A file format is how a file is encoded, indicated by its extension: JPEG and TIFF for images, MP4 for video, PDF for documents, PSD for layered design files. It is not the same as a rendition: the format is the encoding, while a rendition is a specific output produced in a chosen format and size.
Why it matters
The right format depends on the use: a print job needs a high-resolution TIFF or PDF, the web needs a compressed JPEG or WebP, an editor needs the layered source. Choosing and preserving the correct formats protects both quality and reusability.
How it shows up in practice
A DAM stores the master in a high-fidelity format and generates lighter renditions on demand, and it preserves source files like PSD or RAW so assets can be re-edited later. File-naming conventions always retain the extension so systems recognize the file.
Common mistakes
- Keeping only a flattened export and losing the editable source file.
- Serving uncompressed formats to the web, slowing pages down.
- Stripping or altering extensions so systems fail to open files.
Stacks covers this in its guide to file types.