If your database can handle jpeg, use it. Most digital cameras can generate jpeg files and the file size is much smaller that most other common formats.

GIF is another good option; JPEGs con only be compressed so far w/o losing a LOT of clarity, whereas you can reduce the # of colors in a .GIF & save a little more space w/o cutting out quite as much of the clarity. .PNG is the best, but it isn't supported very well on the internet yet; it is a little higher compression & lower loss of clarity than either the .JPG or the .GIF & it is QUITE useable with most high-end MS or Linux office applications.

Any way you go; try to avoid using .BMPs if at all possible; they may keep all of their clarity, but they're also likely to take up as much as 15-20 times the memory taken up by a well-tailored .PNG

-Robherc
robherc@netzero.net

*nix installation & program collector/reseller. Contact me if you think you've got one that I don't :-)