When I render to a file, what format should I save as...BMP, RGB, JPEG or? Assuming that I will take that image to an image editor such as Photoshop to compress or edit for web, or what have you. In otherwords wich file format will give the truest of quality. Thanks

If you save as a .bmp then you have a good quality image with which to work and it's best to have good quality to start with so when you save for the web you don't loose too much of the quality. Catlin

If you want it to work w/ printing services, wouldn't you go with TIF in this case? I render to BMP anyways, but I still get confused on the reason why some things have to be TIF (CMYK-related?). MD

If you want to do postwork on your render, - do NOT save it as a .jpg. Jpgs is a compressed format, even if you save your image at the highest quality, it will have color losses. BPM is an OK format, - but you'd need to convert it to either post it on the web, or print it. I prefer to save all my images as .TIFFs. It has several advantages; it has no color-loss, and more important, it can save layers. When it comes to .tiff format and print, I'm not so sure, I took a photography to my local walmart in CMYK/tiff format, and could not use their hour print facility. When I asked them, they said that the images had to be rgb/jpg format. But to sum it up, my image archive is no matter of origin (photos, bryce, poser, terragen) made with .tiffs. Before I put an image up on the web, I photoshop it; and use the "save for the web" feature to get the file seize reasonable and to convert it to .jpg. Hope this helps. I have some comments about fileformat on my pages under "how to's". http://www.db-online.com/Britt

Thanks. Eventually I will compress the images (photographs) for web publishing to jpegs. Not for printing at all. Is TIFFs still adviceable though?

Yes, I alsways use .tiff (or native PS format) as a "work" and archive format. Only when I'm done with it I use the "save for the web" thingy in Photoshop. You HAVE to use a web readable format to make it show on the web (.gif, .png or .jpg). So that means that I get 2 versions of all my images; one work/archive-format and one publishing format. Britt

When would you use RGB as a save as method though? Does it give you richer colors say for compressing to monitor viewing rather than printing?

I save in .tiff format in rgb color "convension". CMYK is almost exclusively used as a color convention when you want your image printed in a professinal print house. If you have saved your image in a .tiff format, the correct color information will be stored with your picture, and either you or the print house can do the conversion to CMYK. So bottom line; unless you want a professional print of your image; don't worry 'bout it. :) Britt