Graphics Formats

Here is a list of the five most used pixel-based graphics formats.

Bitmap (.bmp)

• Windows format
• Color depth from 1 to 24 bits
• huge data size

Tagged Image File Format (.tif)

• for professional use
• for different operating systems
• color depth up to 64 bit
• different compression methods, the most important is (LZW).

Graphics Interchange Format (.gif)

• used on the internet
• only 8 bit color depth (256 colors)
• transparent colors
• animations possible
• very small data size
• compression (LZW) without data loss

Joint Photographic Experts Group (.jpg)

• used on the internet, suited for photos
• color depth up to 24 bit
• compression with data loss

Portable Network Graphics (.png)

• supposed to be the successor of gif and jpg on the internet
• platform independent
• color depth up to 24 bit
• transparent colors
• additional information may be stored together with picture
• compression without data loss

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