Document/File, and Format Definitions
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LSC Marketing and Communications Document/file, and format definitions This is a quick-reference, definitions guide to the types of documents, files, and What is a TIF (TIFF) file? formats most commonly used by the LSC Marketing and Communications Department. TIF (TIFF), is an acronym for Tagged Image File Format. Rarely used since PDFs, PNGs and JPGs, are more convenient. LSC Marketing and Communications can What is a PDF file? create/edit TIF files in Adobe Photoshop. Adobe PDF files — short forportable document format files — are one of the most • Printability = YES commonly-used file types today. A PDF file name ends with the.pdf extension. VECTOR files (.ai and .eps) Why use PDF files? A Vector file’s name ends with either an.ai or .eps extension. A PDF is a kind of “universal” format, viewable in both MacIntosh and Windows. It Vector images allow for more resizing flexibility than PDFs, JPGs, PNGs, or TIFs. Constructed helps prevent issues typically experienced when sharing files or documents across using mathematical formulas rather than individual colored blocks, vector file types such as different platforms. PDF files are primarily meant for viewing, not editing. PDFs .ai or .eps are excellent for creating graphics that frequently require resizing, can preserve document formatting, which makes them more shareable and especially when sizing larger. helps maintain the look of the document on any device – so documents can be All LSC logos and brand graphics created by LSC Marketing and Communications are vector viewed as you intended. At LSC Marketing and Communications, PDFs are primarily files that are easily resized for business cards and letterheads, as well as larger surfaces, like created using Adobe InDesign and Illustrator. posters, billboards, and banners. • Printability = YES (if printing from a high-resolution PDF file) Vector files are the source files from which PDFs, JPGs, PNGs, TIFs, etc. are created. • Printability = YES What is a JPEG (JPG) file? JPEG stands for: Joint Photographic Experts Group, named for the group that High-Resolution vs. Low-Resolution files created the standard. A JPEG file name ends with the.jpg extension. The JPG standard Printed materials ALWAYS require High-Resolution (hi-res) images. Photos or art submitted specifies how an image is compressed and decompressed for viewing on a computer for any printed project at LSC need to meet the hi-res standard. A hi-res photo can be screen and for printing. JPG files can be opened by most image-editing software, from down-sized if necessary, but not the reverse. Microsoft Paint to Adobe Photoshop (in both MacIntosh and Windows). They can be A photo that is 1MB, 2MB, or higher (MB=Megabites) and/or 300DPI in size is high- or low-resolution, thus very versatile. One major characteristic of JPGs is that appropriate as a high-res photo. As an example, if you’re printing a brochure for a they can only have “opaque” backgrounds, which means the background cannot be symposium with photos of speakers, be sure to request hi-res photos to submit to LSC transparent. At LSC Marketing and Communications, JPGs are created and edited in Marketing and Communications. (If unsure, please submit to the designer to confirm Abode Photoshop. size). A photo is that 50 KB (KB=Kilobytes) is completely unusable in print materials. • Printability = YES (if printing from a high-resolution JPG file) Photos downloaded from the Internet are generally Low-Res and not suitable for printed materials. See samples below: What is a GIF file? A GIF, or Graphical Interchange Format, is a bitmap image format that is highly compressed with typically 256 colors across the image (vs. millions of colors like a JPG). When the Internet was just getting started, GIFs were used extensively because they didn’t require much bandwidth. At LSC Marketing and Communications, GIFs are not used as much anymore since they have been replaced by PNG files. • Printability = NO (Not recommended since most GIFs are low-resolution files) What is a PNG file? A PNG, or Portable Graphics Format, is the most frequently used uncompressed raster image format on the internet. This lossless data compression format was created Hi-res photo Low-res photo to replace the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF). PNG file format is an open format with no copyright limitations. They display transparent backgrounds. PNG files are Please note: LSC System Office does not have in-house printing facilities. capable of containing 24bit RGB color palettes and greyscale images. They are suitable All printed materials are done at outside vendors and require printing/ for printing as well as Powerpoint presentataions. LSC Marketing and Communications delivery quotes. The production time at a printshop varies, but they can create/edit PNG files in Adobe Photoshop. usually require 5 - 7 business days to turn-around and deliver. Their • Printability = YES production time is separate from the LSC internal design, review, edit, and approval time. 01.24.20.04 LoneStar.edu/Marketing-Communications LSC-CyFair • LSC-Houston North • LSC-Kingwood • LSC-Montgomery • LSC-North Harris • LSC-Tomball • LSC-University Park.