Tobias Reed
Tobias Reed Production Knowledge Lead at 4OVER4.COM
Question

What file format preserves the best resolution for printing?

Answer

For printing, choose a format that keeps full image quality rather than one that compresses it away.

FormatQualityNotes
PDFBest for printPreserves vector and image data, ideal for final files
TIFFFull qualityLossless, great for photos and flattened art
PNGLosslessLarger files, fine for graphics with transparency
JPEGLossyDegrades a little each save, avoid for final print

For best results, submit a print-ready PDF at 300 DPI in CMYK with 0.125 in bleed on all sides.

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