Image file format: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Standardized means of organizing and storing digital images}}

==Introduction==

{{About|digital image formats used to store photographic and other images|disk-image file formats|Disk image|digital file formats in general|File format|introductory information on Wikipedia's use of images|Wikipedia:Images}}

'''Image file formats''' provide a standardized method of organizing and storing image data. This article deals with digital image formats used to store photographic and other image information. Image files are made up of picture elements, called [[pixels]]. The pixels that comprise an image are in the form of a grid of columns and rows. Each of the pixels in an image store digital number representing brightness and color.

{{Redir|Image format|the camera sensor format|Image sensor format}}

{{Original research|date=August 2025}}

An '''image file format''' is a [[file format]] for a digital image. There are many formats that can be used, such as [[JPEG]], [[PNG]], and [[GIF]]. Most formats up until 2022 were for storing 2D images, not 3D ones. The data stored in an image file format may be compressed or uncompressed. If the data is compressed, it may be done so using [[lossy compression]] or [[lossless compression]]. For graphic design applications, [[vector graphics|vector]] formats are often used. Some image file formats support [[Transparency (graphic)|transparency]].

'''Image file sizes''', expressed in [[bytes]], increase with the number of pixels in the image, and the color depth of the pixels. The more rows and columns, the greater the [[image resolution]] and the greater the file size. Also, each pixel making up the image increases in size as color depth is increased. An 8-bit pixel (1 byte) can store 256 colors and a 24-bit pixel (3 bytes) can store 16 million colors The later is known as ([[true color]].) Image compression is used to decrease file sizes, and this will be discussed later.

Raster formats are for [[2D image]]s. A 3D image can be represented within a 2D format, as in a [[stereogram]] or [[autostereogram]], but this 3D image will not be a true [[light field]], and thereby may cause the [[vergence-accommodation conflict]].

'''High resolution cameras''' lead to large image files. Files sizes may range from hundreds of kilobytes to many megabytes depending on the cameras resolution and the format used to save the images. High resolution [[digital cameras]] record 8 megapixels (MP) images, or more, in true color. Consider an image taken by an 8 MP camera. Since each of the pixels uses 3 bytes to record true color, the uncompressed image would occupy 24,000,000 bytes of memory. That is a lot of storage space for just one image, and cameras must store many images to be practical. Faced with large file sizes, both within the camera, and later on disc, image file formats have been developed to address the storage problem. An overview of the following image file formats, '''JPEG (JPG), GIF, TIFF (TIF), PNG, BMP''' is given below.

Image [[Computer file|files]] are composed of digital data in one of these formats so that the data can be displayed on a digital (computer) display or printed out using a printer. A common method for displaying digital image information has historically been [[Raster graphics|rasterization]].

==Image file compression==

'''The two categories of file compression''' are: [[lossy]] and [[lossless]]. The lossy compression algorithm takes advantage of the limitations of the human visual senses and discards information that would not be sensed by the eye. The loss of information is tolerable, and in many cases goes unnoticed. Files size is reduced as file compression is increased. At a point image deterioration becomes noticeable. Lossless algorithms compress the image data with no loss in image quality, but this results in larger files than the lossy algorithms.

== Image file sizes ==

'''A comparison of the images''' displayed below show the greater file size of images saved in the PNG format. The photo, when viewed at its full 4 MP resolution, will show differences in quality.

The size of raster image files is positively correlated with the number of pixels in the image and the color depth (bits per pixel). Images can be compressed in various ways, however. A compression [[algorithm]] stores either an exact representation or an approximation of the original image in a smaller number of bytes that can be expanded back to its uncompressed form with a corresponding decompression algorithm. Images with the same number of pixels and color depth can have very different compressed file sizes. Considering exactly the same compression, number of pixels, and color depth for two images, different graphical complexity of the original images may also result in very different file sizes after compression due to the nature of compression algorithms. With some compression formats, images that are less complex may result in smaller compressed file sizes. This characteristic sometimes results in a smaller file size for some lossless formats than lossy formats. For example, graphically simple images (i.e., images with large continuous regions like line art or animation sequences) may be losslessly compressed into a GIF or PNG format and result in a smaller file size than a lossy JPEG format.

