JPEG files are compressed but support “true color” (24 bit) and are the preferred format for photographs where image quality matters. JPEG supports a progressive format that allows for an almost immediate image that will improve in quality as the rest of it loads. Unlike a GIF file, the compression for JPEG files can be controlled by the web designer, which allows for different levels of picture quality and file size. All browsers can display GIF files. JPEG Advantages: Large compression ration mean faster download speeds, Produces excellent quality for photographs and complex drawings and Supports 24-bit color.
PNG is a fairly recent format that was introduced as an alternative to GIF files. PNG supports up to 24 bit color, transparency, interlacing and can hold a short text description of the image’s content for use by search engines. Unfortunately, most browsers do not support PNG and the ones that do support it, don’t support all of its features yet. But that will change in the future. PNG Advantages: Overcomes the 8-bit color limitation of GIF, Allows text description of the image for search engine use, Supports transparency and Diagrams look better than they do in JPEG.
Most web graphics are raster images or bitmaps, which consist of a grid of colored pixels. Drawing and illustrations should be created as vector graphics which consist of mathematical descriptions of each element that makes up the lines shapes and color of the image. Vector graphics are created by drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand and are the graphic artists choice for creating drawings. Vector graphics must be converted to either GIF, JPEG OR PNG format to be used on a web page.
Website Designers could choose either the GIF or JPEG format for most uses. But, since the file size of a GIF is usually small than the file size of a JPEG, most web designers will use the GIF format for backgrounds, boxed, frames and any other graphical element that look fine using 8-bit color. Most designers will select the JPEG format for photographs and illustrations where the compression doesn’t compromise the visual quality of the image. As PNG becomes fully supported by most web browsers, it will probably replace GIF as the web designer’s choice for non-photographic page elements. However, GIF will still be used for animation. GIF and JPEG are universally supported and the web designer’s choice is determined by the graphic element being used.
PNG is a fairly recent format that was introduced as an alternative to GIF files. PNG supports up to 24 bit color, transparency, interlacing and can hold a short text description of the image’s content for use by search engines. Unfortunately, most browsers do not support PNG and the ones that do support it, don’t support all of its features yet. But that will change in the future. PNG Advantages: Overcomes the 8-bit color limitation of GIF, Allows text description of the image for search engine use, Supports transparency and Diagrams look better than they do in JPEG.
Most web graphics are raster images or bitmaps, which consist of a grid of colored pixels. Drawing and illustrations should be created as vector graphics which consist of mathematical descriptions of each element that makes up the lines shapes and color of the image. Vector graphics are created by drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand and are the graphic artists choice for creating drawings. Vector graphics must be converted to either GIF, JPEG OR PNG format to be used on a web page.
Website Designers could choose either the GIF or JPEG format for most uses. But, since the file size of a GIF is usually small than the file size of a JPEG, most web designers will use the GIF format for backgrounds, boxed, frames and any other graphical element that look fine using 8-bit color. Most designers will select the JPEG format for photographs and illustrations where the compression doesn’t compromise the visual quality of the image. As PNG becomes fully supported by most web browsers, it will probably replace GIF as the web designer’s choice for non-photographic page elements. However, GIF will still be used for animation. GIF and JPEG are universally supported and the web designer’s choice is determined by the graphic element being used.
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