There
are many -- too many -- file types and color modes. The final files
and usage really depend on the clients needs. Here are the basics so
you can determine your needs.
-
Black
and white line art is cheap to print and easy to reproduce in any
medium. Cost and quality are the main factors here.
-
Grayscale images are used for printed materials where there is not
enough money or a need for color. Can be hard to reproduce accurately.
The nice blend from black to white might just turn into a gray blob.
-
Spot color, like Pantone Matching System, is another cheap option
for printed materials. If
you want really vibrant colors, you need to design a logo that uses
custom inks.
-
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is used for PRINT ONLY.
-
RGB (Red Green Blue)
is used for the WEB ONLY.
Most
People will be concerned with these file formats. All of them can
be imported into page layout programs like MS Word and combined with
text. Generally, all these files have limited resolution, so the image
size can not be increased:
-
PDF
(Portable Document File) The standard in file transfer and it can
be locked to prevent changes or printing.
-
EPS
(Encapsulated Post Script). The image resolution is variable unless
it is vector artwork.
-
TIF
The file size can be compressed without loss of information.
-
JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) The file size is always compressed
and there is always a loss of information, though it is usually
not noticeable. It is the most common file type and used primarily
on the web.
Some
People will be concerned with these file formats. Warning: not all
graphic designers provide these files to their clients, forcing them
to keep returning for changes:
-
AI (Adobe Illustrator) used for vector art, which has unlimited
resolution. This is the native file used to make changes to the
original document.
-
PSD
(Adobe Photoshop) is a bitmap program (pixels). The resolution is
limited, so the image size can only be reduced, and ideally only
once. This is the native file used to make changes to the original
document.
-
INDD
or INX (Adobe InDesign) a page layout program. This is the native
file used to make changes to the original document.
All
these color formats can be combined with all these file types, so you
can see that it can be quite confusing and quite a lot of work if your
project is not managed well.
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