For example, a 640{{resx}}480 pixel image with 24-bit color would occupy almost a megabyte of space:

[[Image:CandyJaracp.jpg|left|thumb|250px|JPG file size 877 KB]]

[[Image:CandyJaracp.png|left|thumb|250px|PNG file size 4,043KB]]

:640{{resx}}480{{resx}}24 = 7,372,800 bits = 921,600 bytes = 900 [[KiB]]

<br><br><br><!-- breaks are for formatting -->

With vector images, the file size increases only with the addition of more vectors.

==Major graphic file formats==

There are many graphic file formats, if we include the proprietary types. The PNG, JPG, and GIF formats are most often used to display Internet mages. These graphic formats are listed and briefly described below.

== Image file compression ==

===JPEG ===

There are two types of '''[[image file compression]]''' algorithms: [[lossless]] and [[lossy]].

'''The [[JPEG]] (Joint Photographic Experts Group)''' image files are a lossy format.. The filename extension is JPG. Nearly all digital cameras have the option to save images in JPEG format, some at different compression levels, such as “fine” and “standard.” The JPEG format supports full color and produces relatively small file sizes. Fortunately, the compression in most cases does not distract noticeably from the image. But, JPEG files do suffer generational degradation when repeated edited and saved. These files are best kept in original form. Because of the compression algorithm “artifacts” (blemishes) sometime appear.

===TIFF===

'''The [[TIFF]] (Tagged Image File Format)''' image files are a lossless format. The filename extension is TIF. Some digital cameras have the option to save images in the TIFF format. These files use the [[LZW]] compression algorithm which results in lossless files. Because no image data is lost, this format is used when the ultimate in image quality is desired. Another advantage of TIFF files is that they suffer no generation degradation during file manipulation. The TIFF files support 32-bit color depth (true color). The TIFF files sizes are larger that the JPEG file sizes, because JPEG takes advantage of its lossy compression. The TIFF image format is not widely supported by web browsers, and should not be used on the Internet.

'''Lossless compression''' algorithms reduce file size while preserving a perfect copy of the original uncompressed image. Lossless compression generally, but not always, results in larger files than lossy compression. Lossless compression should be used to avoid accumulating stages of re-compression when editing images.

===RAW===

'''The [[RAW image format]]''' is file option available on some digital cameras. It uses a lossless compression and produces file sizes much smaller than the TIFF format. Unfortunately, the RAW format is not standard among all cameral manufacturers and some graphic programs and image editors may not accept the RAW format. The better graphic editors can read some manufacturer's RAW formats.

'''Lossy compression''' algorithms preserve a representation of the original uncompressed image that may appear to be a perfect copy, but is not a perfect copy. Often lossy compression is able to achieve smaller file sizes than lossless compression. Most lossy compression algorithms allow for variable compression that trades image quality for file size.

===Exif===

'''The [[Exif]] (Exchangeable image file) ''' format is an algorithm incorporated in the JPEG software used in most cameras. Its purpose is to record and to standardize the exchange of data between digital cameras and editing and viewing software. The data is recorded for individual images and includes such things as; camera settings, time and date, shutter speed, exposure, image size, compression, name of camera, color information, etc. When images are viewed or edited by image editors, such as Paint Shop Pro, all of this image information can be displayed.

== Major graphic file formats ==

*A listing of the EXIF [[metadata]] for the JPG candy jar image can be viewed by clicking the small icon below the image.

