In this article we are going to talk about the many different file formats that the client may or may not request. The source file is the file that you work in, that contains the layered information. If you are using Photoshop the file will have the suffix .psd. The .psd file is the most important file because it does contain all of the information, text and layers, which is needed in order to accurately edit the design if ever needed.

Other important file formats include, png, jpg, gif, bmp, etc… We will discuss each of these and explain some of the pros and cons of using each. Each of these is referred to as bitmap or raster formats. Each of these formats is resolution dependant. This means when resized they will not maintain the quality that is has at the original size. Alternatively if your design is created using vector shapes and paths, you can save your file in vector format.

Some vector formats include, eps, ai, etc.., these formats unlike raster formats, will maintain there image quality when resized within Photoshop, or another graphic program. They use paths, and a mathematical system to display graphics instead of pixels. Vector graphics are usually necessary for print materials. I highly encourage you to look into vector graphics; many businesses will require a vector format. For most web graphics any raster format will suffice.

I will start my description of other raster formats with my favorite, png. Portable Network Graphic. This format is in my opinion superior to all. It supports transparency, grayscale, 24 bit images, and much more. The best thing about it, is that it maintains the highest amount of quality. Even with transparent backgrounds, unlike gif, it maintains its quality. The only downfall to this format, is that is some older browsers, the transparency is not recognized. Other than that, png format is in my opinion the best raster format available at this time.

The next format i will touch on is jpeg. Joint Photographic Expert Group. Jpeg is commonly used for photographs and other continuous tone images within HTML documents. It is not a bad format to use for basic image display. It does lose some quality but it is compatible with all browsers.

Another format is gif. Graphics Interchange Format. This is also a great format for the right occasion. One benefit is it also can be used with a transparent background, however if you have drop shadows or glows, they will not covert very well. Also there is quite a bit of quality lost, almost to a pixilated state. Another benefit is that you can use this format to create animations.

Another useful format would be pdf. Portable Document Format. Pdf files accurately displays and preserves fonts, vector graphics, and quality over all, making it a great format for print.

These are just a few formats that you may be required to deliver as a designer. From my experience the best format to use for presentation is png, due to the retention of quality. I would also suggest that you encourage your clients to use it as well.

When in need of a vector format, you need to make sure that the document is created using paths and vector graphics or it will not retain quality.

With the above file formats you should have no problem delivering the perfect file format to your clients.

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