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Supported Formats
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Web Formats
Joint Photographic Experts Group - the most universal image format for photographs using lossy compression. Reduces file sizes 90-95% with minimal visible quality loss. No transparency support. Perfect for photos, web images, email attachments, and any scenario requiring small file sizes. Adjustable quality levels from 1-100. Standard since 1992 with universal device and software support. Ideal for photographs and complex images with many colors.
Portable Network Graphics - lossless image format supporting transparency and 16 million colors. Larger files than JPEG but perfect quality preservation. Supports alpha channel for smooth transparency. Excellent for logos, graphics with text, screenshots, and images requiring transparency. Better compression than GIF for photos. Perfect for web graphics, UI elements, and any image needing lossless quality or transparency. Standard format for web graphics since 1996.
Web Picture format - modern image format by Google providing 25-35% smaller files than JPEG at equivalent quality. Supports both lossy and lossless compression plus transparency. Superior compression algorithms reducing bandwidth usage. Native browser support (96%+ coverage). Perfect for website optimization, web images, and reducing page load times. Combines best features of JPEG, PNG, and GIF. Recommended for modern web development.
Graphics Interchange Format - image format supporting animation and transparency with 256-color limitation. Small file sizes for simple images. Perfect for simple animations, emojis, memes, and graphics with few colors. Lossless for limited palette. Inefficient for photographs (use JPEG) or high-color graphics (use PNG). Universal support since 1987. Standard format for simple web animations and reaction images.
Scalable Vector Graphics - XML-based vector format rendering perfectly at any size. Infinitely scalable without quality loss or pixelation. Small file sizes for geometric shapes and illustrations. Editable with text editors and design software. Perfect for logos, icons, diagrams, and graphics requiring scaling. Supports animation and interactivity. Standard for responsive web graphics and resolution-independent designs. Essential format for modern web icons.
Icon File Format - specialized format for Windows icons containing multiple image sizes (16x16 to 256x256 pixels). Single file provides icons for all display resolutions. Used for favicons, application icons, and Windows shell icons. Supports transparency and multiple color depths. Perfect for website favicons, Windows program icons, and shortcut icons. Standard format for Windows icons since Windows 1.0. Essential for professional Windows applications.
AV1 Image File Format - next-generation image format based on AV1 video codec providing better compression than WebP and JPEG. 20-50% smaller files at equivalent quality. Supports HDR, wide color gamut, and transparency. Cutting-edge compression technology. Growing browser support (85%+ and increasing). Perfect for future-proof web images and maximum efficiency. Better quality at smaller sizes than any previous format. Recommended for modern websites prioritizing performance.
Bitmap Image File - uncompressed raster format from Microsoft providing pixel-perfect quality with large file sizes. No compression means huge files (1MB+ for screenshots). Fast to load and display. Simple format with universal Windows support. Perfect for temporary graphics, screen captures, and scenarios where compression artifacts are unacceptable. Legacy format largely replaced by PNG. Convert to PNG or JPEG for practical use and storage.
Tagged Image File Format - flexible format supporting multiple pages, layers, and various compression methods. Industry standard for professional photography, publishing, and archival. Supports lossless compression, 16-bit color depth, and extensive metadata. Large file sizes but excellent quality. Perfect for print publishing, photo archival, professional photography, and scenarios requiring maximum quality and flexibility. Used in medical imaging and professional scanning.
Professional Formats
Photoshop Document - Adobe Photoshop's native format preserving layers, effects, masks, and all editing capabilities. Supports 16-bit and 32-bit color depths for professional work. Large file sizes due to layer data and editing information. Perfect for ongoing design projects, professional photo editing, and collaborative design work. Not suitable for final output (export to JPEG/PNG). Essential format for professional graphic design and photo manipulation workflows. Industry standard for design files.
OpenEXR - high dynamic range image format developed by Industrial Light & Magic for visual effects and animation. Stores 16-bit or 32-bit floating-point values per channel enabling enormous dynamic range. Supports multiple layers, arbitrary channels, and lossless/lossy compression. Industry standard for VFX, CGI, and professional 3D rendering. Perfect for HDR photography, compositing, and scenarios requiring maximum color precision. Used extensively in film production and high-end visual effects.
High Dynamic Range Image - format storing luminance and color information with greater range than standard images. Captures and displays brightness levels impossible in JPEG/PNG. Uses 32-bit floating-point encoding. Perfect for realistic lighting in 3D rendering, environment maps, and HDR photography. Common in game development and architectural visualization. Enables realistic tone mapping and exposure adjustment. Essential for professional lighting workflows.
