| File Types and Formats |
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| You can select the file format when you save a scanned image. You need
to select a format appropriate to the way in which the scanned image will
be used and the application programs in which it will be used. The formats
that different application programs and computer systems (Windows or Macintosh)
can handle vary. The following describes the characteristics of each file
format. |
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| BMP Files |
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| This is the standard bitmap format for Windows. Almost all Windows applications
support it. It is often used when an image file will only be used with
Windows. It generally employs the [*.bmp] file name extension. |
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| PICT Files |
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| This is the standard graphics file format for the Macintosh. Most Macintosh
applications support it. You are not likely to encounter problems if you
use it for images that will only be handled by Macintosh systems. This
file format cannot be selected in the Windows version of CanoScan Toolbox. |
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| JPEG Files |
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This is the image format advocated by the Joint Photographic Experts
Group, an ISO subgroup. It is often utilized on websites and by digital
cameras. This format's main characteristic is a high compression ratio,
which ranges from 1/10 to 1/50 of the original file size. However, it utilizes
an irreversible or lossy compression method; it losses some of the data
and it cannot be reversed. Consequently, the image quality deteriorates
somewhat. As a result, deterioration in the image gradually becomes noticeable
after it has been opened, edited and saved several times. It generally
employs the [*.jpg] file name extension.
This format cannot be selected when the image type is set to Black and
White. |
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| Exif Files |
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| An acronym for Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Camera
file, a standard file format promoted by the Japan Electronic Industry
Development Association. A standard file format used by many digital cameras.
It adds information, such as the shooting date, camera model name, shutter
speed, scene capture type and user comment, to the JPEG file format and
is compatible with JPEG files. These files are generally given the [.jpg]
file extension name as well. For use with printers supporting the direct
print function, the file format version must be Exif 2.2 or later. CanoScan
Toolbox can create files in this format. |
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| TIFF Files |
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| Short for Tagged Image File Format, this format can be used on various
computer platforms and in many applications, ranking it relatively high
on the compatibility scale. However, sometimes it contains incompatible
data since it adds data called a tag that controls how the image is decompressed
to the start of the file. It generally employs the [*.tif] file name extension. |
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| PDF Files |
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| Short for Portable Document Format, this format was developed by Adobe
Systems Inc. and is based on the Postscript (page description) language
for use with the reader program, Adobe Acrobat Reader/Adobe Reader, for
viewing and printing images. Adobe Acrobat Reader/Adobe Reader is distributed
as free software and since it can be used with various computer platforms
and operating systems, people using different operating systems and fonts
can exchange PDF files. In addition, the file sizes are relatively small,
making PDF files suitable for network environments. |
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PhotoStudio File
A proprietary file format for the PhotoStudio retouching program.
The Windows version uses the ".PSF" file name extension.
This format can save each layer* separately, but the results are
not compatible with the JPEG format and other common file formats
and generally cannot be handled by other retouching programs. To
make the images usable with other programs, first merge the layers
into one and use the [Save As] menu to save the image in a common
format, such the JPEG format. |
| * |
Layers are transparent sheets
that may contain images or parts of images and can be independently
manipulated or combined with other layers to form an image. |
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