{{See also|Comparison of graphics file formats#Technical details}}

<imagemap>

File:Image_formats_by_scope.svg|thumb|center|upright=3|Categorization of common image file formats by scope (''imagemap'')

rect 26 4 94 28 [[Digital photography]]

===PNG===

rect 241 8 322 33 [[Image editing]]

'''The [[PNG]] (Portable Network Graphics) ''' file format does everything that the GIF format does and does it better. The PNG file format supports true color (16 million colors) whereas the GIF file format only 256 colors. PNG excels when the image has large areas of uniform color. The lossless PNG format is best suited for editing pictures, and the lossy formats like JPG are best for storage because of smaller file size. [[Comparison_of_web_browsers#Image_format_support|Many older browsers]] do not yet support the PNG file format. The [[Adam7_algorithm|Adam7]]-interlacing allows an early preview even when only a small percentage of the data of the image has been transmitted.

rect 432 4 498 28 [[Digital art]]

rect 5 132 51 156 [[Raster graphics]]

rect 456 132 508 156 [[Vector graphics]]

rect 241 265 322 289 [[Publishing]]

rect 240 128 323 154 [[Image file format]]

rect 5 34 112 64 [[Raw image format]]

rect 117 56 158 99 [[EXR file]]

rect 172 41 205 96 [[GIMP]]

rect 211 40 261 96 [[Adobe Photoshop]]

rect 268 40 313 96 [[Krita]]

rect 318 40 368 96 [[Adobe Illustrator]]

rect 375 40 429 95 [[Inkscape]]

rect 436 40 485 96 [[Adobe InDesign]]

rect 29 72 66 117 [[High Efficiency Image File Format]]

rect 73 72 112 242 [[JPEG]]

rect 118 108 157 163 [[TIFF]]

rect 28 249 67 271 [[GIF]]

rect 73 250 112 284 [[WebP]]

rect 119 236 157 283 [[AVIF]]

rect 162 101 229 282 [[JPEG XL]]

rect 119 168 157 230 [[PNG]]

rect 273 170 321 244 [[Scalable Vector Graphic]]

rect 333 124 381 245 [[PDF]]

rect 387 147 437 195 [[PostScript]]

desc bottom-left

===GIF===

</imagemap>

'''The [[GIF]] file format''' is not used for photographic work because of its color limitations. It is still used extensively on the Internet because of the great reservoir of GIF images available, and because it supports animation. But, is being superseded by the PNG format. The GIF format does well with images having 256 colors, or less. It is not at all suitable for photographs.

Including proprietary types, there are hundreds of image file types. The PNG, JPEG, and GIF formats are most often used to display images on the Internet. Some of these graphic formats are listed and briefly described below, separated into the two main families of graphics: raster and vector. Raster images are further divided into formats primarily aimed at (web) delivery (i.e., supporting relatively strong compression) versus formats primarily aimed at authoring or interchange (uncompressed or only relatively weak compression).

===BMP===

'''The [[BMP]] (bit mapped) format''' is used internally in the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating system to handle graphics images. These files are typically not compressed resulting in large files. The main advantage of BMP files is their wide acceptance and use in Windows programs. But, because of file size they are not suitable for file transfer. Computers using Windows are likely to find BMP images in file. Scanned images are in BMP form.

In addition to straight image formats, '''[[Metafile]]''' formats are portable formats that can include both raster and vector information. Examples are application-independent formats such as [[Windows Metafile|WMF]] and [[Enhanced Metafile|EMF]]. The metafile format is an intermediate format. Most applications open metafiles and then save them in their own native format. '''[[Page description language]]''' refers to formats used to describe the layout of a printed page containing text, objects, and images. Examples are [[PostScript]], [[PDF]], and [[Printer Command Language|PCL]].

=== Raster formats (2D) ===

{{further|Raster graphics}}

==== Delivery formats ====

===== JPEG =====

[[JPEG]] (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a [[lossy compression]] method; JPEG-compressed images are usually stored in the '''[[JFIF]]''' (JPEG File Interchange Format) or the '''[[Exif]]''' (Exchangeable Image File Format) file format. The JPEG [[filename extension]] is '''JPG''' or '''JPEG'''. Nearly every digital camera can save images in the JPEG format, which supports eight-bit grayscale images and 24-bit color images (eight bits each for red, green, and blue). JPEG applies lossy compression to images, which can result in a significant reduction of the file size. Applications can determine the degree of compression to apply, and the amount of compression affects the visual quality of the result. When not too great, the compression does not noticeably affect or detract from the image's quality, but JPEG files suffer [[Generation loss|generational degradation]] when repeatedly edited and saved. (JPEG also provides lossless image storage, but the lossless version is not widely supported.)

