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We live in a digital world, so no matter if you are a basic computer user or large business owner, knowing and understanding various file types is a helpful tool to have in your back pocket! When sharing images and files via email and getting images printed, it is helpful to know the best files for the best result. Here is a quick overview to understand some key things regarding files.
To understand file types, it can be helpful to understand what type of image or file you are working with, such as a raster vs. a vector. Understanding these two basic items will help you determine how you can use certain files.
Raster images are pixel-based images, where there is a set grid of pixels, each assigned to a color. Raster images are resolution dependent and won’t be able to go larger, or they may appear pixelated or blurry. A simple example of this is a basic photograph. You won’t be able to print a photo larger than its resolution allows or it will be blurry.
Adobe Photoshop is one of the many programs that is raster based. Another one growing in popularity is Canva. When using tools to create or edit your images, remember to start large because you won’t be able to change to larger down the road.
Vector images are resolution independent because they are created with computer calculations. Vector graphics, if created correctly, will be able to scale larger or smaller without a loss of details or becoming blurry.
Logos, illustrations, icons are popular for vector work, as you never know when you may need to make your logo as large as a billboard or small for a business card. The most popular tool for creating vector-based work is Adobe Illustrator.
Keep in mind, converting between the two types is not easy. Many think placing a raster image / logo in a vector program such as Adobe Illustrator and then saving as an AI file will turn the image into a vector. This is not the case. Vector images can be easier to covert to raster, however raster to vector will require vectorization which is usually manual to make sure to recover any information that may be lost.
While file type is important, so is the color profile embedded with the file. Color profile will impact how the image appears when used digitally or printed. The two most common color models are RGB (red, green, blue) and CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). In simplest terms, RGB is best for digital, while CMYK is best for printing.
RGB is an additive color model, while CMYK is subtractive. RGB uses white as a combination of all primary colors and black as the absence of light. CMYK, on the other hand, uses white as the natural color of the print background and black as a combination of colored inks.
Not to confuse you, but as technology advances, many commercial printers now accept/require RGB files, as they can get a closer representation of the correct color you want. However, if you are creating something just for digital, it will need stay in RGB for the best appearance on screen.
Now on for the file types!
One of the most popular file types, great for emailing and editing. JPEGs are flat images, but can be edited with software such as Adobe Photoshop. JPEGs allow for compression, which can be helpful when sharing — and you don’t need a special program to open the file! Keep in mind, JPEGs will lose quality overtime with each save and cannot be sized up.
Another popular file type, becoming a web standard due to depth of colors but can also be saved relatively small. More for web graphics and can have a transparent background, which is perfect for non-vector version of a logo to be placed onto other artwork.
More popular for photo editors or photographers, as TIFF files often need a photo editing software to open. TIFFs are great for large format printing because they are often high quality, lossless (image is reduced without any quality loss) raster images. TIFFs do have the ability to use transparent background, but keep in mind this makes the already large file even larger.
As one of the best universal files, PDFs are the most asked for from printers. PDFs will have settings from the original program such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator and are perfect to save and use for printing. Beyond printers, a PDF is best for sharing, no matter the device or application. PDFs will embed images and fonts and keep content to appear as you presented it.
PDFs are great for sharing on the web to view, download, and/or print. Many will share posters, flyers, and magazines in this format. Please avoid using Microsoft Word documents when uploading to the web, as it can alter the documents appearance.
Another great feature of PDFs are you can set them to be locked, editable, and fillable. This is a great tool for businesses needing forms created and filled out. Gone are the days of downloading, printing, filling out a form, scanning, and emailing a form back. Just fill, save, and email!
Primarily used for vector design elements that can be scaled large or small or need to be added to other design pieces. This file type is mostly used between a designer and a printer because the file can only be opened with software such as Adobe Illustrator. Clients should have an EPS file of items such as their logo, just in case they need edits to be made by a designer or a printer needs it for a large scale project. EPS files are not meant for web.
Very similar to EPS files, but defined by XML text files for describing the appearance of an image. This is a great feature meaning SVGs can be searched, indexed, scripted, and compressed. As XML defined files, SVG images have the ability to be edited in both text editors and drawing softwares.
Many know this file type, but (1) Don’t know how to pronounce it and/or (2) Don’t know how to open it. According to 99designs.com the creator of GIF says “JIFF” like the peanut butter, while most others say “GIFF”.
GIF is a popular image format for animated graphics such as memes you see on the internet and rotating banner advertisements. GIF files are small, have transparent background abilities, and can be compressed. GIFs are NOT for large photographic images, with a limit of 256 colors.
Since the file type is designed for web, GIFs are best opened in an Internet browser (Google Chrome, Safari, etc.). If you try and open in a general photo software, you may see the layers of the image, rather than the animation—if there is one.
Adobe Photoshop is primarily raster based, used by photo editors and illustrators. Since it is raster-based, items that will need to be scaled larger in the future should not be created in photoshop (ie. Logos). Photoshop also has the ability to make GIFs.
Photoshop documents will need to be opened with Adobe Photoshop. These files are great for saving and having an original to comeback for editing. For a more final piece, exporting as a JPEG or PNG is the way to go. Having just a PSD file will have layers and can’t be opened in other programs.
Vector files can be saved as EPS, SVG or AI files. AI files are primarily used if the user works in Adobe Illustrator. AI files are great to use for coming back to edit and keeping as the original file, while most will save EPS for a more universal format for vector files.
Adobe Illustrator is the leading software for logo, icon, and illustration projects. Exporting and saving from Illustrator allows for PDFs, JPEGs, PNGs, and more. Illustrator is not recommended if photo editing, but is great for one page posters, graphics, business cards, etc.
Adobe InDesign, is a popular software for longer format pieces such as books, eBooks, magazines, etc. INDD files will only be opened in InDesign. InDesign is a software where you can bring in text, raster images, and vector images and have them work together visually.
Thank you for checking out this breakdown of some of the most popular files. If you are looking for a quick cheat sheet to have for your reference, please download my freebie below!
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