Explaining Image File Formats

Image file formats and related concepts explained, including raster vs vector graphics, colour spaces and alpha channels, and bit depth. File formats covered include JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, PSD, RAW, AI, SVG, EPS and PDF.
If you find this video useful, you may also like my episode “Explaining Digital Video: Formats, Codecs and Containers”: • Explaining Digital Vid...
Also of interest may be my latest video on the DaVinci Resolve free video editor:
• DaVinci Resolve 17: Th...
. . . on the Inkscape and Affinity Designer vector illustration packages:
• Adobe Illustrator Alte...
And on Linux Photopshop alternatives:
• Linux Photoshop Altern...
More videos on computing and related topics can be found at / explainingcomputers
You may also like my ExplainingTheFuture channel at: / explainingthefuture
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Key concepts
04:47 JPEG
05:59 PNG
06:57 GIF
07:33 TIFF
08:26 PSD
09:15 RAW
10:31 Other Raster Formats
11:06 Vector Formats
12:55 The Best Format
#ImageFormats #FileFormats #ExplainingComputers

[@mystarstudios]

You have a god-given talent for breaking down the complicated into simpler conceptual parts. I have been working with image files for the past 50 years and although I understand the difference there is no way I could explain it as well as you have in this video. Thank you!

[@MichelMorinMontreal]

I agree wholeheartedly!

[@Paddy_Roche]

Perfectly put.

[@thehappycoder3760]

Yes

[@KTHKUHNKK]

He absolutely does explain it well. It is still very hard for me to understand all this. WOW But I am trying.

[@003somnath]

This guy's bucket is always full of content and it will never empty.. Thank you for sharing your never ending knowledge with us..😍😍

[@mrkitty777]

And he has a virtual cat 😸

[@paulvanobberghen]

Nice thing about SVG is it’s an XML text tag based document, which means it has a DOM that can be manipulated via scripting (JavaScript most likely) or even CSS. Very useful for the web. Several JavaScript libraries exists to do so.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Yes, agreed -- SVG is a really great format.

[@dnoodspodu1159]

Whenever I download a SVG and open it in CorelDRAW, I have to ungroup [unlock] it - and then have to remember to remove some empty objects [clutter]. Thus I really do not like that format, as I also had some issues exporting my Corel works to it

[@WildWestDesigns]

Bare in mind what vector program one uses to open files. Inkscape will ignore non spec svg-xml markup, while Ai and Draw will delete. I have add-ons that store info in the markup, if I open in Ai/Draw etc and re-save that info is lost. Inkscape will just ignore. Keep that in mind if using add-ons from Inkscape, but Ai and others are used in the pipeline as well.

[@HPerrin]

It’s also a really great format for icons, since you can embed an SVG image in an HTML document. No additional download required, and no data: URI needed.

[@WildWestDesigns]

@@HPerrin also can use JS for interactivity as well. I had created audio player controls once using SVG. So much better compared to the built in ones.

[@SiphesihleKhoza]

I missed these explaining videos... Please make more and more :) They are one of the reasons i fell in love with the channel some 7 years ago :)

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks! I always like returning to this type of content.

[@djzio]

Professor Barnatt, this content not only was as informative on a grand scale as always, but gave me a good start to my day. I've needed to engage my brain. Despite being in the imaging industry for over 40 years, I had never heard image file formats explained so well. Thank you.

[@bfapple]

Fantastic to finally understand the typical use cases for each file format. I work with pngs a lot, it's good to finally understand what the "alpha channel" actually means.

[@andrekz9138]

This video is timeless. People will continue seeking this particular condensed, informative content for years to come

[@Remington510]

I wonder how many subscribers unsubscribed when they heard, that Chris is in the "GIF" camp, not "JIF" :P SVG is awesome, this format can do a lot of tricks that are not widely known, especially in web development. It's worth mentioning that SVG is basically a text file, you can open it with a notepad and embed in your website without using the file and later animate it by manipulating the data over time with scripts.

[@alliejr]

Chris is correct!

[@TheRenHoek]

@@alliejr No one is correct. The author of the GIF file format prefers jif, but the oxford english dictionary says both are acceptable.

