Computing

Best Graphics File Formats for Desktop Publishing

Choose graphics file formats based on task

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Graphics come in many flavors but not all file formats are suitable for all purposes. How do you know which is best? In general, there are graphics formats suitable for printing and those for on-screen viewing or online publishing. Within each group there are also formats that are better than others for the same task.

Use GIF, PNG, and JPG for online publishing. Use EPS and TIFF for print publishing. If all your printing is sent to your desktop printer, you may be able to use other formats including CGM and PCX with acceptable results; however, for high-resolution output EPS and TIFF will provide the least hassles and the best quality. They are the standards for high-resolution printing.

In addition to the formats in the chart, below, there are proprietory graphics file formats. These are bitmap or vector formats used by specific graphics programs. Although some desktop publishing software will recognize the more common formats such as PSD from Adobe Photoshop (bitmap) or CDR from CorelDRAW (vector) it is generally best to convert these images to TIF or EPS or other common graphics file formats.

This simple chart outlines the best use for several common formats. Match the format to your job either by starting with graphics in that format or by converting other artwork to the desired format.

Format:	Designed for:	Top choice for:
BMP	Screen display under Windows	Windows Wallpaper
EPS	Printing to PostScript printers/Imagesetters	High resolution printing of illustrations
GIF	Screen display, especially the Web	Online publishing of non-photographic images
JPEG, JPG	Screen display, especially the Web	Online publishing of photographic images
PNG	Replacement for GIF and, to a lesser extent, JPG and TIF	Online publishing of illustrations with lots of colors and transparency Intermediate image-editing stages for JPG or TIF images
PICT	Screen display on Macintosh or printing to non-PostScript printer
TIFF, TIF	Printing to PostScript printers	High resolution printing of images
WMF	Screen display under Windows or printing to non-PostScript printer	Transfer vector images via the clipboard
Pick Your Path to Desktop Publishing
Get Started:	Basic Guidelines and Requirements for Desktop Publishing
Choose Software:	Desktop Publishing and Design Software
Make Something:	Things to Make Using Desktop Publishing
Tips & Tutorials:	How to Do Desktop Publishing
Training, Education, Jobs:	Careers in Desktop Publishing
In the Classroom:	Back to School With Desktop Publishing
Use Templates:	Templates for Print and Web Publishing