file formats.

Pictures are 'files'—file formats.

When an image is captured by a camera or a scanning device it has to be saved or memorized in a ‘file format’.  This information can only be read and understood if the software recognizes the format. The dominate formats are:

*JPEG: joint photographic experts group (.jpg)

*Tiff: Taffed image file format (.tif)

*PSD: Photoshop document (.psd)

*Raw: Raw Unpressed Information file>save as—this opens up numerous options for the Photoshop/ 

  p.c. user. For simplicity it is advisable that you can save you work as either a tiff or PSD file format 

  because they support all of Photoshop's features. NOTE: not all formats supports layers.

TIFF: This format is generally regarded as the industry standard because it is the mist universally recognized format. Photoshop’s variant of this format supports the image layers. Adjustments, layers, paths. Clipping paths and ICC profile. It’s the most popular format for photographs delivering RGB and CYMK files to clients. It’s good practise to flatten file because only Photoshop supports layered tiffs.

PSD- Photoshop's native format supports everything Photoshop can do including ICC profiles. Until version 6 it was the only format that supported layers. This format us inky recognized by Photoshop so it is not advisable to hand over PSD files to clients.

JPEG- The most commonly used file format. It has ‘lossy’ compression that transmits what it deems to be ‘important’ content and discards colour information it considers to be redundant. There is no option to save without compression but embedding ICC profile is optional. JPEG allows you to make a trade off between image file size and image quality. Jpeg compression divided the images in squares in 8x8 pixels which are compressed independently as you increase compression the squares become more visible.

*100% quality JPEG: very had to distinguish from the compressed original typically taking up to 6 times 

  as much storage space.

*80% quality JPEG: still although it is 10 times smaller than the uncompressed original. Some detonation 

  will occur.

*60% quality JPEG: 20 times smaller than the uncompressed original sufficient for website use.

*10% quality JPEG: this will show some serious image degradation with very visible 8x8 JPEG squares. 

  It is unlikely that you will ever use thin level or compression.