Choosing a file format

Different file formats cater to the needs of different applications. The file format you choose depends on the content of your image and how you plan to use it. For example, if you're saving an image for use in a page-layout application, TIFF format and Photoshop EPS format are your best bets. If you're saving an image for use on the Web, you should choose JPEG, GIF, or PNG format. Then there are the specialized formats for use in specific applications, such as Filmstrip, PCX, Pixar, and Targa.

Until you've finished creating an image and have decided how you want to use it, you should save the image in Photoshop format or Photoshop PDF format. Photoshop format (PSD) is the default file format for newly created images and supports all image data that Photoshop Elements is capable of producing--layers, shapes, editable type, and so on. Photoshop PDF format (PDP) also supports all of Photoshop Elements' features and is portable to other Adobe applications, such as Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Illustrator. Saving your image in either of these formats guarantees that you will be able to access all of the image data when you reopen the image.

Note: If you choose a format that does not support all of the data in an image, a warning appears at the bottom of the Save As dialog box. If you see this warning, it is recommended that you save a copy of the file in Photoshop format or Photoshop PDF format in order to support all of the image data.

For more information about specific file formats, see Saving images in specific formats.

Saving Images > About file formats > Choosing a file format