JPEG

Photopedia

12 September 2007 09:56

JPEGs are the most widely used digital file type. They take all the information from a digital picture and then compress it into a relatively small file. The compression allows the file to use less memory but it also loses a certain amount of quality in the process.

As such it is sometimes known as a lossy file. Every time you save a JPEG it gets more compressed, which means that the picture is losing more image detail with each save.

Eventually this results in your picture suffering from horrible jagged edges. Digital cameras allow you to choose the quality of JPEGs, while picture-editing programs also allow you to select the amount of compression.

If your images are suffering from jagged edges you may need to increase the quality in your camera. Lower quality JPEGs are suitable for small prints and the web, but you will need to increase the JPEG quality in your camera for larger prints, or even select another file type for higher quality use.

Remember – you cannot increase the quality of a JPEG once it has been shot.