Which file format is recommended for black-and-white photographs?

Arts · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

For black-and-white photographs, the recommended file format would typically be TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). TIFF is often preferred if you need high quality without any loss of detail, as it supports lossless compression and preserves all the image data. This is particularly important for black-and-white images, where the subtleties of shading and detail are crucial.

JPEG can still be a good choice, especially for web use or situations where file size is a concern, and it can be set to a low compression level to maintain image quality. However, owing to its lossy compression, it may not keep all of the nuances of a black-and-white photograph if compressed too much.

For archival purposes or situations where you might edit the photo further, a TIFF is likely the best choice. If you're looking to share online or have limitations on storage space, a high-quality JPEG may suffice.