File formats and lossy versus lossless

RAW vs JPEG

RAW Files:

Advantages

1. Complete data from camera

2. Higher in dynamic range

3. Gives more control over how the image looks

Disadvantages: 

1. Takes up a lot of space

JPEG Files:

Advantages:

1. Readable by any program

2. Small file size

3. Immediately suitable for printing, sharing, or posting on the internet

Disadvantages:

1. Lower in dynamic range

Why photographers would shoot using RAW 

1. A RAW file captures and preserves all of the data.

2. The photographer can change white balance, contrast, highlights, shadows, colors, and saturation. 

3. The photographer need to consider the facts that not all cameras have the ability to make RAW images, RAW files are significantly larger and the fact that a RAW file can be converted to a JPEG, but not the other way around.

4. An aspiring professional photographer would need to shoot in RAW format because it offers more flexibility and processing options that are necessary in the professional world. 

Image File Formats

1. I have previously used .jpeg, .png, and .nef file formats. 

2. Raster files are composed of pixels, while vector files are composed of lines and curves. 

Lossy vs Lossless

JPEG: Lossy

TIFF: Lossless

PSD: Lossless

NEF: Lossless

Common uses

JPEG: Internet and immediate printing

TIFF: Photograph standard in printing business

PSD: Creation of complex images with layers, shading and gradients

NEF: Editing

Can my Camera create this type of file?
JPEG: yes
TIFF: no
PSD: no
NEF: yes