JRN 302: Introduction to Graphics and Visual Communication- File formats, conversion

Tuesday, 8/4/15

Class Objectives

Lecture File formats, conversion Exam 2 Review

Homework assignment Study for Exam 2 (Final Exam this Thursday

during class)

File formats

Native file formats PSD = Photoshop INDD = InDesign AI = Illustrator Think of all software… Word has .doc,

PowerPoint has .ppt, and so on.

Non-Native File Formats for Print

TIFF/TIF +s:

Lossless compression (when you make the file smaller, you do not lose anything permanently. Think of this as an accordion when it is squeezed.)

Reliable. Less problematic at becoming corrupted.

Can save in layered format

Non-Native File Formats for Print

EPS +: Can be either vector or raster (most save as vector)

or even a meta file -: larger file size, being replaced by PDF

PDF +: Can save vector or raster qualities within it -: Software for native creation is Acrobat (although

many softwares will save to this, if you want to truly edit it, you have to pay for Acrobat.)

What files do you need for commercial printing? Ask your commercial printer.

Non-native files for Projected (web) In Photoshop, find a color raster image, and

<File <Save for Web and look at it in 4 up. JPG/JPEG

Most digital cameras take photos in this format Most web pages use this file format for images +: Large number of display colors. This is

normally needed to display photographs online. -: Lossy compression (when you make the file

smaller, you permanently lose data. This of smashing down a loaf of bread.)

Progressive JPG

Downloads in multiple passes. A method that shows an early degraded version of the whole image as soon as possible and then progressively renders the image to the clear state (100% loaded image).

Is generally meant for either big images or slow internet connections.

Online example here: http://pooyak.com/p/progjpeg/

Non-native file formats for projected (web)

GIF (pronounced JIF) +s:

Lossless compression so smaller file sizes than JPG Can have transparency Can be animated (resurgence of animated Gifs)

-s: Smaller range of colors (only 256). So you might use

these for logos online, or buttons or text saved as a graphic file on a webpage.

Proprietary, which means that if you create software that uses GIF images, you have to pay CompuServe royalties. You can make images for free though.

Dithered GIF

Simulates additional colors to extend the color palette

But photo could end up looking “grainy” Try doing this and seeing how small the file

sizes go with the lower number of colors More colors = larger file size Why would you care? Downloads on slower

connects Online example here: http://www.sqa.org.uk/e-

learning/BitVect01CD/page_63.htm

Non-native file format for projected (web) PNG (pronounced PING)

+: Like GIF

Lossless compression so smaller file sizes than JPG Can have transparency

Better than GIF: Not owned by any company (W3C standard) May be of similar quality and range of colors to JPG

(PNG-24) Can be progressive (but now called Interlaced)

Vector files (for this class)

2d vector files from the <Save As in Illustrator .AI= native file format .EPS= being phased out but still reliable .SVG = W3C open standard, can view the source

and see how it is built (with XML) A lot of these are on Wikipedia pages

3d files are many, depends on industry 3d printing is generally a .STL file 3d engineering files or animations vary

http://www.archives.gov/applied-research/ncsa/8-an-overview-of-3d-data-content-file-formats-and-viewers.pdf

Back to the beginning of the semester! The Pyramid…

Think of how easy it is to fall off of pyramid because of gravity = <File <Export down to the levels below

3d vector to 2d vector to raster image

Hard to go up the pyramid Raster to 2d vector to 3d vector

Photoshop has a 3d tab In Illustrator, save to SVG and then

import into a 3d modeler and extrude

2d vector

Raster

3d vector

3d vector

What do we know about…

Raster images (let’s take your logo) Only width and height, no depth Only pixels, not math-generated

2d vector images Only width and height, no depth Math-generated

3d vector images Width, height and depth Math-generated