The Non-Designer’s Guide to File Types

Files. They’re all around us. Moving from inbox to inbox. Sharefile to Dropbox. Illustrator to the great beyond.  There are so many kinds of files that it begs the question: how do I know which one is right and what does that designer mean when they say they want my logo in a vector file?

We’re here with all the information you want and probably some you never knew you needed.

Raster Graphics vs. Vector Graphics

The most common image and graphic files you’ll ever work with can be put into one of two buckets: raster or vector.

To sum it up:

­Raster = little squares. Vector = infinite math. ­­

Common File Types and When to Use Them

Now that we know about squares and math, we’re going to break down the most popular raster and vector files so you always know the best one for your project.

Raster Graphic File Types

Vector Graphic File Types

Other Files to Know

File Type FAQs

Can I turn a raster graphic into a vector graphic or vice versa?

You can, but it will require some sort of software. It’s important to remember the advantages of each file type (high detail/color vs. infinite scalability) and choose which one is more important for you. Rasterizing your vector graphic won’t affect it visually, but it will flatten the graphic and limit its scalability.

On the flip side, turning a raster graphic into a vector graphic will potentially result in a loss of detail, depth, and color range because your graphic will be using shapes and paths instead of pixels. This will require some sort of software or application to convert your file. Placing a JPG into Illustrator and saving as an AI file does not convert the JPG into a vector graphic. You’ll want to use a tool such Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator to vectorize your raster graphics.

Does changing the file extension change the file type?

It does not. Changing a file extension from JPG to PNG, for example, will not change the file. You must open it in a software to save it out as a new file.

What is PPI?

Image resolution is measured in PPI or “pixels per inch”. PPI is often used interchangeably with DPI or “dots per inch”, which refers to the resolution of a printed piece. Graphics that are created for digital and web spaces should be 72ppi. Graphics that are meant to be printed should be created at 300dpi unless otherwise noted by a printer or vendor.

Can you use both types of graphics together?

Absolutely—many ads, posters or images are made with a combination of raster and vector graphics. It’s important to know where your final graphic will be used and any other specifications so you start your project with all the correct file types. Where you showcase the final file will ultimately determine what you’ll end up exporting out of your program.

What are CMYK and RGB? When should we use them?

CMYK & RGB are the two standard color systems we use. The main difference between these two systems is where you should use them. CMYK is only for printed materials while RGB is for digital materials.

CMYK uses a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow and black or key (where the K comes from). This is also sometimes referred to as a “4-color process” build. The files you use for printing should always be in CMYK when sent to the printer to avoid any changes in color when you get your materials.

RGB uses red, green, blue and the light from your screen to create the colors you see. There many more color options with RGB so if you are working with a digital medium, make sure your files are in RGB.

What is considered a “high-quality” image or logo?

There are a couple things that creatives might be looking for when they ask for a high-quality image or logo. When it comes to logos or illustrations, they’re most likely looking for a vector or working file. This will make sure that your graphic is infinitely scalable making it the highest of qualities.

For images or photos, it’s a little different. Resolution (ppi/dpi) is key factor but possibly more important are the dimensions of the image/graphic. Even if the resolution is high, dimensions that are too small—meaning there are less pixels in the image—will result in a low quality image. While the final size of your project will ultimately determine what is high quality enough, a good rule of thumb is to use images with dimensions in the thousands. For instance, 1000 x 750px could be considered high quality though images directly from a camera would usually be larger.

Remember that an image or photo is a raster graphic. Once you have sized the image to be smaller, it cannot be made high resolution again. To check how large your image is you can generally right click on the image and click “Get Info” or “Details” to see dimensions of the image.

What is a “working file”?

A working file is a term used to describe an editable file. Think about files like Word documents or PowerPoint documents. These would be considered working files because you can edit that information. Saving those out as PDF or JPG would “flatten” the file and make it non-editable. This is how files from design programs work too. If a designer asks for a working file, they’re probably looking for a file from Adobe Illustrator (.ai), Adobe InDesign (.indd, .idml), Adobe Photoshop (.psd, .psb) or however you built that graphic.

If there’s one thing not to do when working with a multitude of file types—it’s get discouraged. There are quite a few ways to get to the same outcome when you’re dealing with files, it’s just about finding the best one for your situation. Play around to see first-hand the similarities and differences between each file type. If you get stuck, you can always refer back to this blog or download our quick view PDF to keep handy in case of questions. Happy filing!