===== GIF =====

The '''GIF''' ([[Graphics Interchange Format]]) is in normal use limited to an 8-bit palette, or 256 colors (while 24-bit color depth is technically possible).<ref name=aminet>{{cite web|url=http://uk.aminet.net/docs/misc/GIF24.readme |title=GIF 24 Bit (truecolor) extensions |author=Andreas Kleinert |year=2007 |access-date=23 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316215949/http://uk.aminet.net/docs/misc/GIF24.readme |archive-date=16 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name=philhoward>{{cite web|url=http://phil.ipal.org/tc.html |title=True-Color GIF Example |author=Philip Howard |access-date=23 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222123613/http://phil.ipal.org/tc.html |archive-date=22 February 2015 }}</ref> GIF is most suitable for storing graphics with few colors, such as simple diagrams, shapes, logos, and cartoon-style images, as it uses [[LZW]] lossless compression, which is more effective when large areas have a single color and less effective for photographic or [[dither]]ed images. Due to GIF's simplicity and age, it achieved almost universal software support. Due to its animation capabilities, it is still widely used to provide image animation effects, despite its low compression ratio compared to modern video formats.

===== PNG =====

The '''PNG''' ([[Portable Network Graphics]]) file format was created as a free, open-source alternative to GIF. The PNG file format supports 8-bit (256 colors) paletted images (with optional transparency for all palette colors) and 24-bit truecolor (16 million colors) or 48-bit truecolor with and without an alpha channel – while GIF supports only 8-bit palettes with a single transparent color.

Compared to JPEG, PNG excels when the image has large, uniformly colored areas. Even for photographs – where JPEG is often the choice for final distribution since its lossy compression typically yields smaller file sizes – PNG is still well-suited to storing images during the editing process because of its lossless compression.

PNG provides a patent-free replacement for GIF (though GIF is itself now patent-free) and can also replace many common uses of TIFF. Indexed-color, grayscale, and truecolor images are supported, plus an optional alpha channel. The [[Adam7]] interlacing allows an early preview, even when only a small percentage of the image data has been transmitted—useful in online viewing applications like [[web browser]]s. PNG can store gamma and chromaticity data, as well as [[ICC profile]]s, for accurate color matching on heterogeneous platforms.

Animated formats derived from PNG are [[Multiple-image Network Graphics|MNG]] and [[APNG]], which is backwards compatible with PNG and supported by most browsers.

===== JPEG 2000 =====

[[JPEG 2000]] is a compression standard enabling both lossless and lossy storage. The compression methods used are different from the ones in standard JFIF/JPEG; they improve quality and compression ratios, but also require more computational power to process. JPEG 2000 also adds features that are missing in JPEG. It is not nearly as common as JPEG but it is used currently in professional movie editing and distribution (some digital cinemas, for example, use JPEG 2000 for individual movie frames).

===== WebP =====

[[WebP]] is an open image format released in 2010 that uses both lossless and lossy compression. It was designed by [[Google]] to reduce image file size to speed up web page loading: its principal purpose is to supersede JPEG as the primary format for photographs on the web. WebP is based on [[VP8]]'s intra-frame coding and uses a container based on [[Resource Interchange File Format|RIFF]].

In 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://groups.google.com/a/webmproject.org/group/webp-discuss/browse_thread/thread/4ab76cbde89e6ade/23512e5a1ed1dab0 |title=WebP-Mux (RIFF based container) framework |last=Arora |first=Vikas |date=3 October 2011 |work=[[Google Groups]] |access-date=18 November 2011 |archive-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070636/https://groups.google.com/a/webmproject.org/group/webp-discuss/browse_thread/thread/4ab76cbde89e6ade/23512e5a1ed1dab0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Google added an "Extended File Format" allowing WebP support for [[animation]], [[ICC profile]], [[Extensible Metadata Platform|XMP]] and [[Exif]] [[metadata]], and tiling.

