An image file is composed of a header followed by pixel values. Depending on the file format, the header contains image information about the horizontal and vertical resolution, pixel definition, and the original palette. Image files may also store information about calibration, pattern matching templates, and overlays. The following are common image file formats:

  • Bitmap (BMP)
  • Tagged image file format (TIFF)
  • Portable network graphics (PNG)—Offers the capability of storing image information about spatial calibration, pattern matching templates, custom data, and overlays
  • Joint Photographic Experts Group format (JPEG)
  • Joint Photographic Experts Group 2000 format (JPEG2000)
  • Audio Video Interleave (AVI)—Offers the capability of storing multiple image frames in a single file
  • National Instruments internal image file format (AIPD)—Used for saving floating-point, complex, and HSL images

The following table lists the image file formats supported for each image type:

  BMP TIFF PNG JPEG JPEG2000 AVI AIPD
8-bit Unsigned Grayscale ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
16-bit Unsigned Grayscale   ✓ ✓   ✓   ✓
16-bit Signed Grayscale   ✓ ✓   ✓   ✓
32-bit Floating-Point Grayscale             ✓
32-bit RGB Color ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
64-bit RGB Color   ✓ ✓   ✓   ✓
32-bit HSL Color             ✓
Complex             ✓