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Graphics Cheat Sheet

This document provides a cheatsheet for choosing the appropriate graphics file format for different purposes and software programs. It recommends vector graphics programs like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, and CorelDRAW for line art and logos, and raster image editors like Adobe Photoshop, Corel PhotoPaint, and GIMP for photos. For print, it suggests higher resolution formats like PDF, TIFF, and EPS, while for web, it recommends lower resolution formats like JPEG, PNG, and SVG. It also provides information on color modes, resolution requirements, and file size limitations for common raster graphics file formats.

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kmihel
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694 views1 page

Graphics Cheat Sheet

This document provides a cheatsheet for choosing the appropriate graphics file format for different purposes and software programs. It recommends vector graphics programs like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, and CorelDRAW for line art and logos, and raster image editors like Adobe Photoshop, Corel PhotoPaint, and GIMP for photos. For print, it suggests higher resolution formats like PDF, TIFF, and EPS, while for web, it recommends lower resolution formats like JPEG, PNG, and SVG. It also provides information on color modes, resolution requirements, and file size limitations for common raster graphics file formats.

Uploaded by

kmihel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Graphics Cheatsheet: This section provides a comprehensive visual reference for graphics formats and their uses across different platforms.

IDEAS Training Graphics Cheatsheet

2013 by David Creamer

www.IDEAStraining.com

Choose purpose of graphic


Print
Adobe Illustrustor
Corel DRAW
Inkscape (OpenSource)

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Fireworks
Adobe Illustrator (via Save
for Web)

Adobe Illustrator (SVG)


Adobe Edge Animate
(HTML5)
Adobe Flash (desktop
only)

Line Art: Bitmap mode


Grayscale (aka Black-&White Photos)
Color Images:
RGB (preferred)
CMYK
Spot Color via channels

CMYK
(includes Black-only
and grayscale)
Spot Color

RGB
Profiles:
sRGB for web;
Adobe RGB for other

RGB
Profiles:
sRGB for web;
Adobe RGB for other

Color and Grayscale:


Dependent on printing
method; see PDF
on Understanding
Resolution
Line Art: 600-1500 ppi

N/A

Measured by pixel width


and height only; PPI is
not applicable.
Note: Most programs
default to 72 ppi, but
that is meaningless.

N/A

Formats in order of preference


for each program

Formats in order of preference


for each program

InDesign: PSD, PDF, TIFF


Quark: PDF, PDF, TIFF
EPS for duotones
DCS2 for spot colors
FrameMaker: TIFF
MS Office: PNG-24/32

InDesign: AI, PDF, EPS


Quark: AI, PDF, EPS
FrameMaker: EPS, PDF
MS Office: PNG-24/32 via
export

Web:
Usually JPEG for photos
Usually GIF for graphics
PNG for special needs
Video and Presenation:
PNG

Web:
AI: SVG
Edge: OAM for InDesign
and Dreamweaver;
HTML5 for other
Flash: SWF or HTML5

Best Format

Top 3 Programs

Adobe Photoshop
Corel Photo Paint
GIMP (OpenSource)

Color Mode

Vector

Resolution (ppi)

Raster (Pixel)

Web/Video/Presentations
Raster
Vector

Raster Format Limitations for Wide-Format Output

Colors

PSD
Dependent on bit level
of photo: 1, 8, 16, and
32. Supports RGB or
CMYKhowever most
devices prefer RGB.

TIFF
Dependent on bit level
of photo: 1, 8, 16, and
32. Supports RGB or
CMYKhowever most
devices prefer RGB.

PNG

JPEG

Colors dependent on bit


level. Up to 48-bit (plus
alpha, or transparency,
channel). RGB only.

Colors dependent on bit


level of photo: 8, 16,
and 32. Note: Lossy color
format. RGB only.

File Size

Formula is 2 squared by bit level to get number of colors per channel. So, 1 bit is 2 colors, 8 bit is 256 colors, 16 is 65,536, 32 is 16,777,216, etc.

PSD: 30,000 pixels square;


PSB: 300,000 pixels square
(only Photoshop can
read PSB)

4,294,967,295 pixels
square;
4 GB physical size limit

2,147,483,647 pixels
square

65,536 pixels square;


2 GB physical size limit

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