File Formats: JPEG vs. PDF

The amount of people using computers at work is increasing every year. Even occupations that were typically free from computer use are starting to see devices added into their daily workflow. While younger generations have no problem with using a computer at work, many older Americans struggle to adapt to new technology at their workplace.

But whether you are new to computers, or you’ve been using a device since you came out of the womb, there is something that confuses almost everyone; file formats for digital documents.

While every document might seem similar online, there are actually many different types of formats. And the specific format of a file will determine how you can share them, how you can use them, and where you can upload and download them.

Two of the most common picture formats is the JPEG and PDF file. But how do these compare? Read on below to learn more now.

JPEG Definition

So what is JPEG when it comes to image formats? The JPEG is one of the most common photo formats for digital files. It stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group.

JPEGs compress large photographic images into smaller, shareable image files. Modern digital cameras take photos that contain an astounding amount of detail. The standard image file is very large, making it impractical to store and use online.

Images taken with digital cameras use the JPEG format as a global standard. JPEG photos are able to store metadata. This is data included with the image that contains things like when a photo was taken, and what camera settings were used.

To create a JPEG, the image gets compressed. JPEGs use a process called “lossy compression” where visual data that the naked eyes cannot see is removed from the image.

That means some of the quality and level of detail are lost during compression. You sacrifice some of that in order to create a shareable image size.

JPEGs are the standard for using images on social media, websites, email, and many other small formats. You wouldn’t, however, use a JPEG image on a billboard, as blowing up the image that large would result in a low-quality image.

Using JPEGs

JPEG image files are the easiest to use across the web. If you have files that aren’t JPEGs, you can easily convert them into JPEGs.

For example, if you have a photograph taken with a modern iPhone, the image file is probably HEIC. This is native to Apple technology and is hard to use online.

However, taking a screenshot of the image results in a JPEG. Likewise, you can open your HEIC or another image file on a computer, and then export it into a JPEG for ease of use on the web.

What Is a PDF?

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It’s the most common for various documents, such as bank statements, essays, or anything else containing text, as opposed to images.

PDF documents can contain multiple pages within a single file. They are printer-friendly. And they display consistently across any type of device.

One of the main benefits of using PDF files is that you can enlarge the content in the document without losing image quality, unlike a JPEG. PDF files are frequently used for creating text-based documents.

But they also offer image support. It’s a versatile format. PDF files can be much larger than JPEG image files as they can retain much more image quality than JPEGs can.

So when you initially create a PDF, the file size might be too large to send in an email. Or it may take far too long to upload to an online server.

In this case, it’s easy to compress PDF files. This is a similar process to what happens with JPEGs.

However, with PDFs, you aren’t actually losing any of the original image quality. The result is a smaller, lighter file that looks almost identical to the original.

JPEG vs PDF

JPEGs are primarily used for images, be they photographs or digital graphics. They are the preferred file format for displaying images on websites, social media, or sending them through email or text message.

They are compressed image files, removing some of the original image quality in order to make them nimble enough to share with ease. JPEGs aren’t suited to other types of documents, such as text-based documents.

PDF files, on the other hand, are more versatile. They support both images and text-based documents. They retain the original image quality and can be sized up or down with ease.

If you want to share a document that can be edited by another person, such as a form to sign, you’ll see a PDF. Likewise, if you want to create a document that is printer-friendly, you’ll use a PDF. But PDF files are naturally larger and may be more difficult to share unless you manually compress them first.

Other Important Types of File Formats

JPEG and PDF files might be the most common, but there are a few others you should be familiar with. PNG files are also common among images.

They are primarily used for digital graphics, as opposed to photographs. When designers create digital art, icons, or web elements, they are usually PNG files.

These are image files that support a transparent background. This will allow you to layer a particular image on top of other images, or on top of elements on a website.

You may also notice GIF image files. These are image files that support image cycling. Essentially, they are mini video-based clips but are compiled with multiple image files.

If you work with designers, you may notice files ending with the .psd or .ai file extension. PSD means it’s a file native to photoshop. AI means it’s a file native to Adobe Illustrator.

These are workable files, rather than finished projects. These files can be imported into their respective software programs and be edited. If you don’t have access to that software, you won’t be able to open these files.

Know Your Files

File formats are confusing to most people, whether they are technologically inclined or technologically incompetent. But taking the time to learn about the basic file types, such as JPEG and PDF is worth your while.

You’ll be using these files a lot whether you realize it or not. Make your life a little easier by knowing how they work.

Looking for more tech tips like this? Browse our blog today to find other helpful articles.