Saving a file as a JPEG should be nothing new to the average Photoshop user, but have you ever found yourself sticking with the default settings because you weren't sure how they effect the saved image. In this tutorial we'll explore what they mean, and more importantly, what they do!
Photoshop Video Series - Understanding and Working with File Formats
Photoshop, like any graphics programme, is capable of saving images into a host of different file formats. The format you're after will usually depend on the job you want to get done, the quality you need to retain, and the file size you need to target.
Some formats are great for photographs with a wide range of colours and steep gradations of tone and light, others show their strengths when saving large blocks of colour such as those found in line art and cartoons. Many formats aim to save pixels the way they were created, sacrificing quality and detail for file size, other formats don't! They attempt to discard as much information from the image as possible in order to achieve the most minutest of files. Some formats can save layers, colour profiles and embrace animation - others can't!
And so it is, file formats all have their own strengths and weaknesses for the different challenges they face, knowing what those positives and negatives are will help you use the right format for the right job.
In the videos below you'll find tutorials on how to employ some of the trades most common and tested file formats - including JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PSD and PNG. If you want to see another format covered please feel free to add a comment below and I'll look at what I can do sometime in the future! In the meantime, enjoy the videos I've posted.
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compression, free, guide to file formats, JPEG, lossy, optimize, Output, photoshop cs2, video tutorial
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compression, dither, free, gif, guide to file formats, imageready, look-up table, Output, photoshop cs2, save for web, video tutorial
Outputting your graphics to look their best is an important part of any workflow. When saving for the web you're aim is usually to find a compromise between file size and quality. Here we'll look at how we can get the best out of the Graphic Interchange Format using Photoshop and Imageready. |
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aldus, archive, compression, free, guide to file formats, lossless, lossy, lzw compression, Output, photoshop cs2, save, tiff, video tutorial
The Tagged Image File Format is a great way to apply loseless compression to an image. Thanks to it's popularity within the world of graphic design and image editing, the TIFF file has become a common format for achiving and even short term storage. In this tutorial we'll look at how a TIFF file can be used along side Adobe Photoshop. |
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compression, free, gif, guide to file formats, JPEG, lossless, optimize, Output, photoshop cs2, PNG, save, web, video tutorial
The PNG-8 and PNG-24 formats are ofter compared to the GIF and JPEG formats respectively, in this tutorial we'll look at where this is a fair comparison - and when it's not! |
A quick look at Photoshop's native file format - the awesome PSD file! Capable of saving all the elements of a Photoshop document, including layers, colour settings, alpha channels, live text and much, much more, the PSD format is the ultimate safety net in Photoshop's high flying world! |
Comments
very good, lots of details,
very good, lots of details, thanks. will there be anymore added or is this all finished now?
Thanks
Paul
Semi Finished
I haven't any plans to add to it in the short term, but 'd like to do a couple more next year, especially Raw. But we'll see.
Fundamentals
It's great to have the basic concepts on file formats cleared up. I used to always get confused and never even tried the 'lesser' used formats but after Matt's great explanations, I now have a better understanding on the matter.
More File Formats?
Thanks sherdil,
I'm looking at possibly adding a few more in the not-too-distant future, perhaps starting with the amazing RAW format. Something I'm very much interested in!
Thanks again for your comments