[@Rationalific]

​@@TheRenHoek You're right that both ways are acceptable, but personally, I don't really care what that author of the GIF file format prefers. Some people think that whatever he says is the law. However, in my opinion, there are two even greater laws that supersede what he prefers, and those are the fact that "Graphics" has that "hard G" sound, and the "hard G" also agrees with general English phonology. Thus, I find it nonsensical to veer from that and make it sound like a "J", despite what the author thinks. I could come up with the "Conscious Algorithm Technique", or "CAT" for short, and if I try to get people to pronounce "CAT" as "Sat" ("C" as in "Cindy"), then I'm the weirdo.

[@michaelwright2986]

@@Rationalific People are always right about how their own names are pronounced, and so by extension you could say the giver of a name is also always right. But if you expect consistency in English spelling, and so consistency in the pronunciation of words that start in written form, I'm afraid you're making a giant mistake, as gigantic as putting ginger in your gin.

[@dnoodspodu1159]

Whenever I download a SVG and open it in CorelDRAW, I have to ungroup [unlock] it - and then have to remember to remove some empty objects [clutter]. Thus I really do not like that format, as I also had some issues exporting my Corel works to it

[@brentlaube568]

Mr. Scissors always gets a moment in the spotlight. Love it!

[@Ynhockey]

My favorite part in these videos is that even when I know everything, it's still interesting and deserves watching until the end. Great job as usual with this video. Surprised that Webp wasn't mentioned, given that it's the only relatively-common format, as far as I know, that has been invented recently.

[@otakuribo]

You're like the Techmoan of computer topics, thank you so much for putting out basic explainers like this!

[@JosephXFS]

Thanks for being the most straight to the point tech tuber.

[@JendaLinda]

Very informative video! PNG format is very versatile, it actually supports 16 bits per channel. Additionally, it supports low bit depths down to 1 bit per pixel for images consisting of fewer colours. TIFF provides some interesting features too. For the most interesting feature, TIFF may include more pictures (pages) in a single file.

[@MichaelGustavsonArchitect]

I think .png supports layers. This wasn't mentioned in the video.

[@aaa-os3pj]

@@MichaelGustavsonArchitect it was mentioned

[@anthonymccarthy4164]

Everything you ever wanted to know about image file formats but were to intimidated to ask. Very useful for we the confused.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

This forum about digital imaging makes me appreciate the microcomputer more and more. I am beginning to acquire some desire to work with photographs like I do working with text. Thank you for presenting this forum on KZbin.

[@LMacNeill]

Thank you for pronouncing GIF correctly. 😊

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Excellent, interesting and well presented. Information I needed right about now. Thanks from my 3D printer lab in Orlando Florida 👍👍

[@ExplainingComputers]

I take is that 3D printing is going well then?! :)

[@MicrobyteAlan]

@@ExplainingComputers- yes thank you. I’ve even printed a design I created in fusion 360.

[@ExplainingComputers]

@@MicrobyteAlan Cool. I'm starting to work on my photogrammetry video (photos to 3D models) -- I think you may well experiment with this too!

[@MicrobyteAlan]

@@ExplainingComputers - excellent, looking forward to that. 😊

[@Pekitos]

@@MicrobyteAlan @ExplainingComputers I will follow by near to see what you will be creating. A good subject to working on is more 3d printing.

[@RoyNeeraye]

My favourite moment of the day! Thanks again for another awesomely instructive and entertaining video, Chris.

[@WorldWorrier3273]

I am Really really Happy 😃 & satisfied 😌 to see 👀 that u don't miss anything at all in your video 🎥

[@BruceS42]

I spent most of my career working with graphics, and hoped (but didn't expect) to hear ECs take on the formats and tools I used. Nope. I had higher expectations (but still not very high) that he'd talk about the biggest competitor to what I used, but he didn't. These were vector graphics, meant for CAD, though they had the ability to handle various raster images as well. We used it for a lot of modeling purposes, mostly mapping of utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, telco, etc.), charting for naval or aviation, building design, and business interior layouts. Even without the nod to CAD, this was yet another fun video from EC, and I thank him for it.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I may over CAD formats in another video -- I always have to draw the line somewhere!

[@BruceS42]

@@ExplainingComputers If you're going to draw a line, I say CAD is a great place to do it! At one job, I read an architects analysis of the CAD system I used as a possible part of the solution they were looking for. He said that it didn't actually store arcs, just simulated them with a bunch of short lines. I had to laugh at that. It did, in fact, store arcs, as well as many other 2D and 3D geometries. It's been a while since I was into it, but as I recall an arc had a center, radius, starting angle, and sweep angle, as well as a matrix for 3D rotation. My work was adding functionality so users could place coherent objects, such as electric lines, transformers, valves, etc. with "intelligence" to them.

