In the United States, there are over 327 million people online interacting in the digital world. All demographics of people are using their cell phones, iPads, iPad Minis, laptops, Apple Watches, FitBits, notebooks, and desktop computers to communicate on the internet.

Here are some of the ways we are communicating with each other or placing order with graphic formats:

•       Facebook - sharing .jpgs of photographs
•       LinkedIn - promoting businesses with blog URLs
•       Instagram - posting .png mimes
•       Outlook - emailing .pdfs of agendas or reports
•       Shutterfly - placing a print order online with a .jpg
•       Vistaprint - ordering a promotional item with an .eps vector file

I’m a graphic designer and work with digital files 100% of the time. When I ask my clients for a vector file, they have no idea of what I just said. As far as they are concerned, I am speaking a foreign language using the graphic design terminology. Most people don’t understand the differences with the file formats. I’ll help explain the different terminology, so you'll understand what file formats to use in the future and how to speak this "Greek" language when talking about digital files.

Understanding File Formats

Here is an overview of the file formats and graphic design terminology presented in these four main areas:

•    Raster Image Files
•    Vector Image Files
•    Resolution
•    Graphic Design Softwares

Raster Image Files (JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and PNG) 

Raster graphics are bitmaps. A bitmap is a grid of individual pixels that collectively compose an image. Raster graphics render images as a collection of many tiny squares. Each square, or pixel, is coded in a specific hue or shade. If you try to enlarge or resize a raster file, it will get blurry and gets jagged and rough.

JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF are all raster image extensions. Most photos you find online or in print is a raster image. Raster files cannot be resized or enlarged without distorting the image. It will start to get blurry as you expand it.

JPEG (or JPG) - Joint Photographic Experts Group

JPG is the most common file for used for photographs. JPG files can be optimized to lower the file weight (Kb). Some websites require highly optimized images to run faster. The level of compression affects the .JPG’s image quality. The more compressed the image is, the more the quality of the image is reduced.

PNG - Portable Network Graphics

PNGs are perfect for interactive documents for web pages but are not suitable for print. PNG files are like JPG files although they cannot be optimized like the JPG file which makes them much larger in size. Have you seen the white box around a logo? Converting a file to png format with a graphic design program will remove that white box and make it have a transparent background. PNG files are very useful if you want to place your image over a textured or colored background.

GIF - Graphics Interchange Format

GIF files are the simplest version of a raster file that you can find. They are primarily used these days in looped animations that can be created with photoshop. This is a universal file type for web projects where an image needs to load very quickly, as opposed to one that needs to retain a higher level of quality.

TIFF – Tagged Image File Format

A TIFF is a typical raster format that permits saving high-quality images but produces huge files. Some print jobs require a tiff file or some photographs that need a large file can be a tiff file.

Vector Image Files (EPS, AI, and PDF) 

Vector images are far more flexible. They are proportional files rather than pixels so they can resize without distortion. EPS, AI and PDF are perfect for creating graphics that require resizing or enlarging without distorting the look. Vector files can be used as small as a business card and as large as you want it even the size of a billboard ad. A vector file can be converted to JPG and PNG formats very easily for usage on the Web, so you get the best of both worlds.

EPS - Encapsulated Postscript

EPS is used to produce high-resolution graphics for print. Most design software creates an EPS. The EPS extension is a universal file type (much like the PDF) that can be used to open vector-based artwork in any design editor, not just the more popular Adobe products.

AI – Adobe Illustrator (Software)

Ai files are files that are made to be used by Adobe Illustrator (software). These files are commonly used by graphic designers, logo designers, illustrators, printers. AI files only function with illustrator, so you may not need them if you are not using that program.

PDF - Portable Document Format

PDF files can be opened on almost any computer. All you need is Adobe Reader software which is on most computer devices. It allows your computer to see the original design file of typefaces, images, and formatting.

Resolution

High-Resolution

High Resolution images are used for printing purposes such as brochures, letterhead, business cards, signs, etc. For large size printed photographs, they will need to be saved in a high-resolution format. High-resolution files usually require at least 300 DPI (Dots per inch).

Low-Resolution

Low-Resolution files are used on websites, social media sites, and photographs only being used on the internet. These files will use at 72 DPI (Dots per inch).

Graphic Design Software

CS - Adobe Creative Suite

The Adobe Creative Suite is a complete design solution that lets graphic designers create and publish content for print and the Web. The suite includes Photoshop®, Illustrator®, InDesign®, Acrobat® 6.0 Professional and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

PSD - Photoshop Document

Adobe Photoshop is a photography and graphics software. Only Photoshop can open these PSD files, but you can save them as a variety of other file types that can be opened in other applications, including PDF, JPG, GIF, and PNG. The design is in "layers" that make modifying the image much easier to handle.

AI - Adobe Illustrator Document

This graphic design software is widely used by designers to create logos and other items for print and Web in vector formats which can be enlarged without reducing the resolution. It can be saved in all the formats available.

INDD - Adobe Indesign Document

Indesign is commonly used to create larger publications, such as newspapers, magazines, and eBooks. Files can be imported into Indesign from Photoshop and Illustrator.

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a photography program that allows you to edit, organize, store, and share your photography. It is a very comprehensive program for photographers. 

Hopefully, this makes the digital world a little easier to navigate.

Contact

Linda Simon Studio is a full-service marketing and design firm specializing in marketing strategy, identity brand design, website design, SEO, content writing, collateral, point of sale design, and photography. Linda Simon Studio was founded by Linda Simón in 1996 and is based in beautiful Palm Harbor, Florida just north of Clearwater & Tampa Bay. Schedule your Personality Portrait today. Call Linda at 757-430-9008 or email linda@lindasimonstudio.com.