PDF, AI, EPS, TIFF, JPEG, PNG — what each one means and which ones your print shop actually wants
By Pronto Reprographics • Corpus Christi, Texas
One of the most common questions we hear at Pronto Reprographics is: “What file should I send you?” Knowing the best file formats for printing can mean the difference between a print that looks exactly as you intended and one that comes back blurry, color-shifted, or with fonts changed. However, the world of file formats is confusing — there are dozens of them, and not all are created equal for print. Therefore, this guide breaks down the most common formats, explains what each one does, and tells you exactly which ones to use for which situations.
In addition, at the end of this guide you’ll find a quick-reference table you can bookmark and use every time you’re preparing a file for print.
The Two Categories: Vector vs. Raster
Before diving into specific formats, it helps to understand the two fundamental categories of graphic files. Furthermore, this distinction explains why some formats are better for print than others.
Vector Files
Vector files store images as mathematical equations — lines, curves, and shapes defined by coordinates rather than pixels. Consequently, vector graphics can be scaled to any size without losing quality. A logo saved as a vector file looks just as sharp on a business card as it does on a 10-foot banner. This is why print shops love vector files for logos and artwork.
Raster Files
Raster files store images as a grid of pixels. Therefore, they have a fixed resolution — if you enlarge a raster image too much, it becomes blurry or pixelated. Photos are always raster files. In addition, most designs created in Canva, Word, or PowerPoint export as raster images unless you specifically export to a vector-compatible format.
The Best File Formats for Printing — Format by Format
🟢 PDF — The Universal Standard (Always Preferred)
PDF is the single best file format for printing in almost every situation. Furthermore, a properly exported PDF preserves your fonts, colors, layout, and bleed settings exactly as you set them up — regardless of what software you used to create it. Consequently, PDF is the format we recommend for virtually every print job, from business cards to banners to blueprint sets.
Key advantages of PDF for printing:
- Preserves fonts without requiring the printer to have them installed
- Maintains CMYK or RGB color profiles
- Supports bleed and crop marks
- Works from any source — Illustrator, InDesign, Word, Canva, and more
- Universally accepted by all professional print shops
⚠️ Important: Not all PDFs are equal. A PDF exported from Word at low resolution is very different from a print-ready PDF exported from Adobe Illustrator. When in doubt, export at the highest quality settings available in your software.
🟢 AI (Adobe Illustrator) — The Gold Standard for Logos and Artwork
AI files are Adobe Illustrator’s native format and are fully vector-based. Therefore, they are the gold standard for logos, illustrations, and any artwork that needs to scale to any size. In addition, AI files keep all layers and elements editable, which makes them ideal when a print shop needs to adjust artwork for a specific application.
- Best for: logos, illustrations, signage artwork, vector illustrations
- Always scalable to any size without quality loss
- Preferred format when you need to supply “original artwork” to a printer
🟢 EPS — The Legacy Vector Standard
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is an older vector format that predates AI but remains widely used, especially for logo files. Furthermore, EPS files are compatible with virtually every professional design application and print workflow. Consequently, if a client or print shop asks for a “vector file,” an EPS is always an acceptable answer.
- Best for: logos, legacy artwork files, cross-platform vector sharing
- Widely compatible across design software and print systems
- However, EPS is gradually being replaced by PDF for most workflows
🟡 SVG — Vector for the Web (Use With Caution for Print)
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a vector format primarily designed for web use. However, some print workflows do accept SVG files. Therefore, if you want to send an SVG to a print shop, check first — not every print system handles SVG reliably, and color profiles and fonts can behave unexpectedly.
- Best for: web graphics, icons, simple vector shapes
- Acceptable for print in some workflows — but confirm with your printer
- Convert to PDF or AI when possible for reliable print results
🟢 TIFF — The Best Raster Format for Print
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the highest-quality raster format for printing. Furthermore, TIFF files are uncompressed or losslessly compressed, which means they retain every pixel of detail from the original image. Consequently, TIFF is the preferred format for high-resolution photography, fine art reproduction, and any raster image destined for professional print.
- Best for: photography, fine art prints, high-resolution scanned documents
- No quality loss from compression
- Supports CMYK color mode for accurate print color
- However, files are large — a single high-res TIFF can be 50–200MB
🟡 JPEG — Acceptable for Photos, But Not Ideal
JPEG is the most common photo format, but it uses lossy compression — meaning it discards image data every time it’s saved, gradually reducing quality. Therefore, a JPEG can be acceptable for print if it was saved at maximum quality and is sufficiently high resolution. However, a JPEG that has been saved and resaved multiple times, or exported at low quality, will show visible compression artifacts when printed.
- Best for: photos, when a TIFF is not available
- Only acceptable at high resolution (300 DPI at final print size) and maximum quality
- Avoid for logos, text, or graphics with sharp edges — compression creates visible artifacts
- Never use a JPEG downloaded from a website — web images are 72–96 DPI and will be blurry when printed.
