Many File Formats a Designer Might Ask For
When working with a graphic designer or printing company, you might find yourself juggling a variety of file formats. It can seem overwhelming.
Suppose you’re working on a project that requires photos, text, and logos. Knowing which format to use and when can make a big difference in the quality and flexibility of your designs. Let’s break down the essentials so you can feel confident the next time a designer asks for a specific file type.
Vector vs Raster Images
A good way to understand the many different image formats is to categorize them by vector and raster formats.
Raster images are probably what comes to mind when you think of a digital photo. They are comprised of pixels and will lose quality as you resize them. If you have a small raster image file and try to blow it up on a large screen, it will probably appear blurry and pixelated.
Vector images are different. They are based in code and mathematical equations and are comprised of points and curves.
Vector images are code-based, so they can be resized without losing any quality. They are perfect for logos and illustrations that might be scaled down to the size of a button or up to the size of a billboard.
To visualize this point, let’s draw a vector smiley face:
Well…this is HTML code. When executed in a visualizer, it produces an image of a smiley face.
That’s better!
It’s worth noting that you do not need to be a seasoned coder to produce these graphics. Platforms like Adobe Illustrator and open-source Inkscape allow you to draw images and export them as vector files. No coding is required!
Key Takeaways
Raster images lose resolution when resized, so it’s important to save them at the exact dimensions needed for the application. Vector images are a better choice for logos and illustrations because they can scale up or down infinitely without losing resolution.
Common Raster File Formats
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JPEG (or JPG)
The JPEG file format turned 30 in 2021, and it’s aging like fine wine.
Named for the Joint Photographic Experts Group that standardized it, JPEG files are the most common raster image format.
The lossy compression steps it utilizes allow photos to be easily stored and transmitted online. However, like all raster images, compression depreciates the quality of the photo, so always check the file size and resolution before sending out a JPEG. Generally speaking, larger JPEG files should be used for print designs requiring hi-resolution photography.
Pros
- High compression, reducing file size.
- Widely supported across platforms and devices.
- Ideal for detailed, color-rich images.
Cons
- Lossy compression; quality degrades with each edit/save.
- Does not support transparency or animation.
Common Uses
- Photographs and images, especially those with subtle gradients
- Website and other digital imagery
- Email attachments
PNG
PNG very well might be the second most common raster image format. In fact, Boston University cites that it is the “third most commonly viewable format on the Web”.
Its lossless compression support is a key difference between PNGs and JPEGs. Lossless compression works to reduce a file size by discarding unnecessary metadata and working more efficiently. This feature, combined with the support of transparency, makes this format ideal for digital use.
Pros
- Lossless compression; no quality loss during edits.
- Supports full transparency and partial transparency.
- Handles detailed images with sharp edges and text.
Cons
- Larger file sizes compared to JPEG.
- Not suitable for animations.
Common Uses
- Web graphics
- Screenshots
- Imagery that requires transparency
GIF
Whether you pronounce it “giff” or “jiff”, the GIF format is more than a funny animation that pops up on your social media feed. The format is a quite common raster photo file.
It has unique traits that make it limited in some areas and more versatile in others. For one, it is limited to only 256 colors. So if you require high resolution, GIF is not for you. However, it does allow transparency and animation, making it ideal in certain web settings.
Fun fact, I found GIF helpful earlier in this blog in the Vector Smiley Face example.
Pros
- Animation support
- Transparency functionality
Cons
- Limited to 256 colors
Common Uses
- Web graphics and animations
- Screenshots
- Imagery that requires transparency
WebP
Dubbed “An image format for the web”, WebP is a modern format developed by Google.
You may not come across it emailing image attachments back and forth for print design, but it is becoming more popular in web design. It is currently supported by the 5 major browsers.
If you are looking for a large hero banner image that both looks great and loads quickly, WebP might be for you.
Pros
- High compression with both lossy and lossless options
- Supports transparency and animation
- Smaller file size compared to JPEG and PNG for similar quality
- Balances high-quality images with smaller file sizes, ideal for web use
Cons
- Not universally supported across all platforms and browsers
- Some quality loss in lossy compression
Common Uses
- Websites optimized for speed
Other Raster Image Types
There are many different file formats out there! Some other common raster formats include, but are not limited to:
- TIFF
- RGB
- PPM
- PSD (Adobe Photoshop)
- MPO (Multiple JPEGs)
- RAW
Common Vector File Formats
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SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics are exactly what their name implies. This vector file format allows for clean designs packaged in smaller files. They are great for text designs, logos and illustrations.
Pros
- Scalable with no loss of quality
- Small file size
- Supports interactivity with code
Cons
- Limited to vector shapes and text
Common Uses
- Logo Design
- Text Print Design
Created by Adobe, PDF is a universal print standard. The file format contains both vector and raster capabilities, making it perfect for designing print projects.
Pros
- Save vector and raster elements in one file
- Universally supported
- Can work with text, images and interactive elements
Cons
- Limited editing capabilities
Common Uses
- Document sharing
- Print design
Other Vector Image Types
- EPS
- AI (Adobe Illustrator)
- CAD
- CDR
- DXF