Pros and Cons of Bitmap File Formats

Advantages of bitmap files include the following:

Bitmap files may be easily created from existing pixel data stored in an array in memory.
Retrieving pixel data stored in a bitmap file may often be accomplished by using a set of coordinates
that allows the data to be conceptualized as a grid.
Pixel values may be modified individually or as large groups by altering a palette if present.
Bitmap files may translate well to dot-format output devices such as CRTs and printers.
Bitmap files, however, do have drawbacks:
They can be very large, particularly if the image contains a large number of colors. Data compression can
shrink the size of pixel data, but the data must be expanded before it can be used, and this can slow
down the reading and rendering process considerably. Also, the more complex a bitmap image (large
number of colors and minute detail), the less efficient the compression process will be.
They typically do not scale very well. Shrinking an image by decimation (throwing away pixels) can
change the image in an unacceptable manner, as can expanding the image through pixel replication.
Because of this, bitmap files must usually be printed at the resolution in which they were originally
stored.
Advantages of JPEG Image Format
JPEG format has been in use for a long time and is extremely portable;
JPEG format is compatible with almost every image processing application;
JPEG format is compatible with most of the hardware devices e.g printers etc – therefore it is very easy
to print the images in JPEG format;
JPEG format can be used to store high-resolution fast-moving images which would be a blur in other
image formats because owing to their small size, JPEG images can be stored quickly from a camera to
storage device;
Size of JPEG images can be reduced and compressed which makes this file format suitable for
transferring images over the internet because it consumes less bandwidth. A JPEG image can be
compressed down to 5% of its original size.
Disadvantages of JPEG Image Compression
JPEG compression technique is a lossy compression. Lossy compression means that after the image is
compressed in JPEG format, it loses certain actual contents of the image;
Quality of Image is reduced after JPEG compression owing to the loss of actual content of the image.
JPEG image compression is not suitable for images with sharp edges and lines. JPEG image format is not
capable of handling animated graphic images;
JPEG images do not support layered images. The graphic designer needs to work on layered images in
order to manipulate and edit graphic images which are not possible with JPEG Images;
Only 8-bit images are supported by JPEG format. On the other hand, modern high-resolution digital
cameras support 10, 12, 14 or 16-bit images. If these images are stored in JPEG format, extra
information is discarded, resulting in decreased image quality.
Pros of Graphic Interchange Format (GIF)
There are 256 colors in Graphic Interchange Format.
Graphic Interchange Format is perfect for logos.
It is best for flat areas of color that come with a distinct region.
It works with the lossless compression process.
It is ideal for small animations.
It is suitable for icons that come with small colors.
Cons of Graphic Interchange Format (GIF)
It uses a bigger file size compared to the PNG format.
It is the oldest among the image formats.
Pros of Joint Photographic Experts Group
It uses 24bit color.
The Joint Photographic Experts Group is great for high details and high-quality images.
It converts with lossy compression.
It was approved as the standard image format in 1994.
Most often, the design and photography industry uses this kind of image format.
It is the best image format if the person is willing to give up the quality for the sake of its size.
Cons of Joint Photographic Experts Group
The Joint Photographic Experts Group does not support transparency.
It does not work well for logos and icons.
Pros:png
– minimum compression loss. The image quality is not changed by any compression ratio;
– format is suitable for storage of intermediate versions of the image. When you re-save image, quality
is not lost;
– PNG supports a large number of colors. PNG-8 (256 colors) and PNG-24 (about 16.7 million. Colors);
– it supports multi level of transparency. Image has the 256 levels of opacity from fully opaque to fully
transparent;
– it’s possible to work with layers;
– the ability to add to the file meta-data;
– small size files.
Cons:
– doesn’t support animation;
– ill-suited for working with full-color images;
– can not store multiple images in one file;
Pros:tiff
Compared to a JPEG, an uncompressed TIFF codec retains the best quality of a photographic image,
making it ideal for digital masters (preservation) and print documents.
Low or high-resolution images codec of photographic quality (images containing many colors that blend
and fade). Encoding scheme is Lossless; files can be compressed or uncompressed.
Cons:tiff
Codecs produce large file size
PNG
Pros:
A better compression than GIF codec, which only scans rows. The compression is ‘lossless’, you do not
lose color information as you compress the file smaller. Typically compresses images 5-25% better than
GIF.
It is a best one for creating complex live transparency, high-color graphics, and better compressed low-
color graphics.
Designed to be network-friendly, so it is recognized and supported on all platforms.
Cons:
It doesn’t support animation
It does not use predictive frames
It has lower quality than PICT or TIFF
Other disadvantages?cr2
Well besides the file size and occasional inconvenience of processing your images, there aren’t any other
disadvantages.
Really, my current shutter count is around 120.000 and every single shot is in raw (there are a whole lot
in raw+Jpeg too). Since I bought my DSLR, raw has been the file type of choice for me; unpack the
camera, power it on, set to raw, and then see how the rest works.
Raw files (the correct files format differs from manufacturer to manufacturer) are simply a “digital
negative” of your image (but aren’t negative at all, only referred to that way in reference to the film
era). In Practical terms, a raw file is all the bits of information the sensor captures, packed in one file
without any compression or loss. But why would anyone need all that info? After all, raw files are 10x
larger than jpegs, right?
Yes, and it means they contain much more information. If you edit a raw file and need to brighten the
shadows and equally tone down the highlights, you won’t lose any detail (if done in moderation of
course and if there is no clipping). On the other hand, with jpeg you don’t get much more than what you
see.
Advantages to RAW:nef
Allows for higher dynamic range. In photography, “dynamic range” refers to the ability to display
highlights and shadows.
These files are uncompressed, which has advantages. Uncompressed files are more flexible in photo-
editing software. Fine-tuning of white-balance & sharpening, for example, are possible in RAW. Also,
compressed files (JPGs) tend to have artifacts, albeit, usually tiny ones, that RAW formats do not have.
(In photography, an artifact is a noticeable distortion of the image).
RAW files, including the NEF, are ‘read-only’. Altering the image requires a software that can read your
particular RAW file and save any changes as another format (such as JPG). What’s the advantage in this?
Sometimes RAW images can be used in a court of law whereas alterable images, such as JPGs, usually
cannot.
Disadvantages to RAW:
These files are uncompressed, which also has disadvantages. Since the Nikon D90 has 12.3 megapixels,
each RAW image occupies about 12.3 MB of space (both on your computer and camera). Also, shots can
be taken less rapidly than in JPG setting, because saving the RAW data takes time for your camera.
Opening and editing RAW requires special software (see a list of software below). JPGs are much, much
more universal.
Pictures taken in RAW image format almost always require software editing, more so than in JPG.
Images tend to look soft, weak in color saturation and with low contrasts. This is easy but time-
consuming work.