1-17Basic Concepts
You will generally save your scanned images as graphic files.
Several graphic file formats are available for use, and each file
format has its own advantages and disadvantages.
To get the best scans, be familiar with the pros and cons of
each file format and how they are compatible with your
image-editing software and printing equipment.
File formats
File format Description
TIFF
Short for Tagged Image File Format, probably the
most popular format. Adept at storing bitmaps in
many different resolutions, color models, and
compression types, and supported by many commer-
cial applications.
Use the TIFF format whenever possible , since this is
the most widely used.
EPS
Short for Encapsulated PostScript. Good for storing
vector drawings, but not for line art. Ideal for print
applications because it offers more control when
printing to a PostScript printer.
PSP
Adobe Photoshop's internal image format.
GIF
A format used to store images with 256 colors or 256
shades of gray. Mostly used by BBS services and
some low-end graphic applications.
JPEG
A compression algorithm used to store large color or
grayscale files. Some versions of this compression
format may result in minor degradation of image
quality.
PCX
Developed by Z-Soft for use in various paint pro-
grams. Also suitable for scanned images and is
widely supported for PC use.