A breakdown of file formats and how to use them
How many of you have been personally victimized by file types? You get thrown a folder full of file types and you have no idea what the difference is! You want to put your company logo on some printed materials and it prints with a big white box behind it! You find out later you needed an eps. not a jpeg. So what’s the difference? Here’s a basic breakdown of different file formats - what they are and how to use them.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
Use: Print, web/email download or viewing, digital forms
Benefit: In PDF’s, graphics and images are displayed the exact same no matter which operating system, device or software application it is viewed on.
Downside: It’s not free to edit - PDF files must be edited in specialized programs. It can be difficult to work with text in PDF files because they are perceived as a picture.
If you get a PDF document, it should look just like the printed version of the same document, including all of the graphics, colors, fonts, text, and so on. We typically send previews of a printed project in PDF format and we will also prepare a pdf file for professional printing.
Other Uses - PDF’s can be transformed into digital forms for anyone to fill out. They are also great for sending readable documents via email or for download from the web.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
Use: Custom graphics, vectors, logos, illustrations
Benefit: They can be scaled up or down to any size, without compromising on quality and are compatible with most vector editing software.
Downside: They are not typically used on websites because of their large size.
A vector graphic is based on lines and curves that connect to create a solid mass instead of using pixels. Designers work with vectors when creating custom graphics and logos because they need to look crisp no matter what size they are. This file type does not have a background connected to it, and therefore it can be placed onto different medias - for example your logo on apparel. EPS files are commonly used as shareable image files for illustrators and designers because they are able to be edited in design programs.
Tip: If you are sharing your logo or graphic with a professional printer, this is the file format to use!
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Use: Images - online (website and apps) and images in print design
Benefit: The most common and versatile type of image file. JPEGs are compressed image files, resulting in a smaller file size and takes up less space on web platforms.
Downside: JPEGs are raster files, meaning they lose their quality when scaled, and can appear blurry or pixelated if scaled to a larger size than they have been saved to.
Often designers throw around the abbreviations “DPI” when talking about jpegs. DPI means “dots per inch” and determines the quality of the jpeg - the higher the DPI the better the quality image.
Tip: For print design, JPEGs are best used at a minimum of 300 dpi. For websites and apps, a 72-150 dpi resolution will suffice. We typically send out your logo or graphic in a jpeg format to use on digital media such as your website or social platforms.
PNG (Portable Network Graphic)
Use: For web design and apps; where theres a mix of photos and text, or a use of a logo
Benefits: Png files preserve the quality of text and lines better than JPEGs and can also preserve transparencies. They don’t have a background attached, meaning you won’t see a white box around your graphic!
Downside: They tend to have larger file sizes than JPEGS and will take up more space. PNG’s are also raster files and will lose their image quality when scaled to a larger size than they have been saved to.
Tip: Use this file format on digital media or desktop publishing software when a transparent background is required!
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
Use: Print media and high-quality digital images; photos for printing or using on desktop publishing apps.
Benefits: They contain a large amount of image data and handle images and data within a single file. TIFFs are very useful for archiving images for further editing, transferring, and saving without losing the image quality.
Downside: TIFF files are very large and will take up more space because they are generally uncompressed to preserve their image quality. It’s unlikely that anyone will choose to display TIFF images on a website because of their file size.
TIFFs are compatible with photo manipulation programs like Photoshop and popular among graphic artists, the publishing industry, and photographers.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic)
Use: For web design and apps; stores custom graphics and logos on the internet as vectors.
Benefits: SVGs can be expanded or shrunk down to any size without a loss of quality. They can be edited by a designer and in most cases, they are also a significantly smaller file size than eps file formats.
Downside: The SVG format is great for 2D graphics like logos and icons but is not ideal for detailed pictures. SVG-based graphics can’t display as many details as standard image formats since they are rendered using points and paths instead of pixels.
SVGs give designers and developers a lot of control over their appearance. Rather than modifying the files directly in a text editor, designers can change the vector shapes, colors, text, and even other visual effects like color gradients and shadow within their design programs.
There you have it! The basic file formats that ourselves at LCC will most likely send you in your next brand package or project! Although there are many more file types out there, these are some of the basic ones that you’ll see from us.