What is the best image format to keep your pictures? JPG, TIFF, GIF, PNG or other?

Answer 1

Assuming we're talking about digital photos:

Of those, TIF or PNG would be best. GIF and JPG both use lossy compression so you will lose quality for the benefit of smaller files. Every time you open and resave a JPG, the image quality is reduced.

If you have the storage space, the best option is RAW which as the name suggests is the raw captured data from the camera with no compression of alterations to the image.

Answer 2

It depends on what you want to achieve. JPG is a good choice when you want to keep the size of the image small and retain the quality at the same point. TIFF is usually used in bigger formats. TIFF offers a really high quality and is used for professional image editing. TIFF files are usually larger than JPG. For home use JPG is preferred since it’s highly compatible with most image editing software.

Answer 3

BMP is the ONLY file format that does not do any compression and hence has the highest quality (3 bytes per pixels + header). Use it for scientific image manipulations.
JPG is the most common format used on computers and images exchanges (understood by 99.9% of programs), but compresses the image to reduce file size: suffers some loss.
TIFF is better than JPG, as the compression is "lossless" (as they say), but many programs won't cope with them
GIF is low resolution, but handles transparency and is good for the web.
Other formats are more restrictive.

Answer 4

I would say definitely JPG or PNG. I almost always go with PNG because the files aren't too big and the pictures stay in good quality, whereas sometimes JPGs mess up the colours..

Answer 5

JPG is good for photographs.

GIF is good for cartoony images or icons - bascially anything with relatively few, bold colours. It also handles transparency and animation.

TIFF I don't know - sorry.

PNG can be used to replace both JPG and GIF. Be careful though, some browsers don't understand PNGs transparency.

Answer 6

I dont know if theres a better way, but this is what I do. Copy the image and open paint and paste and then just save as a jpg.

Answer 7

Gif for images: not at all
JPG: losses quality but offer small file size
PNG: best quality, file size larger then jpg
TIF: best quality, large file size
if you got plenty of space go for tif or png
otherwise JPG best, compatible with some DVD players aswell

Answer 8

A free version of GIMP is available here: [link]

GIMP is a free software you can use for loads of tasks (photo-retouching, image authoring, image compositioning, photo editing.). It's the best free photo editing tool available for free. It's not as powerful as photoshop but can be easily augmented with expensions and plugins if you need professional and advanced features. You can use GIMP as a simple paint program or a complex image manipulation software (thanks to an advanced scripting interface). Don't use torrents/downloads from other sites, they might be backdoored.

Answer 9

well jpeg may loose quality but ways to keep quality png best but super size ttf well it ok but jpeg is a winner cause can keep good quality with good size png only for like if u need alpha transparency btw there is a ne wjpeg format to be released

Answer 10

I would say JPG for simple reasons, they are easy to edit in this file format, if you need to send the picture to someone else they are most likely going to be able to open this file type, and it uses up less memory on your PC.

Also if anyone see's a JPG file 99% of the time they will know straight away its a picture, you also get less file errors with this programme type.