Linda44 writes: I need to learn which format is best for saving my photos: JPEG, TIFF, PSD, PDD, BMP, PICT, PNG. I really don't understand which format is best for what. Is there a list that would tell when to use which one, and explain why? Also, when I am saving [JPEG], a box comes up asking if I want to save it in Baseline, Baseline Optimized, or Progressive. I have NO idea which of these is best!

• If the images are for the Web or online, use JPEG, PNG, or GIF.
• If the images are for print, use TIFF.
• If you want to keep a version that remains editable, choose your software's native file format. (PSD for Photoshop, PSP for Paint Shop Pro, CPT for Corel Photo-Paint, etc.)

Here are brief descriptions of common graphics file formats, with links to follow for more information:

JPEG - JPEG is best for photos when you need to keep the file size small and don't mind giving up some quality for a significant reduction in size. JPEG is not suitable for images with text, large blocks of color, or simple shapes, because crisp lines will blur and colors can shift. Only JPEG offers the options of Baseline, Baseline Optimized, or Progressive.

• Baseline (Standard) - This JPEG format is recognized by all Web browsers.
• Baseline Optimized - This JPEG format option provides optimized color and slightly better compression. It is supported by all modern browsers, but was not supported in the very earliest of Web browsers. It's your best choice for JPEG files today.
• Progressive - Creates a JPEG file that displays gradually as it downloads, starting out blocky, and gradually getting clearer as it downloads. It doesn't make the image download any faster, but it can give the illusion of speed since the blocky image is loaded right away on a slow connection. With the majority of internet users on high speed connections today, Progressive JPEG is rarely used.

TIFF - TIFF is good for any type of bitmap (pixel-based) images. TIFF produces large files, but there is no loss in quality. TIFF also preserves layers, alpha transparency, and other special features when saved from Photoshop. The type of extra information stored with TIFF files varies in different Photoshop versions, so consult Photoshop's help for more information.

PSD, PDD - PSD and PDD are Photoshop's native format. Use PSD when you need to preserve layers, transparency, adjustment layers, masks, clipping paths, layer styles, blending modes, vector text and shapes, etc. The PDD extension was used in Adobe PhotoDeluxe (now discontinued), but it is identical to PSD format and the two can be used interchangeably.

BMP - Use BMP for any type of bitmap (pixel-based) images. BMPs are huge files, but there is no loss in quality. BMP has no real benefits over TIFF, except you can use it for Windows wallpaper.

PICT - PICT is an old, Mac-only bitmap format, similar to BMP for Windows. PICT is not often used today.

PNG - Use PNG when you need smaller file sizes with no loss in quality. PNG files are usually smaller than TIFFs, in my experience. PNG also supports alpha transparency (soft edges) and was developed to be a Web graphics replacement for GIF.

GIF - Use GIF for simple Web graphics having limited colors. GIF files are always reduced to 256 unique colors or less and they make very small, fast-loading graphics for the Web. GIF is great for Web buttons, charts or diagrams, cartoon-like drawing, banners, and text headings. GIF is also used for small, compact Web animations. GIF should rarely be used for photos.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia professionals and graphic and Web designers using 3D and motion, as well as professionals in engineering and science, Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended software delivers all the features in Photoshop CS4, plus new features for working with 3D imagery, motion-based content, and advanced image analysis.

Version CS4 features revolutionary 3D painting and compositing, adds 3D object and property editing and fluid canvas rotation.

Photoshop is the professional standard in digital imaging, with an endless selection of drawing tools, filters, and color-adjustment capabilities for manipulating items in almost any way. Originally designed for bitmap images, Photoshop lets you create eye-catching typography by placing text on paths or within shapes, perform shadow and highlight correction, explore expanded color-matching features, parlay efficient layer comps, and preview, search, and share images. Oh, and it's also the premiere program for managing home digital printing.

CS3 Extended includes support for rendering and integrating 3D images into 2D composites and video layer editing. There's also a greatly modified help menu to take the edge off your learning curve, with built-in how-to's on Preparing Art for Other Applications, Printing Photos, Working with Color and Type, and more. From simply lightening dark photos to improving color and contrast, to adding objects or people that weren't originally in the picture, Photoshop is an excellent tool whose innovative features meet any professional need.

Though it's an excellent software tool, the trial version demands a lot of download time, hard drive space, and RAM for rendering and other heavy tasks. However, the trial is fully functional, letting you edit, save, print, and export files, making it easier to assess this expensive product. Keep in mind that Photoshop has a steep learning curve, so great results take time and training.

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Fix brightness, color and photo imperfections like red eye in a few clicks, or use precision photo-editing controls to create photos you'll be proud to share.

Despite a slightly annoying installation process, version X2 (read: 12) of Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo continues to offer the same high performance and full feature set of earlier editions. The digital image-editing program will fit the needs of many photographers and designers.

A well-designed and intuitive interface offers easy access to all of your digital images, and the individual components--such as tool selectors, palettes, and layer windows--can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the screen. Excellent one-click photo adjustments such as Smart Photo Fix or One Step Noise Removal will be godsends for photographers with busy schedules.

