File Types we accept…
- TIFF – with LZW compression on
- PDF – with fonts outlined or embedded
- EPS – with fonts outlined
- JPEG – saved to maximum quality/minimum compression
If at all possible, design and submit your files at 100% scale. There is no advantage to designing at a smaller dimension and scaling at some later step in the process. Sooner or later you’re going to end up at 100%. Either the data and resolution are there or they are not. Designing and submitting files that are less than 100% scale only creates another opportunity for confusion and miscommunication.
When working with EPS and PDF files, it is always safest to convert fonts to outlines. EPS files are not able to embed fonts, PDF files are able. When saving PDF files, use a preset configuration like High Quality Print, X3a or X1a. These will not compress or downsample images in your designs.
TIFF is always preferred over JPEG. But JPEG is not necessarily evil, it is all a matter of how it is used. As long as you stick with the highest quality (minimum compression) JPEG setting when saving, your image will be ok. Beware that JPEG compression can damage an image much worse than not having enough pixels if excess compression is applied. The sneaky part with JPEG is the compression may be applied without you being aware. Be sure your digital camera is set to not only take the highest resolution it is capable of, but the lowest compression as well. To ensure you’re not compressing when taking a digital camera pic, use TIFF instead of JPEG if you camera will allow it. In general, stay away from RAW format unless you really know what you’re doing with the process. I’ve seen many well intentioned photographers destroy images with the RAW filter when simply taking a proper picture and going through TIFF would have provided a much better result.
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