File type Bitmap, Jpeg, Gif, etc ? >>>COMPLETE<<<

[Jane Eden]

When I save an image there is a list of about 10 different file types. Bitmaps, Gif, jpeg etc. I know I need a jpeg, resolution 72, size about 8 inches for the longest side for Rootschat, but if I want to save the best photo which file type do I choose. What do they all mean?

Jane

[Keith Bateman]

Hi Jane

I have been told that "tiff" is the best as you can play around with the photo without loosing definition.

You don't need to know what the letters stand for! - thats for the computer buffs.

You just need to know which site accepts what extension!! 

Cheers

Keith

[deadants]

Hi Jane,
     If you want the truest digital reproduction of your photos, the best file type is Tiff. Have a look at the following link.
http://www.ekdahl.org/kurs/archiving_photo_images.htm

[Jane Eden]

Cheers Deadants

I knew there would be a link somewhere.

Jane

[J.J.]

Hi, Jane...For those of you who just read this and think that saving as a tiff  will be enough....please also know that it also has to be scanned at highest resolution using colour so as not to lose sepia tones....and saved in at least 600 dpi for a std. 4x6 photo ....jpgs are for email distribution,web use and as an extra copy for quick viewing.  As long as everyone is aware that even tifs can be bad files if not large enough....
and don't forget to save the file to disc ....( No, floppies won't cut it here...)
If you don't have a cd burner...upload it directly to your photographic printer ( I mean the one down the street...computer inks won' t cut it either, unless this is temporary)
Best of luck with your photographs!!!

[Jane Eden]

Cheers JJ. If I save to a jpg can I then convert it back to a tiff or will it have lost something. When I save to a jpg it goes on about a lossyfile or something.

Jane

[J.J.]

Hope I didn't reply twice....I'm such a newbie on this posting & chat  thing

Yes indeed, jane....it will have lost something!
However, if all you have is a jpg. still save it as a tiff for your files, as that's all you have to begin with. I was just warning people never to save a scanned file as a jpg. Lossy, and lossier the more often it is saved....unless of course it is for web use. Don't get me wrong, if all you want to do is look at it on your monitor....then it's o.k. too.  Just not for a keepsake....
All the best, J.J.

Have edited to make it read properly, as it is an advice thread which may still be read by many. The lack of the copy now in red made the answer seem ambiguous.

[Jane Eden]

Thanks for your reply. What does lossy mean?

Jane

[deadants]

JPEG is a "lossey" file format, which means that in order to achieve the kinds of compression we see in JPEG files, the image is altered to varying degrees to create repeatable patterns that can be more easily compressed, or in other words, the image quality is reduced.