Being a GREAT designer is not just about creating excellent designs but is also about providing excellent SERVICE. One easy way to do this is by providing the correct file formats to your client.
Not only does this save your client time by avoiding confusion at the printer, it also builds trust and security in your designer-client relationship.
File Formats for CMYK Print Designs
When designing for print it is important that you use a CMYK color mode. To learn more about color modes, please read RGB and CMYK: Saving in the Correct File Formats.
The following files are often used when saving print designs:
- PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format developed by Adobe Systems that can be universally downloaded and viewed by any computer that has the Adobe Acrobat plug-in. Today, PDFs are widely favored by most designers — it can be saved as an editable file which is great for clients.
- EPS (Encapsulated PostScript file) is a vector format of your logo. It can be re-sized without losing image quality. Due to it’s high quality, it is commonly used with print elements such as business cards or brochures. If you ever question when to use it, ask yourself, “Will this be used for a high quality print?”
- TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is widely supported and works in almost any program. It produces a higher quality image than a JPG or PNG, but is not a vector format like EPS. It is widely used among publishing industries and photographers. It is best used in common things like invoices, page layouts or letterheads.
File Formats for RGB Computer-based Designs
When designing for any electronic or computer device, it is important that you use a RGB color mode.
The following files are often used when saving computer-based designs:
- JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a raster file best used for web-based designs because their compressed sizes load quickly. JPG images lose some quality but are great to use for emails, banner designs or anything web-based.
- PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a web-based file that does not lose quality when compressed. PNG files were created to improve on the quality of GIF files and are best used for the web.
Give Clients Editable Files
It is extremely important that you provide working files for your clients incase they need to edit your design in the future.
PSD (Photoshop) and AI (Illustrator) are uncompressed, working files that are created when using Adobe programs. Photoshop is a raster-based program and is mainly used for web-based designs while Illustrator is a vector-based program that is mainly used for logos. You need to provide working files for your clients incase they need to edit your design in the future.
If you use CSD (CorelDRAW), you should also provide the client with an editable PDF or convert your file to AI. For more information on the problems that can occur when doing this, please read CorelDRAW Problems: Publishing as AI and EPS.
By going the extra mile and making sure the client has all the correct files for their new design, you will be set apart as a trusted designer for their business.
Awesome tips!
Thanks for the additional learnings. : )
I have been working on these files years before. But it’s only now that I remarkably understood their designations. Ang tanga ko.
Ahahaha. Don’t be too hard on yourself, bro. Ako nga para sigurado sinesend ko .EPS, .PSD, .JPEG at .PNG. May mga CH kasi na gusto lahat meron. And they’re all in BOTH RGB and CMYK profiles! Sometimes I produce up to 32 files for just one logo! Hehehe.
Nice to see a fellow Filipino designer here. Where are you based, if I may ask?
I’ve been doing the same here but only Ai, EPS and PNG formats. Sometimes PSD and JPEG if the client requested it. Good luck mga pinoy talunin natin ang mga banyaga! ;)
Some designers have brought up that PDFs are also a valid option.
Cheers,
Jason
PDF is in many cases the best choice because you can embeed fonts, the file size is small so its easy and quick to send to the printer and so on and so on. Ask your printer in which standard you should make the pdf file ready, some prefer PDF/x-3:2003 this Standards are already predefined in the PDF Export from your application. In the earlier day many printer only accepted PDF which was created with Adobe Distiller (I had such a company before 2 month). But most of the time you can go with the predefined Standards.
EPS isn’t EPS. As you read above it stands for Encapsulated PostScript this means it can embeeded either vector OR “Pixel” images. So its NOT sure that an EPS file is scaleable. You can save an photo as EPS which will not turn into a Vector format now therefore it always is not scaleable without quality losing. But you can save a vector logo as EPS and scale it with losing quality. What is this format really good for?
Many people use EPS to deal with different Programs. Save from one, importing in the second.
But EPS becomes more and more an outdated format by PDF’s.
Just in case somebody didn’t know
I send AI, PSD with JPEG format file!!
Really Good!
When I convert the file from RGB to CMYK mode, the colors become dull. I would like if someone please solve my problem for properly converting the graphic RGB to CMYK without any color change so that it can be properly printed.
MR. AZ,
I’m sure one of your fellow designers will jump in here but just keep mind the purpose of converting the colors to CMYK is for printing so you cannot rely on what it looks like on the computer screen – the results on paper will be different.
