We’re back with another exciting post to get you speaking like a graphic designer! (Or at least understanding one)

This week we’re going over file types. If you live to consume content from IFC then you may have seen this explained before. But now it will live on the blog for posterity and reference and general helpfulness.

Vector

Vector files have smooth lines and can be scaled without losing quality. (Meaning they look the same on a billboard as they do on your business card). They are generally used for printing purposes.

File types

.eps (Encapsulated PostScript)

.ai (Adobe Illustrator)

Raster

With a raster file pixels can be high-res or low-res. If scaled too large they can become blurry or have “rough” edges. Think of this like a photo. Best for use on the web (i.e. social media).

File types

.jpg (Joint Photographic Experts)

.png (Portable Network Graphic)

These are not the only file types that exist. For example, if you are looking to have something embroidered you may be asked for any number of file types. But these are the ones that you'll come across most often.