Three graphic file formats are commonly used on the Internet:
GIF, JPEG, and TIFF. The following table describes how these formats
are used.
| Format | HTML Page Graphics | Hot Link Graphics | Downloadable File |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| JPEG | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TIFF | No | No | Yes |
As you can see in the table above, these formats have a lot of uses. The choice then becomes which file format is proper for what you are trying to do. In the table below we discuss other characteristics of these files as they relate to the Internet.
The following table further describes the differences among the
three graphics file formats.
| Format | 256 Colors | Compression |
|---|---|---|
| GIF | Yes | Good |
| JPEG | No | Excellent |
| TIFF | Yes | Fair |
Using these two tables you can now make a more informed decision
on what file format to use, depending on your specific need. For
example, if the images you place up on the Internet are images
or diagrams with little color or black and white images, then
you might want to save them in the GIF file form. If, on the other
hand, you are trying to post 24-bit color images, then you would
want to use JPEG. TIFF's strongest point is that it is fairly
generic platform-to-platform. Which format you choose is up to
you. Experiment to find the right mix.
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"Prepare Graphics for the Internet," online version. © 1996 by Micrografx, Inc.