One of the most noticeable updates in X2 is the new graphite workspace theme, which gives the app a slick, 21st century look. A tabbed interface makes switching between photos a breeze, and the library organizer is available as either a palette tool or another tab in the image browser.

The organizer is one of the strongest features of Paint Shop Pro Photo, and a new Express Lab feature makes batch editing even easier. We did notice a CPU slowdown when using the organizer with large libraries, but otherwise the application was quite stable, even when editing very large BMP files. A new Learning Center provides contextual help for specific features, but we found searching the regular help topics to be more informative.

The installation is the most disappointing part of the trial. It requires registering for a free Corel account, which in turn requires a valid e-mail address. Adobe uses the same practice, but it's an annoying trend. You should also note that within the "Advanced" installation setting, Paint Shop Pro Photo is automatically set to become the default application for all your major image-file formats.

Once you get Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 installed and working on your machine, you'll find a very powerful photo editor and organizer that is quite easy to learn and use. A full 30-day trial gives you plenty of time to determine whether or not you'd like the full version.

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GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely distributed piece of software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It is a powerful piece of software with capabilities not found in any other free software product. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert-quality photo-retouching program, an online batch-processing system, a mass production image renderer, or an image-format converter. GIMP is modular, expandable, and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image-manipulation procedures to be easily scripted.

The volunteer developers of The GIMP have been working hard to develop a polished, user-friendly, and freely distributed image editor. Although the separated palette windows may disturb those users who are used to more traditional layouts, your comfort level should grow exponentially as you discover how pain-free the program is.

One of the most powerful general-purpose image editors around, the upgrades make the GNU Image Manipulation Program eminently comparable to Photoshop. Older features include channels, layers and masks, filters and effects, tabbed palettes, editable text tools, perspective clone, improved printing, and color operations such as levels. New improvements include GEGL integration for 32-bit color support, dynamic brushes, and more options for the free select tool. It even has regex-based pattern matching for power users.

The application provides professional tools that can stand against the big boys without the hefty price tag. Even the installation process has gotten simpler, with no need to download and install the GTX Runtime Environment separately. Extremely powerful and easy to work with, GIMP is ideal for both amateur and pro photographers, Web designers, or anyone who wants to create and edit professional-quality digital images on a budget.

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Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 software combines power and simplicity so you can easily tell great stories with your photos. Make your photos look their best whatever your level of editing experience--a friendly new design and step-by-step editing assistance help get you started. Easily perform more advanced retouching and enhancing thanks to easy image-selection tools, amazing composing capabilities. Share your stories in imaginative photo books, scrapbook pages, slide shows, and interactive web galleries. And always find and view all your photos and video clips with ease.

With an impressive collection of flexible tools, Adobe Photoshop Elements is one of the most powerful consumer-level photo editors around. Batch processing, image layering, cloning, and Web optimization are just a few of the software's time-saving tools.

It's taken a while for Elements to crawl out from the shadow of its celebrity sibling, Photoshop, but these days you'd be hard-pressed to find similarities between the two. There's the occasional familiar dialog box and a handful of traditional Photoshop interface quirks that may elude newbies, but if Photoshop CS is the "pro" version, Elements is for the average consumer.

Overall, there seems to be more and better creative content in Elements 5, and it's generally easier to use than its predecessor. The organizer and photo downloader have buckets of new features, including useful tweaks to stacking, map integration, and more. However, the imaging tools aren't keeping pace. The new additions--black-and-white conversion, curve-based correction, distortion correction, and a different take on sharpening--offer little more than new interfaces for old problems.

The tutorials and help tools do a great job of demystifying the labyrinthine interface, but if you're looking for a basic tool for common graphic tasks, there are plenty of lower-priced options that are much easier to master. Photoshop Elements is definitely worth a look, though, if you're looking for a significant boost in creativity and productivity.

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With the rise in popularity and affordability of digital cameras, the variety and quality of digital-photography software has likewise skyrocketed in recent years. Many new cell phones come with digital cameras built in, and photo-sharing sites such as Flickr, Webshots, and Snapfish have made posting your pictures online a breeze.

Many of the programs within Digital Photo Tools will perform an array of valuable photo functions, such as importing, organizing, displaying, and editing your photos. Some of the popular and highly rated programs in the category are ACDSee 8 Photo Manager, FlipAlbum Standard, and free programs Kodak EasyShare and StudioLine Photo Basic. Other, focused programs offer more functionality and features for specific tasks. Image-editing tools are among the most popular programs on Download.com, including fabulous freeware such as IrfanView, FastStone Image Viewer, XnView, and the powerful open-source tool The GIMP. Commercial programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro also have a long history of excellence.

Media-management software helps keep your photo collection in control. Google's Picasa program dominates the category with more than a million downloads, but nearly 200 other products are competing to knock it from its throne. For making sure your camera is using the latest internal software, be sure to search the Digital Camera Firmware category for your make and model. The Digital Photo Center ties the whole ball of yarn together, with digital camera reviews from CNET Reviews, tips for perfecting your pictures, and tools for creating your own online photo albums.