Creative iMedia
R094 – Visual identity and digital graphics – Saving and exporting graphics
Once your graphic is complete, you'll need to export it in ways which makes it suitable to use.
Usually the project brief asks for two exports: one suitable for onscreen use, and one suitable for commercial printing.
Exporting the visual identity
Hopefully you made your visual identity in some sort of vector graphics software.
You'll need to export it from that in order to be able to use it.
You'll probably want a transparent background, so a PNG format is probably ideal. Think about what physical size you need the final visual identity to be and make sure you resize the exported file to about the right size – this is an excellent way to get marks for preparing component parts if you evidence it.
Because you're almost certainly going to be using the VI on a print quality file, you'll almost certainly want to export it at 300ppi.
Exporting for the web
You'll probably want to export as a JPEG file at 72ppi.
This provides a reasonable quality but a reduced file size, so the image will load quicker. JPEGs are also an image file type that will work well online.
Using 72ppi is the industry standard for on screen files. This will reduce the file size and make the image quicker to load, but also retain a good enough quality for using on screen.
You may need to export at a particular physical size. Check what size the project brief asks for. You can do this either before you export (better) or afterwards, it doesn't matter that much.
You can find out more about image file formats and image resolution (ppi) on the R093 File Formats page
Exporting for print
You'll probably want to export as a TIFF file at 300ppi.
TIFF files are suitable to send for print. They have a high enough quality to cope with the demands of a commercial printer. Using 300ppi is particularly important. This is what is expected if the product is going to be printed commercially.
Check what physical size you need to provide the print copy at, and make sure your export is the correct size.
Using a PDF file for export would also be OK. Again, check the size and the ppi resolution.
Evidencing work
Make sure you include the final export versions. Ideally, take screenshots of the properties and include them in as evidence.
It can be helpful to briefly explain why you're using the file type, size, and ppi resolution that you've chosen. Make sure you do this in your own words.