Specification
Last updated on
Oct 10, 2026
Find format specifications and save options for specialized workflows requiring BMP, Cineon, Targa, or Photoshop Raw in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.
Formats like BMP for Windows compatibility, Cineon for film production, Targa for video editing, or Photoshop Raw for cross-platform image transfer serve distinct technical requirements beyond standard web or print output.
BMP format
BMP is a standard Windows image format that supports color depths ranging from 1-bit black-and-white to 24-bit color (16.7 million colors).
BMP specifications
|
|
Value |
|
Platform |
Windows, OS/2 |
|
Maximum color depth |
24-bit (32-bit with alpha) |
|
Supported color modes |
RGB, Indexed Color, Grayscale, Bitmap |
|
Compression |
Optional RLE |
BMP save options
|
Option |
Description |
|
File Format |
Windows or OS/2 variant |
|
1-bit (black-and-white), 4-bit (16 colors), 8-bit (256 colors), 16-bit, 24-bit, or 32-bit |
|
|
Flip Row Order |
Reverses standard row order for specific application compatibility |
|
Advanced Modes |
Additional compression and encoding options |
Select File > Save As.
Select BMP from the Format menu.
Select the options from the BMP Options dialog box.
Select OK.
Cineon format
Cineon format stores 16-bit RGB images for the Kodak Cineon Film System, a professional film production workflow.
Use Cineon when integrating digital images with traditional film processing systems or working in film production pipelines.
Cineon specifications
|
Specification |
Value |
|
Supported color mode |
RGB only |
|
Bit depth |
16 bits per channel (48-bit total) |
|
Compression |
None |
|
Primary use |
Film scanning and recording workflows |
Use Cineon when integrating digital images with traditional film processing systems or working in film production pipelines.
Select File > Save As.
Select Cineon from the Format menu.
Select OK.
Targa format
The Targa (TGA) format is designed for systems using True vision video boards and is widely supported by MS-DOS color applications and video editing software. It also supports indexed-color and grayscale images without alpha channels.
Targa color depth options
|
Color depth |
Channel configuration |
Alpha channel |
|
16-bit RGB |
5 bits × 3 color channels |
1 unused bit |
|
24-bit RGB |
8 bits × 3 color channels |
None |
|
32-bit RGB |
8 bits × 3 color channels |
Single 8-bit alpha channel |
Targa save options
|
Option |
Description |
|
Resolution |
Pixel depth for RGB images (16-bit, 24-bit, or 32-bit) |
|
Compress (RLE) |
Run-length encoding compression to reduce file size |
Select File > Save As.
Select Targa from the Format menu.
Select the options from the Targa Options dialog box.
Select OK.
Photoshop Raw format
Photoshop Raw enables image transfer between applications and computer platforms using a flexible raw data structure. It’s a generic pixel data format for cross-platform compatibility, while camera raw formats contain unprocessed sensor data from digital cameras.
Photoshop Raw save options
|
Option |
Platform |
Description |
|
File Type |
macOS |
Four-character file type code |
|
File Creator |
macOS |
Four-character application creator code |
|
Header |
All |
Number of header bytes (typically 0 for standard raw data) |
|
Channel order |
All |
Interleaved (channels mixed) or non-interleaved (channels separate) |
Use Photoshop Raw when transferring images to applications that support raw pixel data import, in cross-platform workflows requiring a neutral format, or when working with specialized scientific or technical imaging software.
Select File > Save As.
Select Photoshop Raw from the Format menu.
Select the options from the Photoshop Raw Options dialog box.
Select OK.
Format comparison
|
Format |
Maximum color depth |
Compression |
Primary use case |
|
BMP |
24-bit (32-bit with alpha) |
Optional RLE |
Windows compatibility |
|
Cineon |
16-bit per channel (48-bit total) |
None |
Film production |
|
Targa |
32-bit (with 8-bit alpha) |
Optional RLE |
Video editing, game development |
|
Photoshop Raw |
Varies (preserves source depth) |
None |
Cross-platform data transfer |
Create stunning images with Photoshop
Edit, retouch, and transform photos with the industry-leading creative tools you know and love.
