Scanning and printing BW image formats

Oct 21 20:38 UTC 1999

Can anyone explain the differences between the following image formats:
bmp, gif, jpeg, tiff, pcx, pic, mac, img, eps, targa, pbm, ppm (etc.)
I would like a way to receive the equivalent of faxes by e-mail, graphics only
(no text), black and white (no color or grey scale).  My 24-pin printer prints
240x216 dpi and I think fax machines do 200x200 and inkjets 300x300 and
scanners scan at 300x300 and multiples of that.  I need better resolution than
provided by a fax machine (and something cheaper than FedEx).
Would prefer a format off the list, as I have not found a way to print pdf
using DOS-based software.  (Or does someone know how to get Adobe's writer
to write older formats?  I am told the DOS version reads format 1.0 and the
latest writer produces 1.3 or 1.2 format).
        The shorter the file, the better, so something to compress all those
white spaces.  I have so far managed to receive a jpeg produced from a pdf,
which I converted to a gif and printed out illegibly at larger than life size.
I have found DOS-based shareware printing software for the above formats.

I do not want to use faxmodem software because first, the computer would have
to be on and hooked up to the phoneline all the time and second, there is the
problem of converting between 200x200 dpi and what the printer puts out.  I
can get an inkjet printer, to match the scanner resolution.  
        Which of the above formats are commonly produced by the software used
in conjunction with scanners?  Can someone explain how scanners and their
software work?  I have never used one (other than the fax machine).