Jordan Kim
Jordan Kim Sustainability & Industry Editor at 4OVER4.COM
Question

What file format should I use for photography printing?

Answer

For photographic prints, the file format decides how much color and detail survive the press. A high resolution PDF in CMYK is the most reliable choice.

SettingRecommended
FormatPDF, with TIFF as a backup
Color modeCMYK
Resolution300 DPI at final size
  • Convert from RGB to CMYK yourself so you control how the colors shift
  • If you must send JPEG, save at maximum quality to avoid compression artifacts
  • Add 0.125 in bleed on any image that runs to the edge

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