Each of us, one way or another, is faced with images. Let's look at the question of understanding this term somewhat more broadly. After all, image formats include not only graphics (drawings, photos, animation, animation, etc.), but also video. Let us dwell separately on the issues of converting files, as well as storing one or another type of information.
What are image formats?
This is information stored in a file that is intended for data visualization (displaying it on a reproducing device like a monitor, TV, printer, mobile device, etc.).
As for the information in the file, for the most part it describes the visualization method, the method of creating a solid static or dynamic image, its size (not to be confused with the size of the file itself), the number and depth of colors and their shades, and so on.
The concept of vector and raster graphics
First, consider what image formats are used exclusively in the standard understanding of graphics. You should clearly distinguish between vector and raster graphics. These two types are basic.
Vector graphics allows you to visualize an object based on a mathematical description of the set of aggregate elements that make up the image, which are commonly called primitives. These include the simplest concepts familiar to everyone since the school day. These are points, lines, curves, circles, polygons, etc.
An advantage of this approach is the ability to describe in an mathematical model an arbitrarily large number of individual elements without significantly increasing the final file size. In addition, scalability is very pronounced here, which allows you to change the size of each individual element or their complete combination without loss of quality of the entire image. Such a descriptive algorithm is suitable mainly for graphics created manually, for example, in some kind of graphics editor. For photos, this method is not applicable.
Raster graphics implies the use of a special grid consisting of rectangular objects (points) of different colors, called pixels. Here, the image quality is determined by the size of the grid (the more pixels in length and width or their total representation, the better the image), the number of colors and their depth, the color gamut (color space) used and the resolution (number of pixels per unit area). Moreover, this method allows you to process objects of any complexity and set the same smooth transitions from one color to another, which is not in vector graphics. But at the same time, simple images often have a very large file size, and the ability to accurately scale is reduced to almost zero.
The most common types of graphics
Now let's look at the image file formats themselves, which are most often used in computer technology.
BMP is the simplest version based on the RGB color scheme (red, green, blue) and has a rather weak compression algorithm without loss of quality. It has no advantages, and the files are also very large.
JPG (JPEG) is the most common format used most often for storing photos. Compression is substantial, but the quality loss is very large. After strong compression, it is impossible to restore the original material, but if it is minimized, the differences will be hardly noticeable, and the file size will become significantly smaller.
PNG is one of the most interesting formats that can be compressed without any loss of quality. This format does not support animation (as well as the previous two), but when using the so-called alpha channel, each pixel can be set to a transparency level, which makes it somewhat similar to the next type of graphic.
GIF is a format that supports animation and strong compression algorithms without loss of quality. Its main advantage is that you can create a series of images with cyclic repetition or change of one with another. Despite the weak color depth, it is mainly used for “live” wallpapers, animated smiles and avatars.
TIFF is a format that is most often used by professional web designers due to the fact that it has a high color depth (192 bits). Compression is lossless, but working with this format without special preparation is very difficult. Browsers of this type of picture practically do not support.
ICO is a format for creating icons, because it allows the use of very small sizes of drawings. In terms of structure, it is somewhat reminiscent of BMP, however, it supports transparency parameters like GIF and PNG.
EPS is a format of two varieties: vector and raster graphics. It is mainly used in publishing houses or for creating fonts, if in the future image output involves the use of PostScript devices.
PICT is the most common Macintosh format. Its versatility lies in the fact that a single image file can contain vector and bitmap graphics, sound, have any color depth, and also uses the progressive RLE compression method.
PCX is a format for storing raster images with a color depth of 24 bits. Compression is very fast, but not suitable for converting detailed graphics, such as photographs.
RAW is a universal format used for images coming directly from digital cameras. One can say about it that this is the format of the best image quality. It can serve as a source material when processing not only images, but also sound. In addition, support for meta-data provides huge potential for processing and applying lossless or lossy compression algorithms of any level. The format is quite specific and requires certain knowledge when working with it.
File formats of specialized graphic editors
In addition to standard types, you can separately distinguish the formats of graphic images used in specialized editors.
