We are often asked about graphic design elements for CD, DVD and USB work (aswell as website design formats). This chart summarises the advantages and disadvantages of various graphic design formats. Ultimately the format you save you are work in will be your choice, however this parameters should help you get the final result you are hoping for with your project.
Various software packages will work optimally with different formats and there are many parameters available within each main format.
The format you work in may not be the final format that the artwork is supplied in, typically a press or "print optimised pdf" is created from your final proofed artwork and sent for printing.
If you have further questions please email [email protected]. You can download a printable version of the Image Format Chart here:
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GRAPHIC DESIGN IMAGE FORMATS Pros & Cons |
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Image Format Type |
Compression Type |
Best Used For |
Pros |
Cons |
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‘JPEG’ Joint Photographic Experts Group |
Lossy |
• Web images • High colour-depth images • Images w/ continuous tone • Snapshots that will Not have extensive editing |
• Smaller file size • Good for storing & sending images on the web • Uses less memory & Memory card space • Faster processing time • Doesn’t limit colors • Supported by most programs & websites • Saves faster to memory cards for more shots per sec. |
• 8-bit, 256 color limit • Compression artifacts • Degradation each time image is edited & saved • No transparency or animation support • Not good for images with sharp lines or large blocks of colour • Distorts edges with sharp color contrast |
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‘TIFF’ Tagged Image File Format |
Lossless |
• Printing images • Printing enlargements • high colour-depth images • When you can’t shoot in ‘Raw’ format • Images that require extensive editing |
• No image data lost • Supports transparency • Preserves layers • Preserves alpha transparency • Able to handle device-specific colour spaces • Commercial & professional standard |
• Limited web support • Large image size • Longer processing & downloading times • Takes up more memory • Does not automatically store metadata |
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‘PNG’ Portable Networks Graphics |
Lossless |
• Web images • High colour-depth images • Images going through multiple editing & saving stages • Image archiving |
• Supports transparency • Supports alpha transparency • 48-bit, true-colour depth • Gamma correction • 2D interlacing |
• Does not support cmyk • Does not support animation • Lower quality than TIFF |
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‘GIF’ Graphics Interchangable Format |
Lossless |
• Images with few colours • Graphics: illustrations, logos, cartoons & clip art |
• Supports animations • Supports transparency • Universal web browser support |
• 8-bit, 256 colour limit • Not good for photographic images • Generates large file size (better for small image |
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‘RAW’ Unprocessed or raw data |
Lossless |
• High-quality photography • Higher in dynamic range • Have more control over how your final image looks |
• No loss of data • Allows for exposure correction after shot • Ability to change shooting parameters after exposure • Stores camera-specific data |
• Extremely large file • Takes up more memory • Tied to the camera manufacturer,sensor • Requires conversion for sharing (software) |
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‘DNG’ Digital Negative |
Lossless |
• High-quality photography • Higher in dynamic range • Have more control over how your final image looks |
• Possible new standard for RAW images • Smaller than Raw images • Stores original Raw files within • Accessible by more host programs |
• Extremely large file • Currently Limited support • Strips unrecognized meta-data |