The Importance of File Format and Size

• Your camera has various settings in which it will interpret and save the image’s “information/data”.

• These file formats are jpg, tiff, or raw. This will be the file extension of your image.

• As you snap a picture, the camera interprets the image into pixels.

• Depending on the file format you have selected, the pixels create your image quality. The greater the pixel count the greater the quality of the image.

What is a pixel?

• The word “pixel” comes from the word combination of picture and element.

• A pixel is basically one “square” of several that makes up an image. It can be compared to a single tile in a mosaic. Together all the pixels make up the digital image.

http://photo.net/equipment/digital/basics/

Pixel Resolution

• Pixel resolution is the count of pixels on your horizontal (the width) and vertical (the length) axis of you image.

• For example: high pixel resolution of 3872x2592 means there are 3,872 pixels on just the horizontal axis of the image. That’s a lot of pixels!

• Remember: The higher the pixel count, the greater the image quality

In camera File Format

• All camera’s allow you to choose how you would like your image to be saved as a digital file (jpg, raw, or tiff)

• It is very important that you choose the appropriate setting before snapping the picture, because it will greatly affect your final image.

• You can set the desired file format by going to your camera’s menu, and select “image quality” and “image size”.

Many cameras allow you to shoot RAW and JPG at the sametime. This will create 2 files on your memory card, the RAW file will be much larger than the JPG.

Image Size

• Your image size is different from your image quality.

• The image quality determines the file format and the image size will determine the pixel count

JPG

• A jpg file is the most common file format for most digital cameras, and for storing and transmitting onto the web. They are also the most compatible with a variety of photo editing software.

• Your camera will offer 3 jpg sizes: large, medium, and small.(fine, normal and basic)

• A jpg is a compressed file, meaning it will compress the original image into a smaller file by disregarding some information.

• The larger the jpg = better quality image

JPG pros and cons

Pros• smaller file sizes= more room on your

memory card • Easier files to work with in post editing• Compatible with many different photo

editing softwares, and best for using on

the web

JPG CONS• .jpgs are considered a “lossy” format, meaning they disgard

information. • .jpgs are smaller files, therefore they will best for smaller

prints. • Some argue that you do not want to use this file format if

your wanting to have large fine art photograph prints. Others disagree and think that “fine” jpgs are the way to shoot.

• In post-editing, each time you open, edit and save the .jpg file it reduces it file information again, and again.If you are going to post edit, make sure to save the file as a .tiff or .psd (photoshop file) as it will not reduce the pixel information.

RAW files

• RAW files are very large files. They retain all original information in your image.

• A RAW file is essentially a digital negative.• If you plan to post edit your images, RAW is

the best suitable format, because you will have more control in post-editing.

• Nikon’s RAW format is .NEF and Canon’s RAW is .CR2

RAW pros and cons

PROS• larger files= larger,better quality prints• Raw formats saves all the original pixel

information, it is “lossless”• RAW lets you have more control in post-

editing your images (that you normally apply in the camera), such as white balance, sharpness improvements, saturation, and exposure.

RAW cons

• They are huge files that will require extra space on your cameras memory card as well as on your hard drive.

• Raw files require specific editing software.

TIFF

• Some cameras will offer TIFF as a file format.

• TIFFs are also uncompressed files, but will not require as much memory space as a RAW image

TIFF

• A tiff file is an excellent way to save your images in post-editing and will create high quality prints.

• If shooting RAW, and you open the file to post-edit, save the RAW as a tiff. It will save space on your hard drive and it will not loose any information from the original file as you save the image again and again.

• Tiff files are also compatible with many editing softwares.

Many cameras allow you to shoot RAW and JPG at the sametime. This will create 2 files on your memory card, the RAW file will be much larger than the JPG. This is a very valuablesetting. It allows you to shoot JPGs for cataloging, reviewing, using various editing software, yet you still have a RAW version of the image to preserve as a digital negative, just incase you need to do more extensive post editing on that image

Image size AND Image quality

• As we discussed earlier, the image size determines the pixel count and the image quality determines the file format.

• Setting the image size (in camera) will affect the jpg quality. It will not effect the RAW image quality. RAW data cannot have it’s image size changed in camera.

• Make sure to set your camera’s image size to the largest setting. This will ensure that the jpg’s will be of the highest resolution possible.

To compress or not to compress…that is the

question• Depending on your intention for your

image, you must decide prior to shooting which file format you will use.

• If your strictly shooting for web based publishing then a small jpg will do the trick

Resolution

• This refers to the number of pixels in an image.

example: if an image resolution is 300 ppi (pixels per inch), that means that there are 300 pixels per inch square.

• The higher the pixel count, the better resolution of an image. And the better resolution, the better print quality.

Resolution

• When working in a photo editing software, you will need to know about image resolution.

• Different pixel resolutions will result in different print sizes.

• The better the resolution the better your printed images will be. We will have a more in depth discussion when we start working in Lightroom/ Photoshop.