The biggest thing to note when determining what DPI or PPI you require is if you are using an image for print or web. Have you heard your designer talk about DPI or PPI? DPI stands for 'dots per inch' and PPI translates to 'pixels per inch.' These units of measure are essential for determining if the density of pixels in an image is appropriate for the application you are using. Often they'll have a vector file of your logo that they can send to you for your records. If you're not sure whether you have a vector version of your logo, here's a little trick for you: Call the company that printed your business cards or the vendor that embroidered your logo on a shirt. The real beauty of vectors lies in their ability to be sized as small as a postage stamp, or large enough to fit on an 18-wheeler!

Your logo and brand graphics should have been created as a vector, and you should always have a master file on hand.

EPS, AI and PDF are perfect for creating graphics that require frequent resizing. They are constructed using proportional formulas rather than pixels. As a result, it is important to remember to save raster files at the exact dimensions needed for the application. In order to retain pixel quality, you cannot resize raster images without compromising their resolution. Pixels have a defined proportion based on their resolution (high or low), and when the pixels are stretched to fill space they were not originally intended to fit, they become distorted, resulting in blurry or unclear images. Every photo you find online or in print is a raster image. JPEG, GIF, and PNG are all raster image extensions. Raster images are constructed by a series of pixels, or individual blocks, to form an image. We've put together a useful outline to help you understand the difference between each file format, and when they are appropriate to use.įirst things first: What is the difference between vector and raster? Raster Image Files While the large variety of image formats may seem overwhelming, there is a method to the madness. Unless you're a graphic designer by training (like me), chances are you've never needed to understand things like what separates a TIF from a PDF or a PSD. Have you ever wondered when you should use a JPG instead of a PNG? Or maybe you're just trying to figure out which program opens an INDD.

Pes file extension