DirectDraw Surface - Microsoft texture format for games and 3D applications supporting compressed textures and mipmaps. Optimized for GPU loading with hardware-accelerated decompression. Stores multiple resolution levels (mipmaps) in single file. Standard format for game textures (DirectX, Unity, Unreal). Supports various compression algorithms (DXT1, DXT5, BC7). Perfect for game development, 3D modeling, and real-time rendering. Essential format for game asset pipelines.
Truevision TGA/Targa - raster graphics format supporting 8-32 bits per pixel with alpha channel. Uncompressed or RLE compressed for fast loading. Standard format for video editing, animation, and texture mapping. Excellent color accuracy with optional lossless compression. Perfect for video frame sequences, animation frames, and game textures. Widely supported in 3D software and video editing applications. Reliable format for professional media production.
JPEG 2000 - advanced image format using wavelet compression providing better quality than JPEG at equivalent file sizes. Supports lossless and lossy compression, progressive decoding, and ROI coding. Used in medical imaging, digital cinema, and archival. Better compression artifacts than JPEG. Slower encoding/decoding. Perfect for medical imaging, digital preservation, and applications requiring superior compression. Limited web browser support.
JPEG Stereo - stereoscopic 3D image format storing left and right eye views side-by-side or top-bottom. Based on standard JPEG with special arrangement for 3D viewing. Used for 3D photography, VR content, and stereoscopic displays. Compatible with 3D TVs and VR headsets. Perfect for 3D photography, stereoscopic content creation, and VR/AR applications. Requires special viewing equipment for proper 3D effect.
Portable Float Map - floating-point image format storing HDR color data. Simple format with 32-bit float values per channel. Used in computer graphics for HDR images and height maps. Uncompressed format with large file sizes. Perfect for HDR photography processing, displacement maps, and scientific imaging. Common in 3D rendering and simulation applications. Alternative to OpenEXR for simple HDR storage.
Flexible Image Transport System - scientific image format used primarily in astronomy. Stores astronomical images with extensive metadata headers. Supports multiple data arrays and tables. Standard format for astronomical data archives. Perfect for astronomical imaging, scientific data exchange, and research applications. Used by major observatories and space agencies worldwide. Essential format for astronomical research and data sharing.
How to Convert Files
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an FTS file and why is it important in astronomy?
An FTS file is a variant of the FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format, widely used in astronomy for storing scientific images, telescope captures, spectra, and multidimensional data. FTS is simply an alternate extension used by some observatories and older software, but the structure is identical to FITS: a human-readable ASCII header followed by binary scientific data.
FTS is crucial because it preserves exact numerical values from telescopes and sensors without compression artifacts, ensuring astronomers can measure brightness, positions, and spectral data with scientific accuracy.
How does an FTS file store scientific data?
FTS uses a structured and transparent data model designed for scientific rigor:
ASCII Header Blocks
Each file begins with readable keyword-value pairs describing telescope details, exposure time, calibration, orientation, instrument metadata, and scientific parameters.
Binary Data Section
Image or measurement data is stored as binary arrays-typically 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit integers, or floating-point values for maximum precision.
Multidimensional Arrays
FTS supports 1D spectra, 2D images, and 3D or 4D data cubes representing time, wavelength, polarization, or multiple exposures.
Machine-Stable Numeric Integrity
Data is stored exactly as captured by sensors, ensuring reproducibility and precise calibration across research systems.
This structure makes FTS a trusted scientific standard for astronomy and deep-space imaging.
Where is the FTS format used today?
FTS remains essential in multiple disciplines that need accurate scientific data:
Astronomical Image Capture
Telescopes, observatories, and CCD/CMOS astro cameras output FTS images for research.
Deep-Sky Photography
Astrophotographers use FTS to store raw light frames, darks, flats, and biases.
Space Science & Astrophysics
NASA, ESA, and professional institutes use FTS for space telescope data like Hubble and JWST.
Spectroscopy
FTS stores spectral measurements where each pixel represents wavelength intensity.
Planetary Science
Surface scans, orbital imaging, and sensor readings are encoded in FTS arrays.
Research & Academia
Universities rely on FTS to teach data reduction, photometry, and scientific imaging.
Scientific Data Archiving
Large research archives store decades of observational datasets in FTS.
FTS remains dominant wherever precision and scientific fidelity matter.
Why does FTS use such large file sizes?
FTS avoids lossy compression, storing every pixel exactly as measured by the sensor.
Astronomical cameras often record high bit-depth values (16–64 bits) to preserve faint light details.
Multi-extension FTS files can store multiple exposures, calibration frames, or data cubes in one file.
How does FTS compare to RAW, TIFF, and FITS?
RAW formats are proprietary, but FTS is openly documented and standardized for scientific use.
