File Formats

[psacake]

Ok..I'll admit that I don't know it all :unsure: !

Vector based
Photoshop PSD's
Corel Draw
Illustrator
Paint Shop Pro
Fireworks
Gimp
and whatever else people use it's no wonder I'm confused!

For a logo that will be used for business cards, stationary, the web, and perhaps vehicle decals, what is the "right" format to get the image(s) from the designer?

[Juvanescence]

For vector images, or for the purposes you stated I would suggest using an .eps file format. This allows you to scale the image without a loss of clarity.

Hope that helps.

[Palmer]

It is confusing isn't it. When I send a logo this is what I provide...

.psp (original paint shop pro layered file)
.psd (adobe photoshop file)
.wmf (windows meta file) Resizes nicely
.eps (encapsulated post script file) ditto
.png
.jpg
.jpg - high resolution

And anything else the client requests. The other designers might have more knowledge in this area. Your printer/decal maker can also help answer your question.

[cre8or]

I would have to say I agree with Palmer.
I try to provide artwork in every format I possibly can.
Murphy's Law dictates:
The customer will ALWAYS need the format you DIDN'T provide. :rip:

[Blue_Elephant]

Hi there.
I'm not a part of the design team yet (here's hoping I'm dubbed acceptable - Palmer?) :) ,
Another format to consider is the .tif (or .tiff) file.
While .eps or .ai are best for vector-based graphics, TIFs beat out JPGs where raster images are concerned.
JPGs compress the file and, even at the highest quality, lose some of the quality of the original.
TIFs, on the other hand, retain all of the original file information.
This difference can often be seen in print - JPGs tend to have a blurred, washed out look.
PSDs are great as well, but I find they get you into trouble if your version of Photoshop doesn't match
the version in which the PSD was originally created (effects, layers, channels etc. sometimes don't translate well).
Also, as many designers who've been forced to scan a logo from a business card know,
a 600 dpi tif is the best way to retain the quality.
Hope this helps.
- BE

[Palmer]

Loved the mouse (http://www.blueelephantdesign.com/) :D

I don't think it's been mentioned about what formats work on the web.

Basically you have 3 choices...
.jpg - Usually used for photos
.gif - Limited to 256 colors
.png - Some very old browsers do not support this format

Browsers will not show other file formats.