File Types to Know

File Types to Know

WebP is an image format created by Google, designed to compress images more efficiently than traditional formats such as PNG and JPEG. It also supports features like transparency and animations, making it ideal for online graphics and logos.

AVIF, on the other hand, is a relatively new image format that offers even better compression than WebP. It was developed by the Alliance for Open Media and offers high-quality images with smaller file sizes, making it perfect for web and mobile devices.

Employ the Performance Lab plugin to automatically convert your uploaded JPEG images to WebP format, where possible.

GRAPHICS

AI stands for Adobe Illustrator and is used for creating illustrations and graphics, often using vector graphics. It allows for editing with high levels of accuracy.

EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript and is used for printing vector graphics such as logos. It is a common file type used in graphic design and publishing. EPS is useful when creating artwork that needs to be modified or manipulated frequently.

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group and is commonly used for storing photographic images. This type of image file is compressed, allowing for efficient storage and small file sizes that are suitable for photographic images, as they can produce a high-quality image while also keeping file size relatively small.

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics and is commonly used for web graphics, such as logos and icons using a transparent background. Unlike JPEG, it uses lossless compression so the image will not lose any of its quality when compressed.

PSD stands for Photoshop Document and is a proprietary format used by Adobe Photoshop. It stores images with all the layers intact, making it a popular format for storing digital art and designs.

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format and is used for printing images with a high level of detail, such as photographs. 

ANIMATION

GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format and is suitable for graphics or images with only a few colors. GIFs are a popular form of image file that supports both animated and static graphics. 

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics and is used for vector-based graphics in web design. SVG is optimized for displaying line art and can be animated for dynamic and interactive content. SVG files are highly adaptable for web and print, as the content will adjust its size depending on the viewing device, making them ideal for responsive website design.

AUDIO

AIFF stands for Audio Interchange File Format and is best used for professional music and sound recordings as they provide the highest quality of audio. AIFF is commonly used in digital audio editing, as it can be easily manipulated without sacrificing sound quality.

AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave and is the best choice for storing animations, as they have great picture quality and allow users to store video and audio together. AVI is a digital video format that is widely used for playing video content. It is used for sharing video clips online.

MP3 stands for MPEG-Layer 3 Audio and is an ideal file type for storing music files as they are highly compressed which saves disk space and bandwidth, but with little loss of quality. MP3 is often used for downloading music and for streaming audio on the web.

VIDEO

MOV stands for QuickTime Movie and is a digital video file format developed by Apple. It is commonly used for storing digital video content and is ideal for sharing high-quality video over the web. When compared to MPEG, MOV offers slightly higher quality images but they only work on Apple compatible devices and software such as iMovie.

MPG stands for Moving Picture Experts Group and are files used for storing video data that are suitable for long videos. MPG is used for playing movies, music videos, and television shows. It supports high-quality playback of compressed video content and is suitable for online streaming.

WAV stands for Waveform Audio File Format and are uncompressed audio files that are commonly used for storing high-quality audio. They are ideal for creating audio clips for music production and for playback in various applications.

DOCUMENTS AND FILE SHARING

DOCX stands for Microsoft Word Open XML Document and is part of Microsoft Word’s document file format used for storing text documents and more complex formatting such as tables and images. 

PDF stands for Portable Document Format and is a widely-used format for documents. It can be viewed, printed, and edited across multiple platforms. PDF files are best used for displaying text and images in a single document.

RAR stands for Roshal Archive and is used for compressing multiple files into one but has the advantage of password protection. This makes RAR a much better option when sharing files over the internet, as it will prevent anyone from accessing your files without the correct password. The downside is that RAR files can’t be opened on all systems and require a separate program for access.

TXT stands for Plain Text. TXT files are the simplest type of document used for displaying information and writing code in programming languages. They are simple, easy to read, and can be opened on any device.

ZIP stands for ZIP Compression. ZIP files are commonly used for compressing multiple files into one. This reduces the file size and makes it easier to transfer data. It is ideal for emailing large attachments, as it makes files more efficient to download to the desktop and can be opened on Windows and Mac operating systems.

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