PDF is a format that can contain text and graphic data. Developed by Adobe Corporation. This format involves the use of different compression methods for each specific element contained in the final file. Today it is universal mainly for technical documentation in electronic form.
CDR is a vector format for the Corel Draw graphics editor. It can only be processed with such a software package. Other editors are not supported, but easily exported to other formats.
AI is a format of the program Adobe Illustrator supported by most other editors. The main feature is the highest image stability and full compatibility with PostScript technology. It can be used as an intermediate format when translating from one to another.
PSD is the best image format in Adobe Photoshop for intermediate editing of complex images. Allows the use of layers and blending modes, but has a larger size compared to other formats. As the final format for saving files, it is used exclusively in the program itself.
Large format images
If we talk about processing large-format images , where you need to take into account high detail, then you should use RAW, TIFF or PSD.
However, many professional cameras and camcorders with matrices of 20-25 megapixels have their own standards. Most of them are adapted to the most common types of formats. It all depends on the settings of the camera itself. The same goes for mobile devices.
The main types of video and animation
Now let us briefly dwell on the video, since it can also be interpreted in some sense as an image, or rather, as a set of alternating images (frames). Here, the determining factor is the frame rate per second (fps) and the image size in pixels.
Initially, at the dawn of the development of digital video, it was the well-known AVI format, which is still used since it is a kind of container containing information processed or compressed by completely different methods (codecs). For playback, a special decoder is required.
A little later, there were such well-known formats as WMV, MPG, MKV, MP4, VOB, TS and many others, the latter can even be considered as image formats of a high-definition TV, which allows you to play files with quality standards HD, Full HD (2k) or Ultra HD (4k).
As for animation, Flash technology is the most famous today. Initially, it was a development by Macromedia Corporation, but then it was bought by Adobe and significantly modernized. The format of these files is SWF. It is mainly used for creating small animated videos, computer animation, banners or for simple games.
Mobile systems
If we talk about mobile systems (smartphones or tablets based on Android, iOS, Blackberry, etc.), then specialized image formats are extremely rare. Mostly standard computer image formats are used for both graphics and video. However, without installed codecs and decoders, some types of videos will not play. That is why it is necessary to solve the problem of converting the source material into another type.
For example, ordinary phones only accept the 3GP format. Android or iOS recommend using MP4. But overall there are enough options.
Change basic image settings
Probably everyone understands that editing should be done using special programs.
The simplest operations on resizing, flipping, rotating, tilting and others can be performed even in the most primitive Paint editor, which is included with any Windows OS.
If more complex actions are required, for example, changing the color, saturation, contrast, editing layers, splitting the image into separate components, etc., then you will have to use professional packages like the aforementioned Corel Draw or Adobe Photoshop.
There are utilities for editing video, for example, Vegas Pro. In addition to standard features, they can use specialized effects and modeling systems that allow you to transfer a real image to a pre-built mathematical model similar to how the battle of Morpheus and Neo was shot in the first part of The Matrix.
Format conversion
Conversion (conversion) is performed using utilities called converters. One of the most prominent representatives is Xilisoft Video Converter, which can convert both graphics and video.
For graphics, you might prefer, for example, ACDSee Ashampoo Photo Commander, Free Image Convert And Resize, or something else. Today, such programs can be found a lot.
The only thing worth paying attention to is the final format and a possible loss of quality (image compression formats). When viewing a picture or video on a smartphone or tablet, it will not be so noticeable, but on the TV panel the difference will become very noticeable.
What format do you prefer for storing data?
Photos on a computer can be stored in a universal JPG format. When viewing them on the monitor, special clarity is not needed. Another thing is when photographs need to be printed. Here it is better to use the original camera formats.
When transferring one format to another, it will sometimes be simply impossible to restore the "source", so when you submit files to the studio, changing their initial appearance is not recommended. An exception is if you have the necessary knowledge and edit yourself using professional software.
The same goes for the video. It all depends on which device it will be viewed.
Conclusion
Image formats are numerous and varied, it can be both graphics and video. The article examined the most popular formats. Each user decides questions of their processing and transformation, the choice of software tools, the format used to store data, etc.