Preparing digital images for print – sizes and formats
Here's a smart guide on how to work with sizes and formats for digital photos and images to make sure they can be reproduced with the right quality in print.
Image format overview
Formats for print
When it comes to print, the most common image formats today are .jpg, .tif, .psd or .eps illustrator. Very rarely .png or .svg, which on the other hand are much more common for digital publication.
Vector vs pixel
Pixels are tiny, coloured squares on a screen and when there are a lot of them together, they make up a pixel-based graphic. A vector graphic is a scalable illustration and not restricted to any particular size, so it is good for logotypes and other graphics that need to be scalable.
What is a pixel?
A pixel is the smallest item of information in an image as it can be shown on a screen. Pixels are squares arranged in a two-dimensional grid. The intensity of each pixel is variable; each one generally has three or four colour components.
RAW format
RAW is an image format consisting of minimally altered digital information from a digital camera. RAW is not an abbreviation, it stands for raw, as in unadjusted.
AI image reproduction in print
Once the image is ready for print reproduction, it's time to handle the colour conversion from RGB to CMYK. In this step an experienced prepress technician may add extra touches to enhance details. Learn more about colour conversion or explore our printed AI-generated images.