How to Select Correct File Format for Your Digital Artwork

Providing customers/users/designers with a correct digital file format is as important as the artwork itself. The very purpose of developing an artwork may be defeated if it isn't developed or sent in the correct digital format.

Also, it is highly important to first understand where exactly the digital images or artwork will be used, before deciding on the format. Generally, you have to base your image quality, resolutions, etc., on this factor. If you are planning to use the artwork for a large hoarding, sending a low resolution artwork will not suffice. Understanding the requirements clearly is extremely important to finalize the correct format.

The need for maintaining correct file formats is to achieve clearer, sharper and easily editable images for small or large hoarding-sized images. Another reason is the ease of editing and rich software support that only certain file formats can offer.

Ensure Correct Format of Your Digital Artworks

There are many formats available to save digital artwork. Each format has particular specifications that should be kept in mind before delivering your digital artwork; else the image quality will be inferior. Here are some points to know before choosing desired format for your artwork -

1. Bitmap Images or Vector Images:

   If you take an image and go on magnifying it to a point where it becomes blurry, you can actually make out whether it is a bit map or a vector image. If you begin to see tiny blurry dots, which actually make your image, it is a bitmap image, unlike a vector image which is built using lines. Vector images are clearer and sharper compared to bit mapped images in general, and remain crisper even when magnified. So if you deliver a bitmap image instead of a vector image you are providing your client with a low quality image. Vice versa, if the customer is giving you an image for editing or for further development you have to ensure that the image is a vector image, based on the requirements.

2. DPI of Bitmap Images:

   At times, bitmap images are needed to achieve some desired visual effects or to develop some digital fine art. In cases like this you have to ensure that these bitmap images or artwork file are delivered to your customer or designer in high resolution (300-600 dpi) or as per their specific needs.

3. Commonly Used Formats:

   Generally, in digital art, images are delivered in .eps (encapsulated postscript), .ai (Adobe Illustrator) or .cdr (Corel Draw) formats. These formats are preferred as they give digital artwork developers rich image development options. Moreover, with these formats editing can be easily done if needed before printing the artwork. Generally a .pdf (portable document format) which is not editable, is not used by digital printers, however .pdf files are excellent for transferring the images to customers for approvals, as .pdf reader software are easily available. PDF is also a great format to send an artwork for printing if you want an exact output without any changes. Vector outputs can be saved using Vector software and these PDFs can be opened and edited in that software as well. But when these files are opened in Bitmap software like Photoshop, they can't be edited there, as it will be in the image form.

4. Photo Images:

   Photo formats like .jpg, .tif, .png, .gif, etc., should be used based on their specific features during photo editing or digital photo art. If you want to compress your digital photos, you can go for .jpg format, but by compromising on its quality. Similarly, if you are looking to develop a master copy of your photo then you have may go for .png or .tif for greater depth and clarity. So providing correct photo file formats based on the requirements is extremely important.

Avail High-Quality Digital Artwork Services from O2I

All customers may not have the technical background to understand the intricacies of digital file formats. That's why we make it a point to educate our customers on various file formats and offer digital photo management tips. This empowers them to appreciate and understand the intricacies before selecting any specific file format.

If you do not want to bother about all these artwork formats, and just focus on your core business activities, mail all your requirements and design ideas to us. You can rely on our expertise in digital artwork development. Our expert developers will liaise with your designers to understand the artwork format requirements and offer you a high quality printed artwork.

Contact us today, and give your images the edge they deserve!