Graphic Image Format Comparison
Image format GIF JPEG EPS (or vector) TIFF BMP PCX
Graphics Interchange Joint Photographic Experts
Acronym definition Encapsulated Postscript Tagged Image File Format Microsoft Bitmap PC Paintbrush
Format Group
HTML suffix filename.GIF filename.JPG filename.eps filename.tif filename.bmp filename.pcx
primary purpose web display web display construct files construct files splash screens kids paint programs
GIF images have clean Images "muddy" the solid
solid colors with nice sharp areas of color, especially For constructing computer For photos and bitmapped For opening screens,
Features Hard to screw up
transitions between colors. near transitions between illustrations file manipulation wallpaper.
File size is quite small. colors.
Transparency
yes no yes no no none
Support
If there are large areas of If there are few areas of
the ideal medium for logo good to use in final step of
uniform color (like maps, uniform color or textures, If PCX is the native format
Example, Graphic development. Sometimes logo preparation, for having
logos, cartoon-like images, JPEG will make a smaller Windows opening screen of a paint program, get
Art, Logos enhanced, like with Corel precisely controlled anti-
GIF is superior in quality file and will most likely look another program
(cdr), Adobe Illustrator (ai) aliasing
and smaller size better.
Do not use for photos.
Excellent results for color JPEG yields best If PCX is the native format
When you do, it just stores The perfect contruct file for Can display any properly
Example, Photograph and bw photos, particularly compression on most of your paint program, get
a TIFF image inside an photo retouching dithered photo
B&W photographs another program
EPS
Although there are JPEG
The standard for web
animations, this is a poor
Animations animation. All banner ads no no no no
format at best for
are GIFs
animations