The support for animation allowed for converting older animated GIFs to animated WebP.

The WebP container (i.e., RIFF container for WebP) allows feature support over and above the basic use case of WebP (i.e., a file containing a single image encoded as a VP8 key frame). The WebP container provides additional support for:

* Lossless compression – An image can be losslessly compressed, using the WebP Lossless Format.

* Metadata – An image may have metadata stored in EXIF or XMP formats.

* Transparency – An image may have transparency, i.e., an alpha channel.

* Color Profile – An image may have an embedded ICC profile as described by the International Color Consortium.

* Animation – An image may have multiple frames with pauses between them, making it an animation.<ref>{{cite web |title=WebP Container Specification |url=https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/riff_container |website=Google Developers |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518091634/https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/riff_container |url-status=live }} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016050101/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |date=2017-10-16 }}.</ref>

===== HDR raster formats =====

Most typical raster formats cannot store [[High dynamic range imaging|HDR]] data (32 bit floating point values per pixel component), which is why some relatively old or complex formats are still predominant here, and worth mentioning separately. Newer alternatives are showing up, though. [[RGBE image format|RGBE]] is the format for HDR images originating from [[Radiance (software)|Radiance]] and also supported by Adobe Photoshop. [[JPEG-HDR]] is a file format from Dolby Labs similar to RGBE encoding, standardized as JPEG XT Part 2.

[[JPEG XT]] Part 7 includes support for encoding floating point HDR images in the base 8-bit JPEG file using enhancement layers encoded with four profiles (A-D); Profile A is based on the RGBE format and Profile B on the XDepth format from Trellis Management.

===== HEIF =====

The [[High Efficiency Image File Format]] (HEIF) is an image container format that was standardized by [[MPEG]] on the basis of the [[ISO base media file format]]. While HEIF can be used with any image compression format, the HEIF standard specifies the storage of [[HEVC]] intra-coded images and HEVC-coded image sequences taking advantage of inter-picture prediction.

===== AVIF =====

AVIF is an image container, that is used to store AV1 encoded images. It was created by [[Alliance_for_Open_Media|Alliance for open media (AOMedia)]] and is completely open source and royalty-free. It supports encoding images in 8, 10 and 12-bit depth.

===== JPEG XL =====

[[JPEG XL]] is a royalty-free raster-graphics file format that supports both lossy and lossless compression. It supports reversible recompression of existing JPEG files, as well as high-precision HDR (up to 32-bit floating point values per pixel component). It is designed to be usable for both delivery and authoring use cases.

==== Authoring / Interchange formats ====

=====TIFF=====

The '''TIFF''' ([[Tag Image File Format]]) format is a flexible format usually using either the '''TIFF''' or '''TIF''' filename extension. The tag structure was designed to be easily extendible, and many vendors have introduced proprietary special-purpose tags – with the result that no one reader handles every flavor of TIFF file. TIFFs can be lossy or lossless, depending on the technique chosen for storing the pixel data. Some offer relatively good lossless compression for [[bi-level image|bi-level (black&white) images]]. Some digital cameras can save images in TIFF format, using the [[LZW]] compression algorithm for lossless storage. TIFF image format is not widely supported by web browsers, but it remains widely accepted as a photograph file standard in the printing business. TIFF can handle device-specific color spaces, such as the [[CMYK]] defined by a particular set of printing press inks. [[Optical character recognition|OCR]] (Optical Character Recognition) software packages commonly generate some form of TIFF image (often [[monochromatic]]) for scanned text pages.

===== BMP =====

The '''[[BMP file format]]''' (Windows bitmap) is a raster-based, device-independent file type designed in the early days of computer graphics. It handles graphic files within the Microsoft Windows OS. Typically, BMP files are uncompressed and therefore large and lossless; their advantage is their simple structure and wide acceptance in Windows programs.