Cheers,
Jason
The problem is that the RGB Color Space is much bigger than the CMYK colorspace. Also the way how thiis 2 colorset created the color is totally different. Its normal that you color look dull. the best result you get when you use color books to fix the color for example. After converting a file from RGB to CMYK you should check and fix the colors otherwise you may get results you don’t want to get. Also Color Profil is important. Its really hard to explain in one simple comment. Feel free to contact me if you need help
Whoa, this helps me a lot. Im new and i know nothing. This article makes me know about 75% of all things i should know.. Thanks a bunch.. :D
Glad we can help.
Cheers,
Jason
This is a helpful summary of how the different file types work and their proper utilization. I’ve been working with them for years but never quite understood the different characteristics as simply and clearly as they’re explained here. Thank you!
That’s good to hear! We post similar design articles weekly, so keep checking back :)
:) this really helpful thanks for posting it, it really give smile to my face. ^^
I hope you can also post articles about sizes I’m really confuse about size^^ tnx & God Bless
We plan on posting an article that goes more in-depth about files this month! Make sure to keep checking back. :)
iam new in designing, i just have inkscape for creating, it cant convert to ai, will i be banned? or if i am a winner in something contetst will i be cancelled to be?
Hi newbee! You should be able to save it as an EPS file which will allow the file to be opened in AI and edited. Please let me know if you have any questions!
hey pls help me!
i use xara designer pro 7
i can only save as xara or export it as png or jpeg, what file shuld i save it as then?
If we want to use the same web logo design for a t-shirt print does it matter which type of the file we use? Thx
thx your info.. kamsia..
How do i convert a pdf to a jpeg or png for upload in a contest.
Hi,
You should be able to save your working file (i.e. AI, PSD, CDR, etc.) directly as a jpeg or png. For example, in Illustrator you would go to File > Save for web > and select PNG. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
Hi, My working file is a powerpoint presentation. I am able to convert it to jpeg, png, or pdf no problem. But they are saving as individual pics. I want all the slides (i.e. 14 pictures) as one document either jpeg or png.
Please help.
Hello! I’m new in designing here in 99designs.com. I have encountered a problem when posting my design in 99designs. The picture is comparably of lower quality than the one I’m working on in illustrator. I’m a bit confused on how the others do theirs since most of them (I think) have posted their designs the way they implemented it in their illustrator/photoshop. Can anyone help me with this? thanks!
Hi Allen. If you are working with CMYK mode (which is fine if it’s for print), you might want to convert it to RGB solely to upload it as a mockup to our site. Also try saving your file as a PNG 24 before uploading. If this doesn’t work, please email designersupport@99designs.com with a screen shot and link to the design that looks low quality. We will be happy to look into it further. Thanks!
I sure did learn some news stuff today. Thank you all!
Can’t we send Ai files for web site designs instead of PSD files?
Please can anyone tell me what 99designs actually mean by “layered rgb” and “fireworks png” formats that are to b submitted for website designs
how do you submit a logo on 99desigs?
Hi Mawethu,
You must give the CH a vector file (i.e. AI) as well as an EPS. You can also give them a PNG, JPEG and PDF. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Cheers,
Alli
Hello, I have a few questions i am new to designing but halfway familiar with illustrator. When making a logo How should i save a logo i made for upload in a contest jpeg, Png, or such? And what would i save a logo file to in finale process for a client? rgb? what if the client want to use it for print and as a logo on his website how would i save that?
I usually use photoshop for designing logo, vector files can be also made in Photoshop, is it ok to convert it to AI after producing it in Photoshop ??
Hi! I’m new here!
I usually use inkscape and I know the SVG format can be opened with Adobe illustrator! When I’ll win a project can I send SVG format to the buyer instead converting it in an AI format?
I would like this clarified also.
The FAQ says: For logo or some other VECTOR image – Designers should provide EPS, AI, PDF, or SVG file format. AI (Adobe Illustrator) is a vector-based file that must be used for logo designs.
So is AI required for logos or not?
Inkscape can produce EPS, PDF, and SVG, but not AI.
Hi bhw,
A vector file is required for logo design, and does not necessarily have to be an AI file. You do not need to upload an AI file if you upload an EPS or editable PDF. Just from experience, PDFs tend to have the lease amount of issues when it comes to printing. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Cheers,
ALli
Nice Post
But i am confused about Editable PDF.I make pdf throught illustrator is this step to convert format is write. and the main one is what thing we can edit in pdf and how (which software).
Thank you so much for explaining the differences! You have done me a great service.
thank u so much ! very useful Post!
is PSD enough for Logo design or I must convert it to AI ?
Hi Sam! You can’t “convert” from PSD to AI. You MUST create logos in Illustrator because it is a vector program. Learn more about the difference of vector vs. raster: http://99designs.com/designer-blog/2011/05/02/vector-vs-raster-images/
hi Allison,
Am Oritosola how can I check like I someone make me Logo or website and other where can I get it ? and how am I going to submit my design in what place please help me