[@ExplainingComputers]

@@BruceS42 A great story, thanks for sharing here! :)

[@SLATEB0Y]

Another great video. Been dealing with these formats since windows 95 and you still educate me with clarity and thorough explanation . Thank you

[@PS_Tube]

Interesting video Chris. As someone who works with images, it's nice to see this topic greatly explained particularly the lossy compression. BTW, isn't it Leica and not *Lecia* ?

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for this. Looks like I got Lecia wrong -- I think there is a law that whenever I make one of these types of video, a typo sneaks in somewhere.

[@monchiabbad]

@@ExplainingComputers well we're all a bit dyslexic due to video creation stress ;-)

[@hassanlearning4086]

I found understanding image formats on different platforms challenging, but your tutorial made it easy. Thank you.

[@reggiep75]

It's been a long time since I did my graphic design training and then work (starting in 1992), but from working at a printers, that did its own design work and processing of customers work, you soon learnt which raster & vector formats were industry standard and favoured. If a customer was supplying photos or vector images, you indicated that it would be best to supply them as a specific format for reasons like CMYK for full colour printing and having the alpha channel which was often used to make masks if there was further processing needed. I'm a general RAW, PNG and SVG user these days when I do work as they can be processed or converted all across the board by a number of programs with no further quality losses. Another great vid 👍

[@peterthepanda]

Mr. Scissors getting some much needed screen time. 😄

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@SJM2]

@@ExplainingComputers Mr scissors made the cut...:)

[@elementbr]

A perfect way to relax on a Sunday evening, an Explaining Computers video. :) I always look forward to these.

[@damonbombino1237]

Thank you for taking the time to teach us the wonderful world of computers

[@Alifrom-Texas]

Mr Christopher, just wanted to say you always bring very interesting videos here on KZbin ! I am hooked on your channel !

[@ExplainingComputers]

Great to hear - thanks! :)

[@walts555]

👍Excellent summary and personal story at the end. I had a similar png epiphany years ago.

[@jamesdinsmore9022]

What an excellent and understandable presentation of such a complex subject!

[@davidhardaker192]

A great collection of information that is hard to find in one place - thanks Chris

[@MrMoonpie001]

While it seems very easy and simple, understanding these concepts and how they work often are the cornerstone if a project is going to work or not!! I recently got a new monitor, using most of my computer time editing photos. The monitor I chose was the BenQ3200 which has a 10 bit depth RGB perfect for me to see as close as I can the product before it prints. Now this monitor is no good at all for a gamer of someone who watches lots of streaming it has been spectacular at representing my printed product to a very high degree. I also want to congratulate you for giving "Mr. Scissors" a staring role in this video!!!!!! Thank you Chris for all you do!!!! Rich

[@rexjuggler19]

Excellent overview of file formats and a very good selection to narrow down the important points. I could easily use this video as a reference starting point for new hires. Having worked in the print industry for over 20 years and now healthcare (radiology IT) for the past 15, a good understanding of image file formats and lossless vs lossy compression as well as RGB vs CMYK knowledge is indispensable. Well done, Chris!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for this. :)

[@kyoudaiken]

As always a nice video that I can send around friends who were wondering what the difference of all those file formats actually are! Thank you Chris and please stay healthy in those weird times!

[@_Digitalguy]

So glad I could learn several new things from this video, despite believing I already knew this stuff pretty well!

[@dodg3rii]

I confess I came for the pronunciation of 'GIF'. I was not disappointed 😁😁 As a bonus, I learned a lot of stuff I thought I already knew. This guy is amazing!

[@srtcsb]

Really excellent Chris. You've covered video file formats and now this for graphics... The two together make a 'can't miss' reference for content creation. Thanks for another great video. 👍

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks Steve. At some point I'll add audio formats, and maybe 3D ones too.

[@JamsODonnell100]

@@ExplainingComputersYes, please!!

[@WeekendWarrior92]

My favourite part of the video is when Chris pronounces "gif" correctly.

[@OldieBugger]

Did he now? Oh yes, of course he did. If he'd pronounced it wrongly, I'd remember. My eyes and ears are like that, they notice errors best. I'm really good in proofreading, except for my own text. So sad.

[@nin6246]

This channel is absurdly useful and informative. Thanks for the great and important content!

[@jxchamb]

I feel so much smarter after watching your videos. Thanks for the knowledge!