===== PPM, PGM, PBM, and PNM =====

[[Netpbm format]] is a family including the '''portable pixmap''' file format (PPM), the '''portable graymap''' file format (PGM), and the '''portable bitmap''' file format (PBM). These are either pure [[ASCII]] files or raw binary files with an ASCII header that provide very basic functionality and serve as a lowest common denominator for converting pixmap, graymap, or bitmap files between different platforms. Several applications refer to them collectively as PNM ("'''P'''ortable a'''N'''y '''M'''ap").

=====Container formats of [[raster graphics editors]]=====

These image formats contain various images, layers and objects, out of which the final image is to be composed

* AFPhoto ([[Affinity Photo]] Document)

* [[Chasys Draw IES|CD5]] ([[Chasys Draw IES|Chasys Draw]] Image)

* [[Clip Studio Paint|CLIP]] (Clip Studio Paint)

* [[Corel Photo Paint|CPT]] (Corel Photo Paint)

* [[Krita|KRA]] (Krita)

* MDP ([[MediBang Paint|Medibang]] and FireAlpaca)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fileinfo.com/extension/mdp |title=.MDP File Extension |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

* [[Paint.net|PDN]] (Paint Dot Net)

* PLD ([[PhotoLine]] Document)

* [[Adobe Photoshop#File format|PSD]] (Adobe PhotoShop Document)

* [[Corel Paint Shop Pro|PSP]] (Corel Paint Shop Pro)

* [[Paint Tool SAI|SAI]] (Paint Tool SAI)

* [[XCF (file format)|XCF]] (eXperimental Computing Facility format)—native [[GIMP]] format

==== Other raster formats ====

* BPG ([[Better Portable Graphics]])—an image format from 2014. Its purpose is to replace JPEG when quality or file size is an issue. To that end, it features a high [[data compression ratio]], based on a subset of the [[HEVC]] video compression standard, including [[lossless compression]]. In addition, it supports various meta data (such as EXIF).

* DEEP—[[Interchange File Format|IFF]]-style format used by [[TVPaint]]

* [[Drawn File|DRW]] (Drawn File)

* [[ECW (file format)|ECW]] (Enhanced Compression Wavelet)

* [[FITS]] (Flexible Image Transport System)

* [[FLIF]] (Free Lossless Image Format)—a discontinued lossless image format which claims to outperform PNG, lossless WebP, lossless BPG and lossless JPEG 2000 in terms of compression ratio. It uses the MANIAC (Meta-Adaptive Near-zero Integer Arithmetic Coding) entropy encoding algorithm, a variant of the [[CABAC]] (context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding) entropy encoding algorithm.

* [[ICO (file format)|ICO]]—container for one or more icons (subsets of [[BMP file format|BMP]] and/or [[PNG]])

* [[ILBM]]—[[Interchange File Format|IFF]]-style format for up to 32 bit in planar representation, plus optional 64 bit extensions

* [[ERDAS IMAGINE|IMG]] (ERDAS IMAGINE Image)

* IMG ([[Graphics Environment Manager]] (GEM) image file)—planar, [[Run-length encoding|run-length encoded]]

* [[JPEG XR]]—JPEG standard based on Microsoft HD Photo

* [[Nrrd]] (Nearly raw raster data)

* [[PAM graphics format|PAM]] (Portable Arbitrary Map)—late addition to the [[Netpbm format|Netpbm family]]

* [[PCX]] (PiCture eXchange)—obsolete

* [[Progressive Graphics File|PGF]] (Progressive Graphics File)

* [[Silicon Graphics Image|SGI]] (Silicon Graphics Image)—native raster graphics file format for Silicon Graphics workstations

* [[MrSID|SID]] (multiresolution seamless image database, MrSID)

* [[Sun Raster]]—obsolete

* [[Truevision TGA|TGA]] (TARGA)—obsolete

* [[VICAR file format]]—[[NASA]]/[[JPL]] image transport format

* XISF (Extensible Image Serialization Format)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pixinsight.com/xisf/ |title=XISF |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

=== Vector formats ===

{{further|Vector graphics}}

As opposed to the raster image formats above (where the data describes the characteristics of each individual pixel), vector image formats contain a geometric description which can be rendered smoothly at any desired display size.

