Which file type produces the best quality prints?
The file format, also called the file type, is the way a file is stored on a computer. Some common examples of file formats are Word document, JPG and PDF.
The most common file formats we see are JPEG, TIFF, PNG and PDF. Each file type has its own strengths and weaknesses. To print your documents, our system automatically converts the files to a PDF file. This almost always happens without any problems and you can also check it in our preview during uploading. However, do you want to be sure that nothing changes position in your file? Then submit your files in PDF. Below we will discuss the different file types in more detail.
JPEG/JPG
JPG and JPEG are the same file format, both stand for "Joint Photographic Experts Group". But because in earlier versions of Windows file formats had to be indicated with three letters, JPEG was abbreviated to JPG. As the name suggests, JPG files are often used to store photos. The files are not that large, and compression does not result in less detailed photos, which is why this type is great for photo sharing. What is very important with JPG files is that they are not edited and resaved too often. Every time it is saved again after editing, there is always a small loss of quality.
TIFF
If you are afraid of the loss of quality with JPG files and want to prevent this, you can go for a .TIFF file type. A TIFF file stands for "Tag Image File Format". This file format has the highest quality and produces large files, partly because it also has the largest color space. TIFF files use lossless file compression. There will be no loss of image quality that occurs with JPG. However, for many prints the differences with JPG will be small.
PNG
PNG stands for "Portable Network Grahpic" and is comparable to a JPEG. A significant disadvantage of the PNG format is that it uses the RGB color system instead of CMYK, making this file format suitable for screens instead of printing. However, the quality of a PNG, just like a TIFF file, remains very high after compression because no data is lost. A PNG file therefore has major advantages and disadvantages. We do not recommend PNG files for files where the color is very important.
Portable Document Format, or PDF for short, has the great advantage that the format of the document always remains the same, regardless of the software or device used to format or open the document. This is the file type we use to print files. This is because our printers run best on this and the print never moves in PDF format. This way, the file will always be printed the same when it is delivered as a PDF. We recommend a high-resolution PDF (300 DPI) for the best printing.
DOC
Almost everyone has worked with a .doc or DOC file. This abbreviation stands for document and is most common when using the Microsoft Word program. These documents are most often used for textual expressions such as resumes, letters or essays. To create a more creative document, such as a magazine, card or other expressive products, it is better to use other programs. When you upload a .doc document to our website, always check carefully in the preview whether any sections/texts/blocks has moved after converting to PDF.
