFF extensions;
• Its purpose is to record and to standardize the exchange of images with image metadata between digital cameras and editing and viewing software.
• The actual Exif metadata as such may be carried within different host formats, e.g. TIFF, JFIF (JPEG) or PNG.

BPG:

• BPG (Better Portable Graphics) is a new image format.
• Its purpose is to replace the JPEG image format when quality or file size is an issue.

Meta File Formats:

• This Format files contain both raster and vector data.
• A common use for this files is to provide support for an operating systems computer graphics.
• Example, Microsoft Windows uses Windows Metafile, and Mac OS X uses PDF.

EPS:

• EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript.
• An EPS file is a PostScript program, saved as a dingle file that includes a low resolution preview encapsulated inside of it and details of image.

PDF:

• PDF stands for Portable Document Format.
• Each PDF file includes a complete description of a fixed layout flat document, including the text, fonts, images and other information needed to display it.

SWF:

• SWF stands for Small Web Format.
• SWF files can contain video and vector based animations and sound and are designed for efficient delivery over the web.
• SWF files can be viewed in a web browser using the Flash plugin.

Stereo Formats:

JPS:

• JPS stands for JPEG Stereo.It's file extension is .jps.
• JPS is a JPEG based format for Stereoscopic images.
• This format consist of side-by-side image format based on JPEG.

PNS:

• PNS stands for PNG Stereo.It's file extension is .pns.
• PNS is a PNG based format for Stereoscopic images.
• This format consist of side-by-side image format based on PNG.

MPO:

• MPO stands for Multi Picture Object. It's file extension is .mpo.
• MPO is a JPEG based format for multi view images. It contains two or more JPEG files concatenated together.