Image conversion
A large number of image file formats are available for storing graphical data, and, consequently, there are a number of issues associated with converting from one image format to another, most notably loss of image detail.
Software compatibility
Many image formats are native to one specific graphics application and are not offered as an export option in other software, due to proprietary considerations. An example of this is Adobe Photoshop's native PSD-format(Prevention of Significant Deterioration), which cannot be opened in less sophisticated programs for image viewing or editing, such as Microsoft Paint. Most image editing software is capable of importing and exporting in a variety of formats though, and a number of dedicated image converters exist.
Image compatibility is the ability of an image to be displayed or used on different devices and software. Different image formats are compatible with different devices and software, so converting an image to a different format can help to ensure that it is compatible with a wider range of devices and software.
For example, if you have an image in a format that is not supported by a particular device or software, you may need to convert it to a different format in order to use it. This is especially important if you are sharing images online or using them in a professional context, as you want to ensure that they are accessible to as many people as possible.
There are many tools available for converting images from one format to another, including online image conversion tools and image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. It is generally a good idea to choose a tool that is easy to use and that produces high-quality results.
In addition to converting images to different formats, it is also important to consider the file size of the image. Large image files can take longer to load and may not be suitable for certain devices or software, so it may be necessary to resize or compress the image in order to make it more compatible.[1]
Loss due to compression
Besides uncompressed formats and lossless compression formats that can usually be interconverted without any loss of detail, there are compressed formats such as JPEG, which lose detail on nearly every compress. While a conversion from a compressed to an uncompressed format is in general without loss, this is not true the other way around. Even a compressed-uncompressed-compressed round trip without any image manipulation may incur some loss of detail[2].
Loss due to format change
Like any resampling operation, changing image size and bit depth are lossy in all cases of downsampling, such as 30-bit to 24-bit or 24-bit to 8-bit palette-based images. While increasing bit depth is usually lossless, increasing image size can introduce aliasing or other undesired artifacts.
RAW images
More expensive digital cameras usually offer the option to shoot in Raw image format. RAW is not a standardized format, in fact, RAW-formats even differ between camera models from the same vendor[citation needed]. Data in a RAW-file is structured according to the Bayer filter's pattern in cameras that use a single image sensor. Debayering, the process of obtaining bitmap data from a RAW-image is always a lossy operation.[3] In addition, some downsampling is always performed, again reducing image information.
See also
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- ^ "CNETANALYSIS – Compress WebP, PNG and JPEG images intelligently". CNETANALYSIS – Compress WebP, PNG and JPEG images intelligently. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "Image conversion". Image conversion. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "CNETANALYSIS – Compress WebP, PNG and JPEG images intelligently". CNETANALYSIS – Compress WebP, PNG and JPEG images intelligently. Retrieved 2022-12-22.