Each image format is optimized for a different use, so understanding their differences and knowing when to use them is essential.
More than 90% of websites include images in their content, as they tend to capture the attention of readers or explain complicated information through the use of infographics or screenshots. Images can also drive conversions and promote social sharing.
However, if you don’t use the right image format, you can end up slowing down your site or causing unwanted errors, resulting in a poor user experience.
This article will help you understand the differences between image formats and when it is best to use each of them.
Different Types of Image Files – Raster vs Vector
Before talking about the differences between the graphs rasterized Y vectorit is important to understand the difference between lossy and lossless compression.
compressions with losses Y without losses are considered compression techniques, while raster and vector are image file types.
Lossy compression is a process that removes some of the image data. Although this significantly reduces the file size, it also decreases the quality of the image.
Lossless compression, on the other hand, removes only non-essential metadata. It only slightly reduces the file size, but preserves the quality of the image.
Raster images can be lossy or lossless, while vector images are neither because their size is already small, so they don’t need any compression.
To choose which file format is best for you, you need to consider the quality of the image, how quickly you expect your visitors to open the images, and the space you have to store them.
Raster Image File Formats
Raster images are made up of grids of small square dots called pixels. Each pixel contains one color, which is aligned with another to form the image. The higher the resolution, the more details can be seen in an image.
In addition, they tend to have a larger file size than those that are vector. Some examples of raster file formats are jpeg, gifs Y PNGwhich are the most common image file types on the web.
Use raster images for complex ideas with soft edges and color gradients, such as graphic design projects and photography.
Each pixel in raster files has a defined color, position, and aspect ratio based on resolution. This means that if you resize the image, the pixels will stretch to fill the extra space, making your image look blurry, distorted, or pixelated.
Vector Image File Formats
Vector images are built from paths that are based on mathematical equations.
A path is defined by a start point and an end point, which are connected by lines and curves. It can be a straight line, a square, or a curved shape. Each path can contain various properties, such as stroke color, fill color, and width.
As vector images are defined based on algorithms -and not by a specific number of pixels-, it is possible to scale them without producing distortions or loss of quality.
They tend to have smaller file sizes than raster. Some examples of vector image files are EPS, SVG Y AI.
Vector files are often used for logos, icons or fonts, visual elements that are expected to have flexible scalability in any situation.
By comparison, the quality of the vector image format does not change when it is enlarged. In contrast, enlarging a raster image can reduce its quality.
The 8 main raster formats
Now that you know the main differences between raster and vector images, we are going to analyze the most used file formats. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each format, compatibility across browsers and operating systems, and what each format is best used for.
1.JPEG and JPG
It’s important to put attention on jpeg Y JPG they are the same file formats, with different acronyms and file extensions. The Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) is a raster image with lossy compression.
Its lossy compression means that JPEG removes some data to reduce its file size, which in turn lowers the quality of the image. Its relatively small file size saves more space on your disk or memory card.
It is often used to save images in digital cameras and to print them, as long as they do not need to be edited. JPEG is a flat image format, which means that all edits are saved on a single layer, and you can’t revert your edits. It also does not support transparency, unlike PNG and GIF.
JPEG is an excellent choice for use on the web. Your site visitors can load images quickly, while the loss of quality is barely visible. It’s also suitable for sharing, as its lossy quality indicates that JPEGs have a reasonably small file size.
JPEG is one of the image file formats. This is understandable, as JPEG files are supported by all browsers and operating systems and offer relatively good compression.
Major browsers like Google Chrome, Safari Y MozillaFirefoxsupport this type of image file from its first version.
However, JPEG is not the best choice for images with lines of text, such as tutorial screenshots and infographics. This is due to lossy compression of the image, which can make it difficult to read the text on your image.
2.PNG
Portable Network Graphics (PNG) it is a frame with lossless compression.
As PNG is lossless, it retains the original data and its quality remains the same. This makes PNG a higher image quality than JPEG while maintaining its detail and color contrast.
PNG text appears lighter than JPEG, making it a better choice for graphics that emphasize text, such as screenshots, infographics, or banners.
The PNG file format is optimized for digital use, making it the most widely used image format. It also supports more colors than GIF: PNG can handle up to 16 million colors, while GIF only supports 256 colors.
This allows you to have more vibrant images, while PNG files can also retain transparency, making them an ideal choice for logos.
If you use PNG for high resolution photos, it will create a larger file than the JPEG. However, it is a great format choice for displaying high-quality images, such as design work and photos for portfolio websites. Of course, be careful not to abuse it and slow down your site.
Although PNG files can be edited without losing their quality, PNG is not the best choice for printing due to its relatively low resolution compared to print-optimized formats like AI and TIFF.
PNG is supported by all major operating system standard browsers and viewers.
3.BMP
bitmap image files (BMP) they are rasters that map individual pixels, resulting in little or no compression in a given image.
BMP files are larger and inconvenient to store or process, and their quality is not significantly better than raster image formats like PNG or WebP. This makes BMP files not the best choice for use on the web.
All major browsers and operating systems support BMP as well as most default image viewers and editors, such as MSPaint.
BMP used to be one of the most common image file formats, but today it is considered obsolete due to its unoptimized nature.
4. GIFs
The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a frame that uses lossless compression.
However, GIF files are 8-bit and can only display 256 colors. This means that GIF has a less sharp quality than other raster formats. By comparison, JPEG can serve up to 24 bits per pixel, providing 16,777,216 color variations.
Its 8-bit limitation keeps the file size small, making GIF a go-to format for creating short and engaging animated content.
Despite its limited image quality, GIFs are used by many people because they offer richer visual content than a static image.
GIF is supported by all major browsers and operating systems, as well as their standard image viewers.
5.TIFF
The Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) is a raster image that supports lossy compression, but people often use TIFF as a lossless image format. TIFF and TIF are the same formats, just with different acronyms and image file extensions.
TIFF files are often used for printing due to their high image quality. Many scanners also use the TIFF format to preserve the quality of scanned images or documents.
Saving files in TIFF format allows you to keep their layers, so you can edit them later. However, this makes TIFF files larger.
Despite its high quality, the TIFF format is not automatically supported by major browsers. You have to install plugins or extensions to render a TIFF file in your browser.
To open TIFF files on a local computer, use a professional graphics editing or publishing tool, such as photoshop. If you’re using Windows, it’s possible to open a TIFF file with the Windows Photo Viewer.
6.HEIF
The High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) it is a type of raster based on pixel mapping, which means that the quality of the image will decrease when it is enlarged.
HEIF is emerging as the direct competitor of JPEG. However, HEIF has twice the compression efficiency of JPEG. With the same file size, HEIF can provide much better image quality than its competitor.
The disadvantage of HEIF is that it has limited compatibility with operating systems and is not compatible with web browsers. Only macOS Sierra, iOS 11 and later versions have HEIF support by default, and that doesn’t include Safari support.
Until now, HEIF is used by several newer devices to store images with higher quality, and provides more optimized file sizes than JPEG.
7.RAW
RAW is an image file format used by digital cameras to store high-quality images. Users often use RAW files for post-production, such as retouching photos.
RAW works with a…
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