FILE FORMATS/PROPERTIES - L03 Be able to produce pre-production documents (Creative iMedia - OCR)

File formats and their properties

Key points:

• The file format will typically be determined by the software used to create the document
• The general rule is to save pre-production files in the standard format for the software being used and then export them into a format that can be viewed on a different computer system 
• Final media products format will be determined by the client requirements, intended platform and what type of media products is being created

Image file formats:

[ jpg ] 

• Provides lossy compression to reduce the file size at the expense of image quality
• Widels used with digital cameras on websites

Limitations:

• Reduces image quality with higher compression settings

[ png ]

• Provides lossy compression and supports transparency
• Intended for web use as an alt of .gif files

Limitations:

• Not as widely supported (or popular) as jpg

[ tiff ]

• Very high quality lossless image files
• Used in igh quality printed but is losing popularity

Limitations:

• Large files that restrict transfer and distribution

[ pdf ]

• An export format from image editing softwares which cannot be edited further
• Used with documents and print products eith image content

Limitations:

• Cannot be edited directly
• To edit you must have access to the original file format before being exported

[ gif ]

• Provides small file sizes and supports transparency as well as animation
• Used in website pages for buttons, logos and other basic graphics

Limitations:

• Limited range…