What file format should I use when shooting and saving black-and-white photos?
Asked 11/16/2016
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2 answers
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I want to shoot black-and-white photos and I'm unsure which file format is best. Should I capture in RAW, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, or something else? I'm also wondering if the best format changes depending on whether I'm editing the image, sharing it online, or printing it.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
10
Shoot in RAW, and export on whatever format you like. JPEG for example.
For print it can be on TIFF. And you could export at grayscale at 16 bits. But that is only for specialized usage. For most users, JPEG is fine.
An additional note. If you are editing your photo using Photoshop, keep your working files in Photoshop, masks, layers. And again, export to JPEG.
I will summarize that you have 3 types of files.
1) Original Files (RAW, or your original JPEG from the camera)
2) Working files (PSD, Gimp file, the recipe of the photo in lightroom)
3) Output files (JPEG, some resampled photos to upload to some website, TIFF files to be printed professionally, the new JPEG file you converted to grayscale from the original color photo, etc.)
Originally by user37321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user37321
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Shoot in RAW if your camera supports it. RAW preserves the most image data and gives you the most flexibility for converting and editing black-and-white images later.
A practical workflow is:
- original file: RAW (or the camera JPEG if you must)
- working/editing file: PSD, XCF, or your editor’s project/catalog format if you use layers or non-destructive edits
- output file: depends on use
Common outputs:
- JPEG: best for everyday sharing and general use
- TIFF: good for professional printing or specialized workflows
- PNG: lossless option for processed images when file size is less important
In short: capture in RAW, edit in your software’s working format if needed, then export to JPEG for most uses or TIFF for print. If you’re using Photoshop, keep layered working files as PSD and export separate final files as needed.
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