OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate/Diploma in IT: File Formats

File formats are the coding that files are in to be able to be stored in a computer. "Each different type of file has a different file format". (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/file_format.html) This is because the programs that read these files only recognise a certain type of coding, so the file it needs to read must be in the correct format for it to be accessed. There are loads of file formats like video, audio and image, and they all have individual file formats for each one. For example, image formats can have '.JPEG' or '.GIF'.

JPEG

JPEG is a file format that is named after the group who made it 'Joint Photographic Experts Group'. It's usually used for images from a digital camera, as well as graphics for websites. These images will be saved in the file format '.jpeg' or '.jpg'; all file extensions from JPEG.

The advantage of JPEG is that it saves the images in the lowest file size due to it compressing the files down using lossy compression. This is great for those who don't want to take up lots of space.
It is well-known because it is used internationally. This is because it was the first file format that didn't use up lots of storage space so everyone used it.

The disadvantage of it is that it makes the images have low quality because it removes some of the repeated data to keep the file size small (lossy compression).

Also, the more you open, edit and save the image, the poorer the quality will get.
It doesn't have layers which mean you can't remove parts of the image away from the other parts.

PNG

PNG is another file format that stands for 'Portable Network Graphics'. It is usually used for graphics and images.

The advantage of PNG is that it stores the files in a small file size but still keeps the quality. This is because it uses lossless compression so it when the file is decompressed it opens the original data.

The disadvantages are that it still doesn't have the size to be smaller than JPEG because it still saves most of the file.
It also takes longer to save the files because it has to save all the detail.

BMP

BMP is also a file format which is short for 'bitmap'. It is used for images and graphics.

The advantage of BMP is that it uses lossy compression so the file size is small making it easier to store.

It used pixels that give people the illusion of an image when really it's boxes of colour.

It is also easy to share because of the small file size allowing you send it through email.

The disadvantage is that it is unsuitable for the web because it is not common or well-known.
You can't resize it without showing the pixels so it loses the quality.

File Size

All files have a file size which is how much space the file will use up when stored. It's really important because you want you to use little space in order to have lots of space left for other files, as well as making it easier to download to servers.

However, the smaller the size, the poorer the quality. This is really bad to people who need their images to be high in quality. For example, game designers.

The problem is, you need a high file size to have a good quality image, but that has the problem of using lots of space.
To solve this problem, people need to choose between quality or space usage to decide which file size they would choose. Then they have to find the file format that has that file size.

File Conversion

File conversion is where you change the file format from one to the other. This sometimes needs to be done with imagery due to different files having different elements. For example, a designer may need to use PNG to edit their image before converting it into a JPEG so it uses less storage space.
The advantage of file conversion is that it allows you to use different file formats for specific uses before finishing it off in the best option.
It also allows you to publish images on the web in well-known file formats. Some web browsers only allow you to open certain file formats so the conversion is great for changing images to the file format that can be opened by more users.
The disadvantage of file conversion is that is makes the quality poorer which can be bad to those who want a good quality image.

Transparency

Transparency is when there is no background to an image. On some images you can see a white background on them; a file that doesn't support transparency will do this. A file that does support transparency will not have this white background; it will have an invisible background. The files I looked at that support transparency are BMP and PNG; JPEG does not support it.