EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript. An EPS file is a DSC (Document Structuring Conventions) conforming standard file format for Postscript files. Sometimes EPS files are also called as EPSF that is Encapsulated PostScript Format. EPS files are postscript programs that describes an image or drawing and can be placed with another post script documents. The extension used for EPS files is .eps.

EPS files are the most versatile file formats available. EPS files contain a small preview image that is used to visualize the content of file. Without this preview the applications would have to directly render the postscript data inside EPS. With this preview image you need not the postscript interpreter to display the content of EPS file. If an EPS is sent to printer that does not support PostScript then once again it is the preview image that will be printed.

GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)

GIF stands for Graphic Interchange Format. GIF was developed by CompuServe to provide color image format replacing black and white images. GIF format enabled downloading the larger images in a very short time and even with very slow modems. There are two versions of GIF format. One is 87a and other is 89a. 89a is enhanced version of 87a supporting animation delays, transparent background colors and storing the application specific data. GIF file uses the extension .gif.

GIF file formats are widely used on the web. GIF file format is a 8 bit format which means the maximum number of colors it can support us 256. GIF file uses LZW compression for small size files. It is a lossless compressed file which means better quality and clear images.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG format was named after the Joint Photographic Experts Group who created the standard. It is the most common image format used by digital cameras and other photographic image capture devices. It is a commonly used method of lossy compression for photographic images. Lossy compression means that the image that you get out after compression is not quite identical to the original one. The extension used for JPEG file formats is .jpg or .jpeg.

The JPEG file formats are used for storing and transmitting the photographic images on world wide web. JPG compression has very high efficiency because it is designed to give very small files without the requirement for full recoverability. Web pages and email files need to be very small and fast through the modem so this file format is very useful there.