[@arazriel]

Another great video from Chris, thank you so much!

[@ciokas]

For educational purposes XPM and PPM file formats are great. They both can be opened by text editors one can easily inspect and alter the color of every single pixel. XPM has an added bonus that one can easily create ASCII art with it.

[@Oharafolk]

So nice explanation! Thanks so much every time is a joy to see a video from you!

[@rudge3speed]

You just touched the surface, but who can watch a seven hour video that explains the history of digital image generation starting from the first pixel! I hope this video gets more people interested in digging deeper, and thank you for making it.

[@miguelnglopes]

This is what explaining computers is all about!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Yes, exactly. :)

[@paurano]

And so again without making effort I became an expert in a computer subject of which until just before I knew nothing. 🙏🤗

[@robertdocherty6127]

Just so glad that I found your channel. Thanks again. Now I'm going to get a coffee and watch another of your video tutorials. Great stuff

[@johnbaldwin143]

well explained in a non-complicated way. I am an old IT tech but still learned some details I had not considered. Thank you for offering a layman's description of file formats!

[@judsonleach5248]

GREAT EPISODE! As Always! HOWEVER i really missed getting to see "Stanley, The Knife" today! lol Best Sidekick EVER !!! hahaha! - Cheers! - Judson & Buddy!!!

[@senior_ranger]

Outstanding overview --- much thanks. This should be required viewing for every visual artist.

[@jls9225]

Another great video as usual, this time on photo extensions. Thank You, As Always, Be Smart and Stay Safe.

[@michaelmiller641]

Thankyou, very useful! I've been using alpha channels without realising what they are!

[@WildkatPhoto]

I love how you had to say that "most" image editing programs can read JPEG files because somewhere someone hates JPEGs and intentionally wrote an image editor that wont read them.

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@VladMcCain]

I know some 32 bit programs that love .jpg but hate .jpeg.

[@Martin_from_SC]

Very well explained and accurate - I've been a digital prepress tech for over 20 years and have come in contact with all of those and more!

[@johngangemi1361]

Excellent concise guide on image file formats.

[@kevinshumaker3753]

One of the first programs I ever wrote took an RLE encoded file from compuserve and displayed it in my 'wrapper', and converted RLEs into sprites on my C64. It was fun learning about the magic of images.

[@ahah8797]

Chris. Excellent presentation, as always. I did not have an epiphany about image formats, however congratulations on a well researched presentation. I have taught image processing to graduate students for 13 years (I'm now retired) and one of the lectures covered image formats. Had i access to this presentation, I would have given my students the link. Best

[@kevinchadwick1206]

Yet another "keeper" video from Chris. These educational videos are so very useful and allow me to go into more detail if required. What would be really great would be a complete set of Chris' videos in a set of DVDs. Any thoughts?

[@ExplainingComputers]

An interesting idea . . .

[@jehd2954]

Another great video. So much information in a great format. Thanks.

[@ShinobiDiabolik]

Hello Christopher, Thank you for the excellent explanation. It is sad that such good quality and informative videos like yours are rare, but your videos offer superb value.

[@robinbrowne5419]

A great Explaining Computers episode. I always wondered about these different file formats 🤔 Thank you 😊

[@enginerd80]

I hadn't realized that JPEG was such a "recent" invention. By recent I mean that it came out a couple of years _after_ we got our first PC. But now that I think about it, the plain standard VGA in our then PC couldn't even show 24-bit colors at all; it could show 16 colors at 640x480 resolution or 256 colors at 320x200 resolution. And I remember even the few (scanned) photos of the time being usually GIFs, so up to 256 colors in total anyway. I don't know how common or rare it was, but when drawing (raster) images, in my memory we saved them mostly in BMP or PCX format, sometimes also in TIFF. For some reason I don't have many self-drawn GIFs from the first years of using PC.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I too find it amazing to reflect on how recent JPEG is. What you describe saving files in BMP or PCX was very common not that many years ago. :)

[@kervala]

I remember that before JPEG, almost all images were in 320x200 or 640x480 GIF, especially those from BBS :D

[@ProjectPhysX]

Thank you! This video is an excellent overview on the image formats out there!

[@SyberPrepper]

So much information. So many questions answered. Thank you.

[@Mixesha001]

Always a pleasure to learn with such clear explanations. Thanks as always for your content.

[@121Pal]

…another fantastic video…thanks again, Chris…

[@thaernejem7317]

Extremely useful information! Thanks Chris!

