If you’ve ever searched “art printing near me” hoping to find a place that can bring your images to life, you’ve probably familiar with how much effort goes into a great print. Paper selection and inks matter, of course, but so does the digital file associated with it. The format you choose can make a big difference in color accuracy and detail. At Grand River Giclée, we work with artists and photographers daily to prepare files that look stunning in print. For producing limited editions or personal pieces to display, here’s what you should know about choosing the right file format for your artwork or photography.
Why File Format Matters for Your Images
A file format is like the foundation of a house. Even if the paint and fixtures are beautiful, a shaky foundation can cause problems down the line. The file you send us of your artwork is what drives every part of the process, from color profiling to sizing. The right format preserves the clarity you worked so hard to achieve.
Some formats compress your image to save space. While file-size reductions are convenient for emailing, they come at a cost. Compression can flatten subtle gradients, dull colors, and soften sharp edges. This downside is especially problematic for giclée printing, where detail and dynamic range are valued. For giclée printing, higher-quality files are essential.
The Best File Formats for Giclée Printing
TIFF (.tif)
TIFF is often considered the gold standard for fine art printing. There are two features that make TIFF files particularly advantageous for printing. TIFF files can be saved with either 8 or 16 bits of information per color channel. An 8 bit file provides 256 levels per color channel, which computes to a total of over 16 million colors—plenty for an accurate print. But if you plan to edit your file extensively it is wise to first open and edit as a 16 bit file, which can hold 256 times more color information, and then save the final version as an 8 bit file which will be about half the file size.
You can also apply “lossless” compression to a TIFF file to save additional space. Lossless compression means no image information is eliminated when saving the file. If you have a layered image in Photoshop or other software tool, you can preserve those layers in your TIFF. For most prints, though, flattening the image and saving as an 8 bit TIFF is perfect.
JPEG (.jpg)
JPEGs are the most common format and also the most misunderstood. A high-resolution JPEG saved at the maximum quality setting can produce results indistinguishable from an 8 bit TIFF. But the JPEG format does not offer a 16 bit option, so editing a JPEG file extensively is likely to diminish the image quality. Similarly, JPEGs use lossy compression that can compromise the image quality if you select a higher compression/lower quality setting when saving. Repeatedly saving a jpeg will compound the problem and can seriously affect the quality of the image. For these reasons we recommend only using JPEGs if you have the original file saved at the highest quality.
PNG (.png)
We are increasingly seeing artists use the PNG file format. Originally designed for web graphics, it nevertheless is a perfectly good format for saving image files intended for printing. Like a TIFF file, PNGs can be saved with 16 bits per color channel. They also use lossless compression. PNGs do not support layered files.
PSD (.psd)
If you’re working in Adobe Photoshop and want to maintain adjustment layers, smart objects, or masks, PSD is an excellent choice. We accept PSD files, though if you don’t need those layers, you may want to save a flattened TIFF instead. This can help avoid accidental changes and reduce file size.
PDF (.pdf)
PDFs are often used in publishing since they provide an accurate way to create a layout that includes text and graphics. For photographic or fine art giclée prints, PDF isn’t ideal. We can’t print directly from a PDF but are able to extract the image file from a PDF and then print that file. That adds an extra an unnecessary step and we prefer you just provide us the image file in its native format.
A Few Tips before You Send Your Files
- Always keep an uncompressed master copy of your artwork.
- Avoid re-saving JPEGs multiple times.
- Double-check that you’ve cropped your image exactly as you want it printed.
- If you’re not sure about resolution or format, send us what you have, and we’ll take a look together.
It’s Worth Taking the Time to Choose the Right File Format
Great printing is a collaboration. When you invest in quality materials and meticulous preparation, your final piece should reflect that care. The time you spend choosing the right file format will pay off in richer blacks, smoother gradients, and prints that do justice to your vision.
If you’ve been looking for an art or photography printing studio you can trust, Grand River Giclée is here to help. We’re happy to walk you through any questions about file setup, resolution, or color management. Your work deserves to look its best, and we’d be honored to help you make it happen. Contact us today.