Re: EPS vs TIFF file formats (non-vector)

[Thomas Michanek <tmi@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 15 Dec 1998, Jay Smith wrote:

> There are advantages (two, at least) to saving images in EPS file
> format instead of TIF (TIFF) format.  
> 
> 1) Even though EPS files are usually 2x the size of TIF, they will
> often load and show on the screen faster [...]
> 
> 2) Applications (such as Framemaker) usually read and *interpret* all
> the image date of TIF files.  However, since the applications don't
> (or usually don't) read the actual image data of EPS, they can't screw
> it up -- the only read the header and preview. [...]
> 
> The only disadvantages that I have encountered (and I am sure there
> are more) is that a) in my experience, NON-postscript printers don't
> know what to do with EPS images and 2) EPS files tend to be twice the
> size, even with the most compact encoding.

A few more disadvantages, in my experience:

* If you work in a cross-platform environment and you happen to receive
  an EPS file without a preview bitmap, they will display on systems
  with Display PostScript (e.g. Solaris), but not on other systems,
  i.e. you may not even be aware of the missing preview.

* Some preview bitmap formats are not cross-platform compatible, and
  you may receive EPS files with non-supported preview formats.

* TIFF files come in many variations, and you may very well receive
  TIFF files that are incompatible with your software.

These are general issues. If you only talk about PDF generation, I
can agree that EPS is probably the best format.

> The moral is that before creating lots of TIF or EPS non-vector image
> files, you would do well to test the different options and then
> announce a *standard* that is expected.

Hear, hear!


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Thomas Michanek, Documentation Manager, Telelogic Tau
Telelogic AB, Teknikringen 9, SE-58330 Linkoping, SWEDEN
PHONE/FAX:  +46 (0)13 200656/212166
EMAIL:  mailto:Thomas.Michanek@telelogic.com
WWW 1:  http://www.telelogic.com
WWW 2:  http://hem1.passagen.se/framers
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