Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which types of files are considered lossless?

1. RAW, DNG, TIFF, PSD

2. JPG, PNG, GIF

3. BMP, JPEG, TIFF

4. PSD, JPG, DNG

The correct answer is: RAW, DNG, TIFF, PSD

The types of files that are considered lossless include RAW, DNG, TIFF, and PSD. These file formats preserve all the data from the original image, making them ideal for professional photographers who need the highest quality for editing and printing. RAW files are uncompressed and contain all the data captured by the camera's sensor, enabling extensive post-processing flexibility without losing image quality. DNG (Digital Negative) is a publicly available format developed by Adobe that also retains full image data while offering options for better compatibility and archiving. TIFF files are known for their high-quality and versatility in handling different color depths and multiple layers, making them a popular choice for print work. PSD files, created by Adobe Photoshop, maintain layer information and other editing capabilities, allowing for non-destructive editing. Understanding these lossless formats is crucial for photographers as they ensure that the integrity of the image is maintained throughout the editing process and provides the best outcomes for final prints or digital display. The other file formats listed, such as JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP, do not all provide the same level of quality preservation, with JPG being a commonly used lossy format that compresses the image and can result in loss of detail.