Image formats are critical to the way we store, share and display digital images. In today’s digital world, where visual content plays a central role, it is important to understand the different image formats. TransferXL shows what image file formats there are, what characteristics they have and how best to use them. This guide is aimed at anyone who regularly works with images and wants to get the best out of their digital images.
Common image formats
JPEG
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a widely used image format known for its high compression rate. It supports millions of colours and ensures good image quality with relatively small file sizes. The JPEG format is often used for photographs and images on the Internet as it offers a good balance between image quality and file size.
- Advantages: High compression, wide support, good image quality.
- Disadvantages: Lossy compression can lead to loss of quality if heavily compressed.
PNG
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It offers excellent image quality and is ideal for graphics and images on the web. PNG is often used for logos, icons and graphics where transparency and image quality are crucial.
- Advantages: Lossless compression, supports transparency, high image quality.
- Disadvantages: Larger file sizes compared to JPEG.
GIF
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is another lossless format that is particularly well known for simple graphics and animations. It only supports 256 colours and is therefore less suitable for complex images. GIF is mainly used for animations and simple graphics on the web.
- Advantages: Support for animations, lossless compression.
- Disadvantages: Limited colour depth, not suitable for photos.
TIFF
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a lossless format that is often used in printing and publishing. It supports high image quality and multiple layers. TIFF is often used for printing photos and for high-quality scans.
- Advantages: Excellent image quality, lossless, supports multiple layers.
- Disadvantages: Large file sizes, less suitable for web applications.
BMP
BMP (Bitmap) is an uncompressed image format developed by Microsoft. It guarantees high image quality, but at the expense of a large file size. BMP is rarely used on the web, but is used in some graphics and editing programmes.
- Advantages: High image quality, easy to edit.
- Disadvantages: Very large file sizes, no compression.
Specialised image formats
RAW
RAW files are unprocessed image data directly from the camera’s sensor. They provide the highest image quality and maximum editing options. RAW is mainly used by professional photographers who need maximum control over image processing.
- Advantages: Highest image quality, great editing possibilities.
- Disadvantages: Very large file sizes, special software required for editing.
SVG
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a vector format defined by XML. It is ideal for graphics that need to be scaled without loss of quality. SVG is often used for logos, icons and web graphics.
- Advantages: Scalability without loss of quality, small file sizes.
- Disadvantages: Not suitable for complex images or photos.
HEIF
HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is a modern image format that offers a high compression rate and excellent image quality. It is often regarded as the successor to JPEG. HEIF is increasingly used in smartphones and modern cameras.
- Advantages: High compression, excellent image quality.
- Disadvantages: Limited support by some software and devices.
Compression of image formats
The compression of images is an essential aspect in the processing of image formats, as it reduces the file size and thus saves storage space and increases the transmission speed. A distinction is made between lossless and lossy compression.
Lossless compression
With lossless compression, image data is compressed in such a way that no information is lost. Formats such as PNG, GIF and TIFF use this method.
- Advantages: No loss of quality, ideal for graphics and drawings.
- Disadvantages: Larger file sizes compared to lossy compression.
Lossy compression
With lossy compression, some image information is removed in order to reduce the file size. Formats such as JPEG and HEIF use this method.
- Advantages: Smaller file sizes, ideal for photos and web images.
- Disadvantages: Quality loss may be visible with heavy compression.
Converting image formats
The conversion of image formats is often necessary in order to use images in different applications or to adapt the file size and quality to specific requirements. Various tools and software solutions are used for this purpose.
Tools and software for conversion
There are numerous tools and software solutions for converting image formats, including Adobe Photoshop, GIMP and specialised online tools such as Convertio and Online-Convert.
Tips and tricks for conversion
- Keep an eye on quality: Make sure that the image quality does not suffer during conversion.
- Choose the right format: Choose the right format depending on the intended use.
- Save the original file: Always keep a copy of the original file.
Important aspects when converting
- Colour depth: Make sure that the colour depth is retained after conversion.
- Transparency: Transparency is lost when converting from PNG to JPEG.
- Compression rate: Experiment with different compression rates to find the best balance between quality and file size.
Send common image formats securely with TransferXL
When dealing with large image files, the challenge often arises of sending them quickly and reliably. With TransferXL, even large images can be sent – easily and securely! Whether high-resolution photos, large graphic files or detailed RAW images – TransferXL ensures that the images reach the recipient in full quality and without any loss of compression.
TransferXL is a professional solution for sending large files with numerous advantages:
- Secure transfer: File transfers are protected by end-to-end encryption so that only authorised recipients can access them. Encryption takes place before uploading to ensure maximum security.
- Large file sizes: Up to 5 GB per file transfer can be transferred free of charge and without registration. With a Pro or Enterprise account, up to 200 GB can even be transferred.
- User-friendliness: The platform is very user-friendly. Files can be uploaded simply by drag & drop, making the whole process quick and straightforward.
- Fast transfer: Modern technologies for automatic file compression reduce the required bandwidth and speed up both uploads and downloads without compromising the quality of the files.
- Flexibility: The server location for storing the files can be freely selected to enable better control over the data and its security. In addition, all file transfers can be tracked and managed.
FAQS
What image formats are available?
There are numerous image formats, each of which is used for different purposes. The most common formats are JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF and BMP. Each of these formats has specific properties and uses that vary according to requirements and application.
What needs to be considered when choosing the image format?
When choosing the right image format, the intended use, the desired quality and the file size play an important role. Photos are often saved in JPEG format, graphics with transparency should be in PNG format. GIF is suitable for animations and TIFF is the best choice for high-quality prints.
What is the difference between JPEG and PNG?
JPEG and PNG are two widely used image formats, but they differ fundamentally in the way they are compressed. JPEG uses lossy compression, which reduces the file size but can affect the image quality. It is particularly suitable for photos. PNG, on the other hand, uses lossless compression, which means that the image quality is fully preserved. PNG also supports transparency, which makes it ideal for web graphics and logos.
What is the difference between lossless and lossy compression?
Lossless compression reduces file size without compromising image quality as the original data is fully preserved. Formats such as PNG and TIFF use this method. Lossy compression, on the other hand, removes some image information to further reduce the file size, which can lead to a loss of quality. Examples of lossy formats are JPEG and HEIF.
How can image formats be converted?
There are numerous tools and software solutions available for converting image formats. Adobe Photoshop and GIMP are comprehensive image editing programmes that also offer conversion functions. There are also online tools such as Convertio and Online-Convert, which enable quick and easy conversion without the need to install any software.
How secure is data transfer with TransferXL?
TransferXL attaches great importance to the security of the transferred files. Thanks to end-to-end encryption, files are encrypted and password-protected during upload so that only authorised recipients with a password have access to the files. The location of the server on which the files are temporarily stored can also be selected, which provides additional control and security.
