TIFF or the Tagged Image File Format is a rather old standard that is still very popular today. It is a highly flexible and platform-independent format which is supported by numerous image processing applications and virtually all all prepress software on the market. TIFF is strictly used for bitmap data. It doesn’t contain text nor vector data, even though its structure would permit additional tags to handle such data. Flexible combination of colorspace, bitdepth/datatype, and compression scheme
EPS - Encapsulated Postscript File Format
An EPS file can contain any combination of text, graphics and images. Since it is actually a PostScript file, it is the most versatile file format that is available. EPS-files usually contain a small preview image that is used to visualize the content of the file.
JPEG - Encapsulated Postscript File Format
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, which is a standardization committee. It also stands for the compression algorithm that was invented by this committee. JPEG is a lossy compression algorithm that has been conceived to reduce the file size of natural, photographic-like true-color images as much as possible without affecting the quality of the image as experienced by the human sensory engine. We perceive small changes in brightness more readily than we do small changes in color. It is this aspect of our perception that JPEG compression exploits in an effort to reduce the file size.
PDF - Encapsulated Postscript File Format
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. In prepress, PDF is commonly used as a format to exchange data, either complete pages that need to be printed or advertisements that needs to be included in a publication. The file format is also popular for softproofing and reviewing content, because there are applications that allow you to make annotations on the PDF pages.
Okay now you have all the definitions, it is really up to the customer to discuss each file format with the
printer to make sure they support the file format sent in. I prefer the customer send the PDF for print ready
collateral that they have already proof-read and pretty much know the file is print ready.
If it is a illustrator or freehand file, it is best to save as an eps for the printer, that way they can open it in many prepress programs. Tifs are great for photos in photoshop or placing in a layout program like Indesign, quark. I do not like JPEG, usually they are compressed but either way our ripping software does not like them very much. When I get these types of links I open in photoshop and convert to eps or tif and resave.
All in all, you should talk to your printer to educate yourself and them about the best file format to send it in. This will save time, money and headaches.
Happy Wednesday!
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