How raster images store pixels
A raster file lists every pixel in the grid, usually row by row, along with color values for each one. JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, and TIFF all describe themselves this way.
Because the grid is fixed, resolution and detail are fixed too. The file holds exactly as much information as its dimensions allow and no more, which makes pixel count the ceiling on visible detail.
Strengths and limits of raster
Raster excels at continuous tone. Photographs, gradients, shadows, and textures are natural subjects because each pixel can hold an independent color sampled from the real world.
Scaling is where raster falters. Enlarging beyond the original grid requires guessing what the new pixels should be, which softens edges and can make text or logos look mushy.
- Photographs and continuous-tone artwork
- Screenshots and scanned documents
- Any image with subtle shading or noise
- Content that must display on every device
Working with raster files in Filekind
Filekind works entirely with raster images: JPEG, PNG, and static WebP for conversion, plus PNG and JPEG for compression. Pages of a PDF are also rendered to raster output when you split them. Every still format the tools support stores a fixed grid, which is why pixel count stays the central limit for everything they produce.
Processing happens in the browser under limits of 25 MB, 16,000 pixels per side, and 48 megapixels, so typical camera files fit without leaving the device.