It's easy to get lost in the sea of files, so here's a summary of common file formats to keep your head afloat. File formats ensure the best end result when you know how to use them.
What does CMYK and RGB mean?
CMYK and RGB are color models or color profiles. They are designed to reproduce color. The CMYK color profile is designed for print production and reproduces colors through ink mixing, while the RGB color profile is for web environments and on-screen materials and creates color through light.
What if you use a color profile for the wrong purpose?
When condensed, the colors don't look right. If you use the RGB color profile in print production, the color of the final product is probably faded or the tones are distorted. The RGB color profile needs light to create vivid colors that cannot be achieved by mixing ink. Similarly, if you use the CMYK color profile in the material reproduced on the screen, the colors may appear faded and dull.
Different file formats and their uses
.PNG
PNG is your best friend and should almost always be used when you are in an online environment. The best result comes when PNG is combined with an RGB color profile. The disadvantage of .PNG is that its file size is larger in order to keep the image as high-quality as possible. Therefore, when using PNG images on the website, you should make sure that the image is not too large, for example more than 1200px high or wide. You can reduce images with various image converters.
Best to use for: In online images, graphics and images that require transparency.
Not the best for: In high-quality print production, because PNG is an uncompressed file format, this can lead to larger file sizes compared to other file formats.
.JPG
.JPG is the most common file format, but not always the best option. JPG is a small file because it is compressed into a small package. For this reason, every time you save a JPG again, its quality will decrease because the compressed data will be lost. Because of this, many popular meme images are pixelated. However, JPG is the optimal option for photos, because the compression method removes details that the human eye can't see anyway.
Best to use for: In photos and images that require good image quality with a reasonably small file size.
Not the best for: For images that require transparency or precise vector graphics, as JPEG does not support these features.
.EPS
.EPS is often the favorite file format of our graphic designers because it maintains good quality and works great with professional software. Often, different printing houses also want logos and graphics in .EPS format in order to guarantee a high-quality end result. The EPS file format can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
Best to use for: Logos, drawings and graphics that contain vector content.
Not the best for: For photos or images with complex color blends, as EPS is not the best file format for photographic material.
.SVG
There is also a vector file, but does not hold the image or color quality as well as .EPS, because the .SVG file is compressed smaller and is smaller in size. You often hear conflicting information about SVG when it comes to websites. However, I personally do not recommend that SVG be used on websites, because not all browsers display .SVG files correctly and they can slow down the loading time of websites. In some website platforms, .SVG files can also create security holes.
Best to use for: On websites, when you need scalable vector graphics in a small size.
Not the best for: In images or photos, as .SVG does not support embedding images in the file and may result in a large file size if it contains complex graphics.
.AI
The AI file format is the original file format for vector graphics created in Illustrator and preserves all layers, colors and editable elements. When added to Canva, different elements of the AI file, such as the background color, can be changed.
Best to use for: In animation, Canvas and Adobe Illustrator.
Not the best for: Directly on the website or in print production, unless the file First convert to a suitable file format, such as PNG, JPEG or EPS.
The PDF file format preserves layout and style information and is a widely accepted file format for sharing and printing. Sometimes printers may ask for a PDF file because they can open the file with a professional program and edit the file.
Best to use for: In documents that contain text, images or graphics and that you want to share and display in the same way on several different platforms.
Not the best for: When editable or editable files are needed, as PDF is generally designed as a final or source-trusted file format.
.WebP
Recommended file format for websites. WebP is a very new file format and not all programs or browsers support the .WebP file format yet. There are several media converters on the net where you can convert images to .WebP format. WebP file keeps the file size of the image small without significant deterioration of the image quality, which contributes to the fast loading of the web page.
Best to use for: On websites, animations, image galleries and image banks
Not the best for: In old web browsers (Internet Explorer and older versions of Safari) or when printing, as printers and graphics software may not support it.