🔴 PNG — Great for Screens, Problematic for Print
PNG is a lossless raster format commonly used for web graphics, logos with transparent backgrounds, and screenshots. However, PNG files are typically saved in RGB color mode at 72–96 DPI — which is far too low for professional printing. In addition, PNG does not natively support CMYK color mode, which can lead to color shifts when printed.
- Best for: web graphics, digital presentations, social media
- Not recommended for print — use PDF or TIFF instead
- If your only option is PNG, ensure it’s at 300 DPI at final print size
- Transparent backgrounds in PNG files do not carry over to print — they become white
🔴 Word, PowerPoint, and Canva — Export Before Sending
Word, PowerPoint, and Canva are not print-ready formats in their native state. However, all three can produce acceptable print files if you export them correctly. Therefore, never send a .docx, .pptx, or a Canva share link to a print shop — always export first.
- Word / PowerPoint: Export as PDF using File > Save As > PDF. Choose the highest quality or “Print” option.
- Canva: Download as PDF Print (not Standard). Check the “Crop marks and bleed” box.
Quick Reference: Best File Formats for Printing at a Glance
Use this table to quickly identify the right format for your next print job. Furthermore, bookmark this page and share it with anyone who sends files to a print shop.
| Format | Type | Print Ready? | Best For |
| Vector or Raster | ✅ Yes — preferred | Everything — the universal standard | |
| AI | Vector | ✅ Yes | Logos, illustrations, editable artwork |
| EPS | Vector | ✅ Yes | Legacy logos, cross-platform vector |
| SVG | Vector | ⚠️ Sometimes | Web graphics; check with your printer |
| TIFF | Raster | ✅ Yes | High-res photos, art prints |
| JPEG | Raster | ⚠️ Acceptable | Photos only, if high resolution |
| PNG | Raster | ❌ Not ideal | Screen use; avoid for print if possible |
| Word / DOCX | Document | ❌ Export to PDF first | Export as PDF before sending |
| Canva (link) | Online | ❌ Export as PDF Print | Always download as PDF Print |
What to Send for Common Print Jobs
Still not sure which format to use for your specific job? Therefore, here’s a practical breakdown by print type:
Business Cards
PDF (from Illustrator or InDesign preferred). Include bleed. If your design is text-only with no photos, an AI or EPS file also works well.
Banners and Signs
PDF or AI at the correct final dimensions. For banners viewed from a distance, resolution requirements are lower — however, logos and text still need to be vector for sharp results.
Posters with Photos
PDF containing embedded high-resolution images (300 DPI at final size), or a TIFF for photographic art prints. Avoid sending the original Canva file or a low-resolution PNG.
Blueprints and Technical Plans
PDF exported from your CAD or BIM software at full scale. In addition, ensure fonts are embedded and line weights are correct before exporting.
Logos
AI or EPS (vector) whenever possible. If you only have a raster version of your logo, a high-resolution PNG or TIFF is acceptable — however, a vector file will always produce sharper results at any size.
The Essential Cheat Sheet for the Best File Formats for Printing
| 🟢 PDF — Use this for everything. It’s the universal print standard. 🟢 AI or EPS — Use these for logos and vector artwork. 🟢 TIFF — Use this for high-resolution photos and art prints. 🟡 JPEG — Acceptable for photos only, at high resolution and maximum quality. 🔴 PNG — Avoid for print. Use PDF or TIFF instead. 🔴 Word / PowerPoint — Export to PDF first. Never send the native file. 🔴 Canva — Download as PDF Print with crop marks and bleed checked. |
Not Sure If Your File Is Print Ready? We’ll Check It for You.
Even with this guide in hand, file preparation questions come up on every project. However, you don’t need to figure it out alone. Therefore, send us your file and we’ll review it before printing — at no extra charge — and let you know if anything needs to be adjusted.
We’ve been helping Corpus Christi businesses prepare and print files since 1964. In addition, our wide-format printing services cover everything from business cards and posters to banners, blueprints, and signs — and we work with every file format listed in this guide.
Visit our contact page or give us a call — we’d love to help bring your project to life!
- Website: https://prontoreprographics.com/contact
- Phone: (361) 777-0808
- Location: 4302 Tiger Lane, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thank you for reading!
Pronto Reprographics • Corpus Christi, Texas • Est. 1964
– Pronto Reprographics is a 3rd generation, family-owned commercial print shop located in Corpus Christi , Texas; specializing in: blueprint printing, architectural plans, yard signs, signs, banners, posters, wide-format printing, wide-format scanning, wide-format laminating, stickers, embroidery, and more! We are a fast turnaround print shop in Corpus Christi but we ship nationwide – Let’s explore the possibilities!
