JPEG: Possibly the most common file type, JPEG files are small, good quality and compatible with pretty much every peice of hardware and software in the world. JPEG files are compressed to make them smaller and easily stored or transferred, however this compression causes some loss of quality depending on the level of compression.
Advantages -
- small files size
- good compression/loss ratio
- most popular for displaying/sharing online
- universal compatibility
Disadvantages -
- compression can lower quality
- does not preserve layers
- limited to maximum bit depth of 8-bits per channel
TIFF: TIFF files are larger than JPEGs but as a result they are higher quality and feature lossless compression, which means they can be reserved as many times as required and not suffer quality degradation. TIFF files can also be saved with layers created in photoshop preserved, so when re-opened all the layers are still separate and editable.
Advantages -
- high quality
- lossless compression (smaller than original file, yet not as small as a jpeg)
- preserves layer information
Disadvantages -
- larger file size
- not supported by all software/hardware
- any bitdepth supported (restricted by software/application)
BMP: BMP or Bitmap files are generally uncompressed and retain all the image information of the original. However it cannot preserve layers, is not universally compatible (it was created by Microsoft) and is generally obsolete due to the TIFF file format having all of BMP's pro's plus more, and less of the cons.
Advantages -
- preserves all the file data (unless software compression is used)
- compatible with all Microsoft-friendly software
Disadvantages -
- limited bit depth
- larger file sizes than jpg
- does not preserve layers
PNG: PNG files were created for internet display and transfer and are capable of storing alpha channels and therefore the transparency contained in an image ( 8 bits as opposed to GIF's single bit of transparency). Like TIFF they feature lossless compression and so have larger file sizes than jpegs, and like GIF files (which PNG was created to replace) can store animation information.
Advantages -
- can store 8 bit alpha channels
- saves animation data
- compatible with most web browsers
- lossless compression
Disadvantages -
- larger file size than jpeg
- does not preserve layers
RAW: RAW files are saved when taking the actual photograph, and as the name suggests it saves the raw image you have just shot so during editing blown out highlights or too dark areas can be recovered as the data in those areas have been saved even though they are not visible at first. RAW files are much larger than jpeg, i have had them as large as 20mb (whereas the largest jpeg i can remember having is about 3mb). Special software is required for opening and editing RAW files, such as photoshop or Capture One.
Advantages -
- captures all the data in the scene, whether exposed correctly or not
- large overhead for editing (can change the white balance etc AFTER shooting)
- maximum quality/size
Disadvantages -
- maximum file size (very large compared to jpeg)
- can only be opened in special software
- comes in many different formats (1 or more file extension for each manufacturer)
- cannot be uploaded or displayed online without conversion to other format
For most of my work and for this project i will be shooting in RAW, saving as TIFF or photoshops native format PSD for the duration of the editing then either saving as a TIFF or JPEG for final presentation depending on what is being done with the image (internet? printing? monitor?).
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