Learn Photoshop Now - Photoshop Files and Formats

While Photoshop comes with many different features to tackle, many people often come up short when asked what image formats Photoshop will open or save in. How do you know which one to use, and what are the advantages or disadvantages of each? The odds are in your favor as Photoshop has the ability to open and save a variety of graphic files. Here are some of the more popular formats.

Note: When you open an image file other than a Photoshop one, that image will default to the background layer.

1) .psd, .pdd, .eps - Photoshop File

Photoshop File. This format preserves the information in all the layers. If you're going to continue working with a picture, this is the best format to use. File size can be quite large, however. Note: It is advisable to save your work in the most up to date Photoshop format available. For example: if you have Photoshop CS and are sent a Photoshop 7 file, you should save it as a Photoshop CS file to preserve any elements that may not be supported by Photoshop 7.

2) .jpg, .jpeg .jpe

This format compresses images in a way that information such as color subtleties and other details are lost. You can select to what extreme you want to compress the image. This is the most suitable format for use on the web. Consists of small file sizes and millions of colors.

tif, .tiff

Most common in use with early scanners. This format will generate high quality images, but very large files. Not for use on the web.

4) .gif - Pronounced both "Gif" and "Jif"

This format is one of the most popular for web graphics as it loads quickly and has an 8 bit format (256 colors max.). It has potential for transparent color and animation.

5) .png

New format for use on the web that is intended to replace both gif and jpeg. Compressed, millions of colours, transparencies. It compress in a different way than jpeg, and has advanced possibilities, such as alpha channel (opaque or partly transparent colours). The only trouble is: Internet Explorer doesn't support these! In 8 bit (256 colours) mode it compresses better than gif.

6) .bmp

Used by Microsoft Windows applications, this has good quality and a large file size. Not for use on the web.

7) .wmf

Windows MetaFile. Useful for clipart, and can be used to make large area, small sized background files.

8) .pcx

This older format is for general purpose and is basically obsolete now. Not for use on the web.

9) .psp

Internal format for Paint Shop Pro and is useful if you want to swap files between these two programs.

10) .pcd - Kodak PhotoCD Format

This format is used with photo developing, but most photo processors will save your photos as jpegs if needed.

11) .pdf

Portable Document File. Adobe's file system that allows electronic cross platform sharing of documents.

So what's the best format for web graphics: gif or jpeg?

Easy way to remember is that gifs are typically used for drawings and jpegs for photos. Use gifs for diagrams, illustrations, line drawings and images with large areas of flat color. Jpeg should be used for photographs and images with continuous color tones. While the jpeg has an excellent compression rate, the compression lowers the quality of the image so try out some of the tools in Image Ready to find the optimal quality/file size. The gif format in comparison has a smaller file size but a limited range of colors.

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