There are many different file formats out there. So how can you be sure which ones are the best for print? This information will help clear it up.

Image vs. Text

First, what kind of print job are you looking at? Is it a full color photo, a text only document, or both? You wouldn’t use the same file format for a resume as you would for a poster of your cat (usually).

For photographs, drawings, or scanned paintings, image file formats are fine. These are JPG, TIFF, or sometimes PNG files. Be aware that they will need to be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). Any text embedded in these file formats will become part of the image and will not be editable on our end.
If you’re printing reports, stories, letters, and things are are mostly or all text, you will want to send us a PDF. File formats such as DOC, DOCX, PMD, PM3 (or any PageMaker file), PAGES, must be converted to PDF before we can print them.

For print jobs that are made up of a combination of images and text, vector art should be sent. Vector artwork is made up of shapes, points, lines, and curves that do not lose their quality no matter how big you size them. For office stationery such as business cards and letterhead, vector files are a must. These file formats can be PDF, AI, or EPS. Be aware that dropping a JPG into Adobe Illustrator or Canva, and then saving it as a PDF will not convert that image to vector – it will still be made of pixels. Also, only send AI files if you have all of the images embedded and the fonts outlined.

If you hired a professional graphic designer (recommended) to design your work, chances are they know exactly what to send. However, if you are new to design or just need a little guidance, please contact us and we would be happy to help.