Photoshop can recognize many different image formats. Some of the formats and their file extensions are:
* Photoshop Format: PSD files are Photoshop specific. Since they preserve layer and channel information, users can continually edit and adjust images using the PSD file.
* CompuServe Graphic Interchange Format: GIF files are most commonly used for Web-based line art such as logos and buttons. Since this format can only support a maximum of 256 colors, GIFs are also popular for images that have only a few colors.
* Joint Photographic Experts Group: JPEG files support full color palettes; therefore, when saving photographic images to use on the Web, the best format is JPEG. A word of caution when using JPEG format: Every time a JPEG file is closed, the file recompresses; therefore, editing and adjusting should be done using the PSD file so image quality is not lost with multiple recompressions.
* Bitmap: BMP files
* Tagged Image File Format: TIFF files
* Portable Networks Graphic: PNG files are a relatively recent graphic format, designed for use on the web. However, not all web browsers recognize PNG files, so be aware of this if you are creating graphics for use on the web.
How do I open images that are stored in various formats?
To open a graphic that is not stored in Photoshop format (.psd), pull down the File menu and select Open.
The "Open" dialog window will appear.
Make sure that the "Files of type:" field reads "All Formats." If it does not, click on the down arrow to the right of the field and choose "All Formats" from the drop down list.
With All Formats selected, all image files in the selected directory that Photoshop can read will be displayed.
Select the desired file by clicking on it, then click Open to display the graphic in the Photoshop work area.
Credit to Dr. Mary Nicholson
