We’ve all experienced the “save as” dilemma and wondered which file format is best to save an image.  Do we really know the difference between a GIF and a PNG?  Do we care as long as it looks good?

In printing and web design, the file formats of your images do make a difference.  Jason Kaller here at Greenway Print Solutions came upon a customer who didn’t quite know the subtleness of image format and quality:

“I recently had a client who wanted to print some new marketing materials.  They wanted brochures, pens, emery boards and candy jars.  The only thing they had for art was a jpeg file.  I suggested they let us re-create their logo using a vector based program.  I would provide them multiple versions of their logo and fonts which would be useful in any place their logo is used (in print, online, signage, etc.)   After being turned back from several print proofs due to poor quality and lack of consistency in their logo’d items, they asked me to redo their logo.  From here on out, there will be one logo and one font set that will help them look consistent in everything they print.”

Image File Format Differences

If you’re still wondering which format to save those images in, the following will provide you with a brief, layman’s version to help you muster through the saving process:

1.EPS (vector based) PREFERRED. These  are encapsulated Postscript files.  If they are “vector” files, made in Adobe Illustrator, they can be reduced or enlarged to any proportion with no loss of quality. This is because they are not bitmapped (dots) but computer coordinates. For many applications, this is the best art to provide us.

There are also bitmapped eps files but they have the problem of distortion when reduced or enlarged.

2. JPEG/JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): JPEGs are small files that are compressed at 8-bits per color for a 24-bit total.  When compressed, the image does not necessarily lose quality, but degradation can occur when the image is saved and edited repetitively.  It also has a “lossy” compression meaning as the file is compressed, some of the data is lost.  If you’re using images in a PDF file, the JPEG file format is a great bet.

3.  TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): A TIFF format saves an image as an 8-bit or 16-bit per color file for a total of 24 to 48-bits.  TIFF images are not largely supported by web browsers so if you’re designing a website, there’s another format (like PNG) that will be more suited for the application.  TIFF’s are good as a photograph standard file and can handle specific color spaces like CMYK.

4.  GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): GIFs are limited to 256 colors, which is great for shapes or logos that have relatively few colors.  GIFs use lossless (doesn’t lose data when compressed) compression, but because of the color limitations, GIF formats are best used when there’s a large, single-colored area in the image.

5.  PNG (Portable Network Graphic): The PNG format is the successor of GIF and supports true color (16 million to be exact.)  PNGs are lossless and tend to be large files that can be slow to download.  Despite their size, PNG files are great for online use.

6.  BMP (Windows Bitmap): BMPs are graphic files that work within Microsoft Windows OS.  They are large, uncompressed files, and work well within Windows programs.

Keep in mind that the above file formats are Raster formats and not Vector formats.  Raster graphics are stored as bitmaps (pixmaps) while Vector graphics contain geometric descriptions.  Vector formats allow for images to come out smooth at any size.

If you’re considering having your logo or any graphic image on a variety of offline or online pieces, keep in mind the type of formatting you need to get the highest quality picture.

For more information about Raster and Vector images click here.