The BMP extension is probably the most widely used image format in the IBM world. However, as some people are now realizing, just because Microsoft® made it that way, does not mean it is accepted as standard. However, Microsoft Paint® is probably the most accessible image design tool available. In order to use graphics that are created in this format a conversion tool will also be needed to convert the image to a GIF(pronounced gif) or a JPG(pronounced jay-peg). These formats take up much less room than the BMP because they use compression algorithms to store their bitmap patterns.

So, what do you convert to JPG or GIF? Well, there really is no right answer. Each format has its own inherent strengths and weaknesses. Below is a list of these retrieved from Special Edition Using HTML, by, Tom Savola

GIF Advantages

• Widely accepted standard with native support in nearly all graphical applications
• Includes multimedia extensions for multi-image GIF files and sound file (MIDI) extensions
• Fast decompression
• Better with images using smaller color palettes

• Dithering (approximating a color by adding a pattern of dots over another color) is necessary to create colors beyond the 256 color palette
• Fewer colors create palette conflicts when more than one image has to be displayed at the same time
• GIF users are open to compression scheme copyright infringement claims (could result in higher costs for Web browsers in the future)

• Smaller file size, which provides a better image transmission rate
• Supports "true color" 24-bit image representation
• Better with photographic quality (higher color palette) images
• Compression scheme is in the public domain and free to use

• Lossy compression scheme reduces image quality at higher compression levels
• Slower decompression (and therefore display) time
• Fewer graphical applications support JPEG file format