Graphic File Formats

The following file formats can be used to place images into a page layout program.

EPS - (Encapsulated PostScript) is a self-contained PostScript document intended to be usable as a graphics file format that describes an image or drawing and can be placed within another PostScript document. Both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop can create EPS files to be placed into a page layout program such as InDesign or QuarkXpress.

TIFF - (Tagged Image File Format) is a file format for storing images. The TIFF format is widely supported by image-manipulation applications and page layout applications. Adobe Photoshop can create TIFF files to be placed into a page layout program such as InDesign or QuarkXpress, allowing for some further manipulation.

JPEG - (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a file format that uses a method of lossy compression and is commonly used for digital photography. The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality. JPEG's are most commonly used on the Web because the compression allows for smaller file sizes, but can be used in printing if saved at 300 ppi.

PDFs can be created to submit digital files, rather than submitting the native files that the layout was originally created in.

PDF - (Portable Document Format) is an open standard for document exchange. This file format is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout flat document, including the text, fonts, graphics, and other information needed to display it.