File types
Different file types can be determined by the suffix on the file name, for example, a JPEG file might be called “filename.jpeg” or “filename.jpg.” The most common file types are sufficient for most uses, they are:
JPG: example: “filename.jpg” or “filename.jpeg.” This is the native or internal file format for most cameras. It is the best starting and ending point for photo editing. It is a compressed format, and you will get good results even with small files. Rule of thumb: Always use this format for emailing. NEVER send an email attachment larger than 500k. (Good photos can be sent less than 250 Kbytes.)
PSD: example: “filename.psd.” This is the Photoshop format. It contains all the working information. Use this format as you work on a file. When you are finished “save as” a
.jpg.
BMP: example: “filename.bmp.” Uncompressed bitmap file. Common from scanners. Pull into Photoshop and work on it as a .psd then convert to a .jpg to compress it to make it smaller.,
TIFF: example: “filename.tiff.” Another compressed format, found on some cameras. It is good for taking pictures and getting them into the editor. Although compressed, this format is lossless, so some prefer it for high resolution editing and publishing.
GIF: example: “filename.gif.” The original file compression format promulgated in the
early days of computer photos. It is still used extensively on the web: it has an animation feature. Gif images are very popular for graphics, as they have a limited range of colors (256 maximum) which makes very small file sizes. Not commonly used for editing or emailing anymore, since JPG images have a wider color range. For photos, JPGs have surpassed GIFs in common usage.
RAW: example: “filename.raw.” You might see this proprietary (meaning it has slight variations by different manufacturers) format if you have a very high end 6 megapixel or greater camera. These formats promise better picture quality than .jpg files, but most except the most discerning will not notice.
There are several other formats you might encounter. They are all just ways of storing the picture on a disk in a way that other software programs can read them. To find out more about any particular format, use a search engine such as www.google.com to locate additional information.
Batteries
All that computing power and the LCD mean that your camera needs lots of power. Whatever your camera, plan on using rechargeable batteries and learning how to use the charger. You will need it often. There are two types of batteries, proprietary ones which
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