When it comes to web designing, the file format of your images can have a significant impact on the performance as well as the user experience of your website. While many file formats are suitable for web use, some are not recommended at all. Do you want to know which they are? Well then, just follow this article, that focuses on this specific query “Which file format is not recommended for web use?”
Which file format is not recommended for web use?
As mentioned earlier there are ample file formats that are available for web use, but as they say not everything works similarly, and likewise, this is true in terms of websites too.
So, here are two major file formats that are not recommended for web use.
- TIFF or TIF.
- RAW.
TIFF or say Tagged Image File Format is not recommended for web use due to its large size and lack of browser support, while RAW file format is specially made for photo editing purposes.
Now, to give you a better idea about these two file formats, we have tried to jot down some basic details in brief.
What is a TIFF file format?
Developed in the 1980s, the Tagged Image File Format also abbreviated as TIFF is a raster-based file format that holds the lossless feature.
Meaning, this file format is used for storing high-quality images which makes it a perfect fit for photography and desktop publishing.
Talking about its versatility, it is supported by most image editing and processing software, and because of its lossless feature, it has become a popular choice for graphic designers, photographers and printing companies as it allows them to work with high-quality images without worrying about any loss of quality or detail.
TIFF files can also support multiple images within a single file, transparency, and can include metadata.
However, as mentioned earlier they are large in size and lack browser support, which is why they are not perfect for web use.
What is a RAW file format?
Read After Write (RAW) is another type of file format that is widely preferred by photographers around the world.
The main reason that this file format is a hot favorite for professionals is that it allows them to play with every minute detail of the photo, ranging from exposure, white balance, and color information.
This is the perfect reason why RAW files are also known as “digital negatives“
However, like TIFF this particular file format also comes in an uncompressed format and large size. Plus the images need to be converted to be shared, printed or used online.
And this very reason makes this file type a no-no for web usage.
So, what can be done to make your website look more polished?
Are there any file formats that are supported by browsers and can be easily uploaded to the internet?
Find out more in the next section.
Which file formats can be used for web use?
There are a few file formats available that are specially meant for web use, like;
- JPEG
- PNG
- GIF
- WebP
So, let’s take a look at each of them briefly.
JPEG:
Joint Photographic Experts Group shortly known as JPEG is an image file format that is widely accepted for web usage.
Why?
Because it uses lossy raster image compression which is a perfect choice for web pages. Although it loses details when compressed, the changes are not easily visible to the human eye.
Additionally, the websites that are using this file format will be snappy in terms of performance and download, which again will be beneficial to the visitors.
So, it is a win-win situation for both the parties.
PNG:
The second recommended file format to use on the web is PNG. Now, PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics, and by default, it is a lossless raster format. Meaning, though it is based on pixelation, it won’t lose its original quality after the compression process.
This file format has built-in transparency, but it can also display higher depths that translate to millions of colors. And last but the most important part, it is widely supported by most image editing softwares and web browsers, thus making it a favorite choice for web use.
GIF:
GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) is also a lossless raster format, which with the rise of meme culture is widely used over the internet nowadays.
Apart from internet memes, they are also widely used to produce animated graphics, email images and banner ads.
However, to use a high-quality GIF on a website, you need to have a high-quality image because GIF is locked to 256 colors.
WebP:
WebP is a file format that was developed by Google in the year 2010 to provide high-quality lossless and lossy file compression.
It compresses the image in such a way that it doesn’t hamper the original sharpness of the image while saving server space, which is again essential for a website in terms of performance.
Conclusion:
With the availability of many file formats, a user can get overwhelmed with what file format to be used and what not to be while on the web.
But, not anymore, as with this discussion we have successfully concluded that both TIFF and RAW formats are bad choices for web use.
However, you can still go for JPEG or WebP file format without any second thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the current maximum size of a TIFF file?
The current maximum size of a TIFF file is 4 GB as it uses 32-bit offset architecture.
How are TIFF files saved?
TIFF files are generally saved using the 24-bit to 64-bit color formats. Least, it can store at 16-bit.
Can RAW files be recovered without any data loss?
RAW files are based on lossless file format, so yes, they can be recovered without any data loss.
Can RAW files be printed?
If an editing program like Lightroom supports the printing process, then yes, a RAW file can be easily printed.
