Pixel Lava Interactive
  • Home
  • Websites
    • New Websites
    • Website Redesigns
    • Website Portfolio
    • Website Tune Ups
    • Website Updates
    • Zoom
  • Graphic Design
    • Logo design and brand identity
    • Business Cards
    • Postcards, flyers, ads and more
    • Illustration & Infographics
  • Marketing
    • Seasonal Website Promos
    • Video Holiday Cards​
    • Video & Motion Graphics
  • Training
    • Online Event Hosting
    • Web Lab Kits
    • Webinars
    • 1-to-1 Trainings
    • Weebly Training
    • Digital Summer Camp
    • Training FAQs
  • About
    • Blog
    • Client List
    • Good Vibes
    • Review Me
    • Recommendations
    • Partner Program  🔸
      • Partner Portal
    • Adventure Indoor Fitness
    • Pixel Lava Unplugged
    • Art Barn Shop
    • Happy Holidays
    • Happy Halloween
    • Remembering Bob
    • Remembering Mary
    • Sample Store
  • Contact
    • Download page
    • Support
    • Make a Payment

Field Notes Blog

News and thoughts on UI/UX, web design, and more.

Digital Summer Camp 01: File Types 101

7/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Welcome to Pixel Lava Digital Summer Camp!⛱️ Every week we’re diving into a new lesson designed to build your skills to rule the web! Whether you’re a small business owner, nonprofit pro or or want to build job skills, this is for you. In this one minute video episode you'll learn about the top most common file formats, their real names, what they are actually for and which ones to use where to get the best results. I'll cover everything from JPGs to EPS, including handy links to get more detailed information. To get a FREE, frosty new episode each week, join my mailing list.

A post shared by Ame Stanko (@pixellava) on Jul 11, 2018 at 10:17am PDT

JPG aka JPEG stands for Joint Photographers Experimental Group and it’s the file type developed to best display photos. It’s lossy compression method is adjustable from high to low resolution and it’s the workhorse of the web.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG
​

PNG
stands for Portable Network Graphics and it’s the file type developed to best display images for the web. It was developed as a higher quality alternative to GIFs. PNGs are used most often for images where a transparent background is needed but beware, in the same image saved as a JPG and a PNG, the PNG will be larger in file size due to its lossless compression. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics

GIF (pronounced like Gift) stands for Graphical Interchange Format and it’s used for images on the web. Since its inception way back in 1987 through its animated resurgence today it’s been the best way to get images down to their smallest file size. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIF

TIF stands for Tagged Image File Format and it’s the file type for print images, especially CMYK images used in print layouts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIFF

EPS stands for Encapsulated Post Script and it’s the file format for creating self-contained images and documents for print. It is mostly used by graphic artists. A layout can contain fonts and images so preparing it as an .EPS file ensures that when the printer opens it all of the parts are within it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encapsulated_PostScript

PDF stands for Portable Document File and it’s the format for creating self-contained documents to share with just about anybody. PDFs are used for everything from press releases to brochures to ebooks to real books. It’s a great way to share documents but beware, you can’t place a pdf on a web page and have it display like a photo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF
 
What to use where?
  • Use JPGs, PNGs, GIFs online in websites, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents that will be printed on a home or office printer, etc.
  • Use TIFs and EPSs in layouts that will be printed at a commercial printer.
  • Use PDFs for sharing documents online, printing them out and sending to a printer. PDFs can be prepared for many uses from low file sizes to dynamic collaboration but preparing your document to the X1a setting is the gold standard for print. 
That's it for this week. To get a FREE, frosty new episode for the next 8 weeks, join my mailing list.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Blog

    Ame Stanko, San Diego Web Designer

    About the author

    As the owner of Pixel Lava Interactive I've helped hundreds of small businesses and nonprofits with websites, graphic design and more. I hope you'll find this blog full of useful information.
    ~ Ame Stanko
    Mailing List Sign Up
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Community
    Digital Summer Camp
    DIY
    DIY Marketing
    Email Marketing
    Featured Projects
    For Nonprofits
    Fun Stuff
    Happy Holidays
    How Tos
    HTML Is Not So Scary
    Industry Musings
    Interwebs 101
    LGBT Business
    Marketing Ideas
    Monday Motivation
    New Products
    Newsletters
    Nonprofit Marketing
    Online Marketing
    Partner Program
    Pixel Lava Unplugged
    Product Updates
    Promo Ideas
    Reviews
    Scam Alerts
    Small Business Inspiration
    Small Business Marketing
    Social Media Marketing
    Tips & Tricks
    Training
    UI/UX
    Webinars
    Web Labs
    Website Workshops

    Archives

    June 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    September 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    February 2009
    December 2008
    December 2007
    December 2006
    December 2005

Home  |  Websites  |  Graphic Design  |  Marketing  |  Training  |  About  |  Shop  |  Contact

©2005-2019 Pixel Lava Interactive. All rights reserved. 🚀

  • Home
  • Websites
    • New Websites
    • Website Redesigns
    • Website Portfolio
    • Website Tune Ups
    • Website Updates
    • Zoom
  • Graphic Design
    • Logo design and brand identity
    • Business Cards
    • Postcards, flyers, ads and more
    • Illustration & Infographics
  • Marketing
    • Seasonal Website Promos
    • Video Holiday Cards​
    • Video & Motion Graphics
  • Training
    • Online Event Hosting
    • Web Lab Kits
    • Webinars
    • 1-to-1 Trainings
    • Weebly Training
    • Digital Summer Camp
    • Training FAQs
  • About
    • Blog
    • Client List
    • Good Vibes
    • Review Me
    • Recommendations
    • Partner Program  🔸
      • Partner Portal
    • Adventure Indoor Fitness
    • Pixel Lava Unplugged
    • Art Barn Shop
    • Happy Holidays
    • Happy Halloween
    • Remembering Bob
    • Remembering Mary
    • Sample Store
  • Contact
    • Download page
    • Support
    • Make a Payment