Open File Formats: What You Need to Know



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What is a File Format, Anyway?

Even if you're not sure what a file format is, you're probably familiar with the “filename extensions” associated with file formats, such as:

• .mp3
• .txt
• .pdf
• .jpg

A file format specifies how a file is encoded, beginning with whether the file is a binary file (a file made up of 1s and 0s that can be read by a computer) or an ASCII file (a text file that can be read by a human).  The file format then specifies how the information in the file is organized.¹ 

What is an Open File Format?

An open file format, or “free file format” is a format that can be implemented by either proprietary or free/open source software at no cost to the developer.²

Aren’t All File Formats Free?

No. “Closed” file formats are copy righted or patented and cannot be used without a license. Private, non-commercial use is usually an exception; however, the definitions of “private” and “non-commercial” aren’t always easily understood.

Perhaps because of its widespread use, one of the most popular misconceptions is that the MP3 file format is free for anyone to use. What many people don’t know is that MP3 is a patented file format, and in order for the MP3 file format to be used by software applications or in order to distribute MP3 encoded audio files, a licensing fee must be paid.³

Why Should I Care About File Formats?

As an artist/designer, there are two main reasons for you to know your file formats:

1.    If you use open source software in your work, you’ll need to know about the file formats used by your software. For example, if you want to be able to open a file you created in a program that is different from the one you created it in, you’ll need to know how to save to a file format which can not only be opened by both programs, but results in minimal loss of information.

Example:  In InkScape, you have the option to save your work to an XCF file format, which can then be opened in GIMP with your project’s layer information intact.⁴

2.    If you’re doing work which will be distributed digitally, you’ll need to know which file formats require you to pay a licensing fee, and which can be used for free.

Example: You can’t use the MP3 file format to encode the audio files used for sound effects or background music in a video game without paying a licensing fee. An alternative would be to use open source Ogg Vorbis audio compression format. Ogg Vorbis is a completely open, patent-free audio streaming technology.⁵

More Information

• You can find more information on open formats at http://www.openformats.org/.⁶
• You can look up information about any file format at http://www.file-extensions.org/. ⁷

References

1.    File Format. Webopedia. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/file_format.html

2.    Open File Format. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_file_format

3.    Frequently Asked Questions. mp3licensing.com. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://mp3licensing.com/help/index.html

4.    Preserve Layers When Opening and SVG file in GIMP. InkScapeForum.com. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1272&f=12

5.    Vorbis.com. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://www.vorbis.com/

6.    openformats.com. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://www.openformats.org/main

7.   File-Extensions.org. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from http://www.file-extensions.org/