[@ianperkins8812]

Incredibly useful and well done!

[@midnightwind8067]

Well that explained a great deal. Another great one Chris. Thank You!

[@Beevreeter]

9:58 I think you are referring to the distinguished camera and lens manufacturer Leica (Pronounced 'lye-ka')

[@ExplainingComputers]

I am indeed! My bad.

[@jupiterflambay4284]

Is that where Lyekka from Lexx got her name ?

[@kurtweber162]

Very clear and interesting. I always enjoy your content.

[@PeteVanDemark]

This video lit up a few LEDs in my mind. Thanks again!

[@wesleyoliveira6570]

What about WebP?

[@gusdanvaz]

Very nice video. Thanks for the simplicity.

[@saladamista8226]

Very helpful video as always!

[@Shawclough]

Another great video I need to watch several times and share with colleagues.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks -- and share away! :)

[@sid_gm1949]

I learnt about image format in Photoshop school . Thank you for going in depth I appreciate that .

[@geoffreynicholls2991]

Excellent. Well done. Certainly shed more light on my images.

[@watchreadplayretro]

Fantastic depth yet easy to follow and a joy to watch. And yes agree, you have a true talent. Your videos remind me of the early to mid 80s Computer courses on tv, yet with modern technology; whilst still mentioning core/origin tech which is handy too! There's a clear knowledge and passion in your delivery and on reading your about section, I can see that your ease of knowledge comes from a thorough grounding in it all as a longterm teacher and author. It's truely amazing to not be overloaded with facts but just to soak up so much information duing easy listening. I knew some of this but this was so concise and flowed it all together in a fascinating way. Thanks again for a wonderful channel, instant sub and will from now on will most likely just thumbs-up, but I did want to post this thanks.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for the sub -- and welcome aboard! :)

[@edmatarazzo]

Thanks for the video. Keep up with the great work.

[@jda20001]

Outstandingly well done!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks!

[@KowboyUSA]

Always the best computer oriented content 👌😃

[@wolfcrossing2734]

Very informative, concise, Excellent! Thanks.

[@badisheffey4550]

Thank you for another great video. This is very helpful for us non-computer people!

[@elliptical3]

Pronounces ".gif" like a champ. I'll never change either, lol.

[@joeg3950]

Good to know information. Thank you for having it all in one video.

[@davideloi9176]

Love your channel. I’m learning so many things!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for watching!

[@MDNH]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge ! Thanks

[@oliverbatt3559]

Great video as usual, Chris. What would be fantastic at some point would be a video dedicated to looking at various open file formats and codecs for images, audio and video.

[@pravatiacharya5921]

I was waiting for this video after the video on Explaining Video formats and this video finally came :-)

[@ExplainingComputers]

I always get there in the end! :) Audio formats remains on the list. And then maybe 3D file formats.

[@AMDRADEONRUBY]

Yay finally Sunday I'm ready have a nice week.

[@fuselage03]

Thank you for the lecture Chris, you are always awesome 😎

[@lesliedeana5142]

Thanks for another great explanation video - nicely broken down.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Hi Lesie. I hope all is OK with you.

[@path3359]

Really excellent explanation.

[@MdFahimMuntasir]

It's very helptful to learn File Format the way easily understand and without putting any effort. Thank you, Christ to showing us and teach us like a guidelines that is much appreciated and delivered certain knowledge with us. 😊😍😍

[@SJM2]

Great overview Chris. I'm au fait with the minutiae of the audio world but graphics file formats were always a bit of a mystery - until now! Cheers.

[@Colin_Ames]

Excellent video as always, with clear explanation of the various formats. I ran afoul of the CDR format some years ago, when the Italian parent company of my UK, and then US, employer decided to produce drawings using Corel. Unfortunately, my employer wouldn’t spring for multiple copies of Corel Draw, so I was reduced to begging every time I needed something edited or printed.

[@mikegaccount7833]

Good to see Mr. Scissors is now a model)

[@cornellvartabedian8520]

Don't hate him because he's beautiful.

[@hassanrozh6579]

Excellent video, thanks so much

[@KTHKUHNKK]

I'm kind of lost but I'm going to keep listening. You sure do know your stuff. WOW

[@ExplainingComputers]

Hi Keith! I hope that all is well with you.

[@KTHKUHNKK]

@@ExplainingComputers Hi Chris Yes everything is okay. I'm getting through this crazy world just like the rest of us. Have a good one buddy