High-Res or High-Resolution is required for anything printed. Any image needs to be 300dpi or dots per inch. Most images used on the web or on screen are 72 dpi, which will result in a low quality print (even though it looks fine on screen!). If you don’t have Photoshop to check the resolution, here is a quick way to tell if the image is print quality. Check the file size. A print-ready file is usually 1 megabyte or more, while a low-res image is usually under 1MB.
EPS or Encapsulated PostScript is a file format used for illustrations and vector-based graphics. What does vector mean? Vector is an image or graphic that is made up of points and lines. This is how a designer creates shapes and fonts. The difference between vector and raster is that the shapes can still be manipulated when they are vector through a program like Adobe Illustrator. Raster is more like a Photoshop image. EPS files are preferred for working with logo files because they can be placed over a background color or image and are already ‘outlined’. A rasterized logo as a default would be on a white background. An EPS image can also be blown up to whatever size necessary – like for a large sign on a building, without losing resolution because the file is all based on vector points and not pixels.
CMYK/RGB/PMS are all color terms. CMYK refers to cyan, magenta, yellow and black which is how most printers output color. RGB refers to red, green and blue – these colors are used to make up a digital display. When working with images for print, they should be switched to a CMYK file format for accurate printing but web images should stay at RGB. PMS refers to the Pantone Matching System. This color system is widely used as the standard for printing colors. Each color can be ordered as straight ink but formulas are also provided to make the same color using CMYK inks. Graphic programs use the Pantone library of colors so the print outputs already have the color break formulas in them.
Domain Names vs. Hosting are both web-related terms. In order to have a website, a domain name or URL is needed. Domain names can be purchased through companies like GoDaddy, Network Solutions and myriad of others for 1 year or more. But purchasing a domain name is just the first step. A hosting account is still needed. Hosting is usually charged monthly. This charge is for the server space the website files will reside on. Web hosting can be purchased through numerous companies and often web developers prefer to host the sites they work on. After hosting is set-up, the domain name can be pointed to the hosting company so the web files show up on the right web address.
Most people don’t need to know all these terms which is why they choose to work with a professional designer or web developer. But it seems like more and more people are taking things into their own hands. Many people have Photoshop now and have company logos or product images that need to be managed. Websites are not just for business anymore as many people have personal sites, side projects, hobby or family sites. With the world becoming more and more digital everyday, some basic knowledge of color, resolution and file formats is necessary. This is just the tip of the iceberg!
