Graphics file formats

Here is a summary of the most common graphics file formats:

Common Raster Graphics Formats
file type	proper name	description
.bmp	Windows Bitmap	Commonly used by Microsoft Windows programs, and the Windows operating system itself. Lossless compression can be specified, but some programs use only uncompressed files.
.tif	Tagged Image File Format	Used extensively for traditional print graphics. Lossy and non-lossy compression available, but many programs only support a subset of available options.
.png	Portable Network Graphics	New format designed primarily for web graphics, intended to replace "gif" format. Uses non-lossy compression.
.gif	Graphics Interchange Format	Used extensively on the web. Supports only 256 colors, so requires lossy quantization for full-color photos. Uses non-lossy compression.
.jpeg .jpg	Joint Photographic Experts Group	Used extensively on the web. Uses lossy compression; the quality can vary greatly depending on the compression settings.
.xpm	X-Pixmap	Used almost exclusively on UNIX platforms. Uses no compression.
.psd	Photoshop Document	Standard Adobe format for Photoshop documents. Has many extra features such as image layering. Supported by very few programs other than Adobe Photoshop.
.psp	Paint Shop Pro Document	Standard Jasc format for Paint Shop Pro documents, similar to .psd for Photoshop. Supported by very few other programs.

Common Vector Graphics Formats
file type	proper name	description
.ps	PostScript	Generic vector-based page description language, created and owned by Adobe.
.eps	Encapsulated PostScript	A PostScript file that describes a small vector graphic, as opposed to a whole page.
.pdf	Portable Document Format	A PostScript file containing multiple pages and links, that works with Adobe Acrobat Reader or Adobe eBook Reader.
.ai	Adobe Illustrator Document	Vector format for Adobe Illustrator.
.fh	Macromedia Freehand Document	Vector format for Macromedia Freehand.
.swf	Shockwave Flash	Shockwave Flash is a web page plug-in that displays vector based animations. The Flash authoring tool from Macromedia is required in order to author .swf documents.
.fla	Flash Source File	Shockwave Flash source file, only usable by Macromedia Flash authoring software.
.svg	Scalable Vector Graphics	An XML based vector graphics format, as defined by the W3 consortium for use in web browsers.