Knowledge Article 0205:
What is the difference between .JPG and .SWF images?

Applicability: SellFolio 4.0 Complete only

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.JPG images and .SWF images are two types of images.  It is important to note that it is possible for a .SWF image to contain .JPG images, but not the other way around.

.JPG images: .JPG's are always "raster" images.  Raster images can display photograph-quality images, but they don't scale very well.  Raster images are made of pixels, and when scaled, become distorted.  You cannot take advantage of a transparent background with a .JPG image.

This is an example of adding a .JPG logo to your project.  .JPG images are raster-based and cannot have a transparent background (note the orange region which comprises the image).

If we stretch the .JPG to a larger size, it becomes "pixilated," or jagged.  This is because it is made of pixels, or tiny squares.  You cannot stretch a raster image to a size larger than its native size without pixilation.

.SWF images: .SWF's are special files that can be either all "vector" images, all raster, or both vector and raster.  Vector images are not used for photographic quality images.  They are used for lines, curves, and graphics like text, because vector images always scale perfectly.  Vector images are made of lines, causing no distortion when scaled.  .SWF files can also have transparent backgrounds.

This is an example of adding a .SWF logo to your project.  This example shows a vector-based rendition of the SellFolio logo, with a transparent background.

If we stretch that .SWF file to a larger size, you can see that it scales perfectly, without any jaggedness or pixilation.

A key element to understand is that .SWF files are not necessarily more clear than .JPG images.  Again, if a .SWF file contains raster graphics (such as .JPG imagery), then that JPG portion of the .SWF will be subject to distortion and pixilation.  Any vector-based imagery in the .SWF will always display perfectly, no matter how it is stretched.  In other words, if we were to add the orange JPG SellFolio logo, above, to our .SWF file, the orange SellFolio logo will be pixilated when stretched, while the vector-based SellFolio logo appears smooth.

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