At some point, all vector graphics must be rasterized in order to be displayed on digital monitors. Vector images may also be displayed with analog [[Cathode-ray tube|CRT]] technology such as that used in some [[electronic test equipment]], [[medical monitors]], [[radar]] displays, [[laser shows]] and [[Spacewar!|early video games]]. [[Plotter]]s are printers that use vector data rather than pixel data to draw graphics.

==== CGM ====

CGM ([[Computer Graphics Metafile]]) is a file format for [[vector graphics|2D vector graphics]], raster graphics, and [[character (computer)|text]], and is defined by '''[[ISO/IEC]] 8632'''. All [[computer graphics|graphical]] elements can be specified in a textual [[source file]] that can be compiled into a [[binary file]] or one of two text representations. CGM provides a means of graphics data interchange for computer representation of 2D graphical information independent from any particular application, system, platform, or device.

It has been adopted to some extent in the areas of [[engineering drawing|technical illustration]] and professional [[Industrial design|design]], but has largely been superseded by formats such as [[SVG]] and [[DXF]].

==== Gerber format (RS-274X) ====

The [[Gerber format]] (aka Extended Gerber, RS-274X) is a 2D bi-level image description format developed by [[Ucamco]]. It is the de facto standard format for [[printed circuit board]] or PCB software.<ref name="Gerber spec">{{cite web|url=http://www.ucamco.com/en/guest/downloads|title=Gerber File Format Specification|publisher=Ucamco|access-date=2016-03-21|archive-date=2016-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331165112/https://www.ucamco.com/en/guest/downloads|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== SVG ====

SVG ([[Scalable Vector Graphics]]) is an [[open standard]] created and developed by the [[World Wide Web Consortium]] to address the need (and attempts of several corporations) for a versatile, [[JavaScript|scriptable]] and all-purpose vector format for the web and otherwise. The SVG format does not have a compression scheme of its own, but due to the textual nature of [[XML]], an SVG graphic can be compressed using a program<!--/algorithm/scheme?--> such as [[gzip]]. Because of its scripting potential, SVG is a key component in [[web application]]s: interactive web pages that look and act like applications.

==== Other 2D vector formats ====

* AFDesign ([[Affinity Designer]] document)

* AI ([[Adobe Illustrator Artwork]])— proprietary file format developed by [[Adobe Systems]]

* CDR—proprietary format for [[CorelDRAW]] vector graphics editor

* !DRAW—a native vector graphic format (in several backward compatible versions) for the [[RISC-OS]] computer system begun by Acorn in the mid-1980s and still present on that platform today

* [[DrawingML]]—used in [[Office Open XML file formats|Office Open XML documents]]

* GEM—metafiles interpreted and written by the [[Graphics Environment Manager]] VDI subsystem

* GLE ([[Graphics Layout Engine]])—graphics scripting language

* [[HP-GL]] (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language)—introduced on [[Hewlett-Packard]] plotters, but generalized into a printer language

* HVIF ([[Haiku Vector Icon Format]])

* [[Lottie (file format)|Lottie]]—format for vector graphics animation

* [[MathML]] (Mathematical Markup Language)—an application of XML for describing mathematical notations

* [[NAPLPS]] (North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax)

* ODG ([[OpenDocument Graphics]])

* PGML ([[Precision Graphics Markup Language]])—a [[W3C]] submission that was not adopted as a [[W3C recommendation|recommendation]]

* [[PSTricks]] and [[PGF/TikZ]] are languages for creating graphics in [[TeX]] documents

* QCC—used by Quilt Manager (by Quilt EZ) for designing quilts<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fileinfo.com/extension/qcc |title=.QCC File Extension |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

* [[ReGIS]] (Remote Graphic Instruction Set)—used by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[computer terminal]]s

* [[Remote imaging protocol]]—system for sending vector graphics over low-bandwidth links

* TinyVG—binary, simpler alternative to SVG<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tinyvg.tech/ |title=TinyVG |access-date=2023-01-31 |archive-date=2023-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109224807/https://tinyvg.tech/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

* VML ([[Vector Markup Language]])—obsolete XML-based format

* [[Xar (graphics)|Xar]]—format used in vector applications from [[Xara]]

* XPS ([[XML Paper Specification]])—page description language and a fixed-document format

==== 3D vector formats ====

{{off topic |List_of_file_formats#Computer-aided_design|date=May 2021}}

* [[Additive Manufacturing File Format|AMF]] – Additive Manufacturing File Format

*[[Asymptote (vector graphics language)|Asymptote]] – A language that lifts TeX to 3D.

