File types are a critical part of any digital life. Whether you’re storing photos or videos, your work documents, or personal correspondence, type files into different formats and you’ll have a better understanding of how your computer works.
In this quick start guide, we’ll take you through the basics of file types and what they do for your files. We’ll also cover some tips on how to convert between different file types and save time in your workflow.
Raster VS Vector
When it comes to choosing a file format for your project, it's important to know the difference between raster and vector. In general, raster file formats are better for images that contain lots of detail, while vector file formats are better for images that are made up of most shapes and lines.
Now that you know the basics of raster and vector file formats, let's take a closer look at some of the most common file types that you'll encounter:
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG/JPEG)
JPG is one of the most popular file formats for storing and sharing images. JPG files are usually pretty small, making them ideal for sharing online. One downside of JPG files is that they can lose some quality when they're compressed.
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
GIF is another popular file format, particularly for images that are meant to be shared online. GIF files can be animated, which makes them perfect for things like reaction GIFs and meme images. One downside of GIFs is that they only support a limited number of colors, so they're not ideal for images with a lot of detail.
Portable Networks Graphic (PNG)
PNG is a file format that's similar to JPG, but it supports transparency. PNG files are great for images where you want to be able to see the background behind them. One downside of PNG files is that they can be pretty large, so they might not be ideal for sharing online.
Tagged Image File Format (TIF/TIFF)
TIF is a file format that's designed for high-quality images. TIF files are usually pretty large, but they're perfect for printing and other high-resolution uses. One downside of TIF files is that they're not very well supported by web browsers, so they're not ideal for sharing online.
RAW
RAW is a file format that's used by digital cameras. RAW files contain all of the data that was captured by the camera, which means they offer the highest quality but are also the largest in terms of file size.
Portable Document Format (PDF)
PDF is a file format that's commonly used for documents. PDF files can contain text, images, and other types of data. One downside of PDF files is that they can be pretty large, so they might not be ideal for sharing online.
Photoshop Document (PSD)
PSD is a file format that's used by Adobe Photoshop. PSD files contain all of the data and information that's used to create a Photoshop image. One downside of PSD files is that they can be pretty large, so they might not be ideal for sharing online.
Adobe Illustrator (AI)
AI is a file format that's used by Adobe Illustrator. AI files are vector files that contain all of the data and information that's used to create an Illustrator image. One downside of AI files is that they can be pretty large, so they might not be ideal for sharing online.
Adobe InDesign Document (INDD)
INDD is a file format that's used by Adobe InDesign. INDD files are generally used for print projects, such as creating magazines, newspapers, and books. One downside of INDD files is that they can be pretty large, so they might not be ideal for sharing online.
Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)
EPS is a file format that's commonly used for images and illustrations. EPS files are vector files that can be opened and edited in a variety of software programs. One downside of EPS files is that they can be pretty large, so they might not be ideal for sharing online.
We hope this guide has helped you to understand the differences between file types and their various advantages.
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