Sometimes called “image files,” GIFs, JPEGs, and PNGs are the most common types. Here is a list of the ways that the file types are different.
Images saved in the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF File) can be still or moving. A lot of people use moving GIFs on social media, but you can also use them in email marketing. One problem with GIFs is that they only support a few colours, which can make some pictures look bad.
JPEG or JPG
Most of the time, people use Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) files, which are great for the web because they are small. JPEG images don’t allow animation or transparency, and the compression used to make files small can hurt the quality of the images.
PNG
A portable network graphics (PNG) file can be up to 10 times bigger than a JPEG file of the same size. You can use PNG pictures on the web, though. The PNG picture file format lets you use more colours, compress files without losing quality, and make them see-through. PNG files, on the other hand, don’t print well.
TIFF or TIF
One great thing about TIFF files is that they can handle both RGB and CMYK colours, which makes them great for printing. If you’re making cards, letterhead, or flyers, make sure that your colours look the same on paper and on your computer by saving them as CMYK TIFF files. A lot of web computers, though, don’t work with TIFF files.