Most websites utilize visualization because humans are visual creatures. However, not all file formats are supported by browsers and image viewers. In addition, choosing the wrong picture file format can slow down a site’s loading speed. We'll take a look at the variety of file formats you can use, the best ones to use and how to convert all of these to find the right solution for your project.

Raster Image File Formats

JPG, GIF and PNG files are types of raster image files. These files use static images. This means that every pixel is fixed by position, proportion and color. This makes it difficult to resize these images as each pixel simply gets stretched out, which can distort the image.

Vector Image File Formats

PDF, AI, SVG and AI are types of vector image files. These types of files create images that are more flexible as they use a cartesian plane, which utilizes lines and curves to provide scale. This prevents distortion.

Let's Take a Closer Look at Each Type of File Format

JPG images are the most commonly used format because of their ability to compress, low file size and for their nearly universal browser and operating system support. These files are good for articles and blogs, but they are not good for screenshots with text. You can always convert JPG to PDF if you need to. Visit this website if you need to convert JPG to PDF.

PNG allows for lossless compression, and it provides greater readability than JPG. However, these can slow down your website if you use too many of them. It’s supported by major browsers.

GIF also offers lossless compression, but it is limited by colors and its eight-bit per pixel size. This keeps its file size low and is why it’s typically used for animated images. However, this is why its quality can be poor too.

WebP offers compression and low usage of server disk space, but it’s not supported by all image editors or browsers.

TIFF is mostly used for editing and storing images that can be later used for print. It allows for compression, but it’s typically used for larger images as the applications it’s used for do not allow for compression.

BMP does not offer compression and is mostly outdated. However, it’s supported by major browsers.

HEIF was created to compete with JPG. However, its ability to compress is twice as good as JPG. Because it also uses pixel mapping, HEIF images cannot be made larger without compromising their quality.

SVG image files rely on XML so they can be made larger without suffering loss of quality. SVG image files are supported by major browsers.

EPS is a type of vector image, which is particularly useful for print advertisements, logos and brand images. It allows for compression, but it isn’t supported by browsers.

PDF image files are based upon the PostScript language. It is useful for illustrations and images for later printing. It is suitable for in-depth infographics and reports and allows for compression. PDF files can include CTA buttons, links and other interactive features.

PSD works with Adobe Photoshop. It’s not supported by browsers, standard image editors or standard image viewers. It can be used for large files and allows for compression.

AI was also made by Adobe. It isn’t supported by most image viewers or browsers. AI doesn’t lose image quality when it is rescaled.

XCF is similar to PSD. XCF stands for eXperimental Computing Facility, and it supports saving paths, guides, channels, layers and transparency, but it doesn’t save the undo history. It isn’t supported by image viewers or browsers. However, it doesn’t suffer from image quality.

INDD is a file used for Adobe InDesign. It saves project files, swatches, styles, page content and more, but isn’t supported by image viewers or browsers. You can use it to store multiple page design projects for pamphlets, magazines, flyers, posters and more.

Digital cameras use raw image formats that can utilize an extensive amount of colors (upwards of 16 thousand colors). However, they aren’t supported by image viewers or major browsers.

Which Should You Choose?

The most common types of image files used are JPG, PNG and SVG. If you have different needs according to your project, you might want to try a different file from above. The good news is that you can convert JPG to PDF and other files to PDF (and vice versa) to accomplish whatever you need. Contact Foxit to get additional help for your projects.

Visit this website if you need to convert Word to PDF.