*[[.blend]] – Blender

*[[COLLADA]]

*[[DGN]]

*[[.dwf]]

*[[.dwg]]

*[[.dxf]]

*eDrawings<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edrawingsviewer.com/frequently-asked-questions |title=Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

*[[.flt]] – [[OpenFlight]]

*[[FVRML]] – and FX3D, function-based extensions of VRML and X3D

*[[glTF]] - 3D asset delivery format (.glb binary version)

*HSF<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fileinfo.com/extension/hsf |title=.HSF File Extension |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

*[[IGES]]

*[[JT (visualization format)|JT]]

*.MA (Maya ASCII format)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.fileformat.com/3d/ma/ |title=What is an MA file? |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

*.MB (Maya Binary format)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.fileformat.com/3d/mb/ |title=What is an MB file? |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

*.OBJ [[Wavefront .obj file|Wavefront]]

*[[OpenGEX]] – Open Game Engine Exchange

*[[PLY]]

*[[POV-Ray]] scene description language

*[[PRC (File format)|PRC]]

*[[ISO 10303|STEP]]

*[[SketchUp|SKP]]

*[[STL (file format)|STL]] – A stereolithography format

*[[U3D]] – Universal 3D file format

*[[VRML]] – Virtual Reality Modeling Language

*[[XAML]]

*XGL<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cadinterop.com/en/formats/mesh/xgl.html |title=XGL Guide for CAD Interoperability: Optimal Visualization and Conversion of 3D Models |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

*[[XVL]]

*[[xVRML]]

*[[X3D]]

*3DF<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fileinfo.com/extension/3df |title=.3DF File Extension |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

*.3DM<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000601.shtml |title=3D Model File Format Family |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

* [[.3ds]] – Autodesk 3D Studio

*[[3DXML]]

*X3D – Vector format used in 3D applications from [[Xara]]

=== Compound formats ===

{{see also|Metafile}}

These are formats containing both pixel and vector data, possible other data, e.g. the interactive features of PDF.

*EPS ([[Encapsulated PostScript]])

*[[MODCA]] (Mixed Object:Document Content Architecture)

*PDF ([[Portable Document Format]])

*[[PostScript]], a [[page description language]] with strong graphics capabilities

*[[PICT]] (Classic Macintosh QuickDraw file)

* WMF / EMF ([[Windows Metafile]] / Enhanced Metafile)

*[[SWF]] (Shockwave Flash)

*[[XAML]] User interface language using vector graphics for images.

=== Stereo formats ===

* MPO The [[JPEG#JPEG Multi-Picture Format|Multi Picture Object]] (.mpo) format consists of multiple JPEG images ([[Camera & Imaging Products Association]]) (CIPA).

* PNS The PNG Stereo (.pns) format consists of a side-by-side image based on PNG ([[Portable Network Graphics]]).

* JPS The [[JPEG Stereo]] (.jps) format consists of a side-by-side image format based on [[JPEG]].

==See also==

*[[Display resolution]]

*[[Display aspect ratio]]

*[[List of common display resolutions]]

*[[Display resolution standards]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Graphics file formats}}

==External Links==

*[http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/mxr/gfx/2d/BMP.txt Description of Bitmap graphics file]

*[http://www.webstyleguide.com/graphics/gifs.html Educational treatment of GIF, PNG, and JPG file formats]

[[Category:Graphics file formats|*]]

[[Category:Lists of file formats]]

[[Category:Vector graphics markup languages]]