File formates

JPG is a raster/bitmat file, it uses lossy compression. You would save files as JPG if you were puting it on the internet or sending to your mates. You would not use a JPG file formate for posters or profashonal use. The down side to JPG is once you have saved it to make the file smaller you can't get those colours back.

GIF files is a raster/bitmap, it uses lossless compression. You would save drawings, line art or maps in a GIF file. You wouldn't use it for photos. The down side to GIF is there's a maximum of 256 colours.

PNG is a raster/bitmap file, it uses lossless compression. You would save photos in a PNG file. You wouldn't use it in layers because it Doesn't store any additional information. The downside of PNG files is that they are large therefor takes some time to load.

PSD files is a raster/bitmap, it uses lossless compression. You would use a PSD file for layers, masks, transparency. You would not use PSD files for puting on the web because it has large file sizes. The dowside is that it takes up a lot of storage.

AI and EPS files are very simaler, they both use lossless compression. You would use them for instructs. They are no good for photos. The downside to them is you can't use photos.

file types

Lossy compression is commonly used for compressing pictures, audio and video files to reduce the amount of storage it uses like reducing the pictures colours to the point where the quality is still there.

Lossless compression is were an image can't be reduced because you can't take any pixels or remove pixels.

The advantages of JPG file is it can be reduced a lot without loosing the quality to the human eye. The disadvantages is that big companies won't use JPG because they want as much quality in the images, and JPG images aren't very high quality.

Graphics tablets

A graphics tablet is where you draw pictures onto your computer for games or cartoons. There are 6 different types of graphic tablets from A1-6. The cost of the graphics tablets can vary from £50-£1500 depending on, the size, quality and sensitivity.

Normally the more expensive the graphics tablet, the bigger and better the sensitivity so you can get a more realistic response. But you can be ripped off from an unknown company if you are not careful.