Supported graphic formats

Various formats are available for exporting graphics. The following list explains the special features of the individual formats.

Raster formats

Here the image is stored in the form of pixels. The color of each pixel is stored in a large internal matrix.

Apart from various compressions, the size of the generated graphic file results exclusively from the width × height (= number of pixels), not from the content of the image (in contrast to vector formats). Even largely uniform fillings can lead to large files.

A raster graphic can only ever be output cleanly up to a certain size. If it is output larger, blurred and "pixelated" images occur, i.e. the pixels become visible as small boxes.

Due to a good compression the generated files become quite small. Supports, of all formats, preferably semi-transparent image areas (it contains an "alpha channel" that stores the transparency of an image pixel in addition to the color).

This format is for almost all purposes the most suitable raster format, especially for further use in web pages.

Suitable for files that are to be used in publications, for example, and for further processing in print shops.

The georeferenced tiff is a standardized coding to store geographical information in the exported graphic. Regarding the image coding, it is a "normal" Tiff image.

The additionally stored geographical data allow geoinformation systems to fit this image correctly in a map view. If the GeoTIFF is not based on the same coordinate system as the application in which it is to be fitted, it may cause slight rotations or distortions.

Suitable for using the map as an image in other geoinformation systems.

This format is characterized by a high compression rate, i.e. the resulting files are quite small.

The format is mainly suitable for photos, less for graphics. The compression is also more optimized for photos, which leads to partly "blurred" lines etc. in graphics.

The oldest and simplest built raster format. The advantage is that it is accepted by practically all other applications for inserting graphics. Since this format is not compressed or only slightly compressed, Windows bitmaps are significantly larger than other graphic formats and are rarely used for the web.

Vector formats

In these formats, it is not the pixels that are stored, but the displayed objects in geometric form. They are therefore very suitable for graphics, but completely unsuitable for photos or similar.

The size of the generated graphic file depends mainly on the content of the graphic. The output size (height, width) is irrelevant, so you can also select large values here.

The graphic can usually be enlarged later without any significant loss of quality. Text output still remains sharp. Nevertheless, it is recommended to export vector graphics (especially *.emf) already in the required size.

With all the advantages of the vector formats, the disadvantages are that the currently only format "Metafile" is only supported under Windows, can practically not be used in the web area, and that some special graphic requirements are not or only insufficiently supported.

The latest format within the Windows Metafile format family. It supports most special graphical requirements, but there are problems with special fillings (with transparency, gradients, hatching, etc.).

Windows metafiles are not completely resolution-independent despite their storage in the form of vectors, since they use an internal raster to store the dots. Therefore, you should not output these graphics many times larger than specified during the export later. It is better to export the graphics directly in a suitable size, as this has no negative effect on the file size anyway.

This is the most suitable format for further use in Office applications (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel) or if a later graphics processing is intended, e.g. in products such as Adobe Illustrator. The format "Metafile" can practically not be used in the web area.

Further comment on Metafiles

Due to their structure, the metafiles created depend heavily on the system on which they were created. Even if you export the same metafile twice under otherwise identical conditions, but on different computers, the result can be different. There are several influences that determine the size and resolution of the created metafile:

  • The graphics adapter and the monitor of the computer
  • The desktop settings (resolution, etc.)
  • The System Type: Physical Machine or Virtual Machine
  • The access to the desktop (locally or via remote desktop; in the latter case the created metafile even depends on the settings of the remote access)

The older format within the Windows Metafile format family. It supports fewer special graphical requirements.

Use this format in situations where you would also use Windows EMF Plus, but the new format is not yet supported by the application.

Portable vector-based document format for displaying results independently of easymap.

Another way to export a workbook in PDF format is to use the PDF printers e.g. Microsoft Print To PDF. This can only generate certain predefined paper formats (A4,A3). You can find further information on printing here.

Vector-based document format developed by Microsoft to display results independently from easymap.