TIFF supports HDR floats but lacks the astronomical metadata conventions FTS provides.
FTS and FITS are identical in structure-FTS is simply an alternate file extension used by older observatory software.
Is FTS suitable for astrophotography post-processing?
Yes-FTS preserves linear sensor data, essential for stacking, calibration, and noise reduction.
It stores darks, flats, and biases in their original numeric form for proper calibration workflows.
Most astrophotography tools support FTS, including PixInsight, AstroPixelProcessor, DSS, and IRAF.
Why do FTS images sometimes look extremely dark or faint?
FTS stores linear data; it does not apply gamma curves or tone mapping like JPEG or PNG.
Astronomical sensors capture faint signals requiring stretching to become visible.
Proper histogram stretching or tone mapping is required before visual interpretation.
Why do some FTS files show incorrect orientation or flipped axes?
Astronomical image geometry varies by instrument design:
Telescope Optics & Mirrors
Optical paths may invert or rotate images depending on mirror orientation.
Different FITS Header Conventions
Keywords like ORIENTAT, NAXIS, and WCS metadata dictate image alignment.
Camera Mount Configuration
Alt-az mounts versus equatorial mounts produce differently rotated frames.
WCS Coordinate Transformations
When WCS headers are present, some viewers reproject coordinates, altering apparent orientation.
Viewer Interpretation Differences
Different astronomy programs handle header orientation details differently.
Orientation inconsistencies come from telescope mechanics and metadata interpretation, not file corruption.
Does FTS support metadata, calibration information, or telescope details?
Yes-FTS headers contain extensive scientific metadata, including exposure time, gain, telescope model, and camera settings.
It can store calibration keywords like BZERO, BSCALE, DARKTIME, AIRMASS, and instrument parameters.
Astronomers rely heavily on this metadata for photometric and astrometric accuracy.
What file formats should I use instead of FTS for different needs?
FTS is ideal for scientific raw data, but other formats fit different tasks:
For Web & Sharing
Convert to PNG or JPEG after stretching; browsers cannot display FTS.
For Film & Scientific Visualization
EXR provides float precision with better compression for large-scale visualization.
For Lightweight Viewing
TIFF or PNG offer easier compatibility with non-scientific tools.
For Calibration Workflows
FTS remains the best option for storing raw astrophotography calibration data.
For Research Pipelines
FITS/FTS is the standard in Unix-based observatory systems.
For Smaller Data
Compressed FITS (FITS.GZ) reduces size while preserving structure.
For Old Observatories
FTS remains required by older CCD control systems.
For Multichannel Data Cubes
FITS/FTS is still the best option-TIFF and EXR lack astronomy-specific headers.
For Documents
FTS is not intended for documents; use PDF or TIFF.
For Legacy Astronomy Software
FTS maintains perfect compatibility with classic pipelines like IRAF.
Why do some programs fail to open FTS files?
Some viewers only support FITS extension, ignoring FTS even though the formats are identical.
Software lacking scientific image libraries cannot parse float or 64-bit pixel values.
Corrupted headers or missing ASCII terminators can cause strict FITS parsers to reject the file.
How can I reduce FTS file sizes?
Compress using FITS.GZ or FITS.FZ (Rice compression) to preserve scientific accuracy while reducing size.
Use floating-point to integer scaling only if scientifically acceptable.
Crop unused sky areas before saving to reduce pixel count.
Why is FTS still preferred over modern HDR formats?
FTS preserves raw sensor counts-EXR, TIFF, or HDR may alter or reinterpret values.
Astronomical software ecosystems are built around FITS/FTS, ensuring compatibility.
FTS metadata conventions are tailored to astronomical science, not general imaging.
Why do brightness values in FTS sometimes exceed normal image ranges?
Astronomical objects vary greatly in brightness; FTS stores these values without clipping.
Some sensors record values far beyond typical 0–255 or 0–65535 ranges.
Scientific workflows require raw values for photometry, star detection, and exposure calibration.
Is FTS still relevant in modern astronomy?
Yes-FTS/FITS remains the universal standard for astronomical data across observatories, satellites, and research centers.
No other format offers the same balance of simplicity, precision, metadata richness, and long-term stability.
FTS will likely remain dominant for decades due to its deep integration into astronomy’s global infrastructure.
About the FTS Format
FTS is a file format used in specific workflows. The exact characteristics depend on the implementation and chosen settings.
- Format Type
- File format
- Origin
- Industry-developed format
- Common Uses
- Various applications that support FTS
- Compression
- Depends on implementation
Sources and References
Format details on this page are based on the official specifications and documentation below.
- Image file type and format guide- MDN Web Docs