Best File Format for Printing: JPEG vs PNG vs PDF vs TIFF
A quick table of formats, when to use each, and the ones that cause trouble.
By Chris Bezuidenhout · · 6 min read
The right file format keeps your image sharp and your colours accurate, and makes sure the print service accepts the file at all. Here is what each format is good for, and which ones to convert before uploading.
The quick answer
- Photos: high-quality JPEG.
- Designs with text, logos or sharp graphics: PDF.
- Anything needing a transparent background (for example T-shirt designs): PNG.
- Professional photo labs and archiving: TIFF.
Formats compared
| Format | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG / JPG | Photos and painted art. Small files, accepted everywhere. | Lossy: each re-save loses a little quality. No transparency. |
| PNG | Graphics, text, transparent backgrounds, print-on-demand apparel. | Large files for photos. RGB only, no CMYK. |
| TIFF | Professional printing and archiving. Lossless, supports CMYK and layers. | Very large files. Not accepted by every online service. |
| Flyers, cards, posters with text, anything going to a commercial printer. | Photos inside still need enough pixels. Embed fonts when exporting. | |
| SVG / EPS / AI | Logos and illustrations (vector: sharp at any size). | Many printers prefer a PDF version instead. |
| HEIC | iPhone photos (saves space on the phone). | Often not accepted. Convert to JPEG. |
| WebP / AVIF | Images on websites. | Often not accepted, and usually already compressed. Find the original. |
JPEG: the safe choice for photos
JPEG makes files small by discarding detail you are unlikely to notice. At high quality settings (90% or above, or 10–12 in Photoshop) the difference is invisible in print. Problems come from low quality settings and from re-saving the same JPEG many times, which gradually adds blocky artefacts. Keep an original and export a fresh JPEG from it each time.
PNG: graphics and transparency
PNG is lossless, so it keeps every pixel exactly, and it supports transparent backgrounds. That makes it the standard for T-shirt and sticker designs and good for flat graphics and text. For photos, PNG files are often several times bigger than a JPEG that looks the same in print, which matters when services limit file sizes.
PDF: best for text and layout
A PDF can hold text and shapes as vectors, which print perfectly sharp at any size, alongside photos. It also supports bleed and crop marks, which commercial printers need for designs that run to the edge. Many printers ask for a specific PDF standard such as PDF/X; your design app’s export options usually include it.
TIFF: for professional labs
TIFF stores images without loss and supports CMYK colour, layers and 16-bit colour depth. Some professional photo labs and fine-art printers prefer it. For most online print services, a high-quality JPEG gives the same printed result with a much smaller file.
Formats to convert before uploading
- HEIC (iPhone): export as JPEG from the Photos app, or set the camera to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible so new photos are saved as JPEG.
- WebP and AVIF: these usually come from websites and are already compressed for the web. Find the original rather than converting.
- Screenshots of images: limited to your screen’s resolution. Always use the original file.
A format can’t fix a small image
Saving a small JPEG as a TIFF or PNG doesn’t add detail: it just makes a bigger file of the same pixels. Check that the image has enough pixels for your print size first. How to check an image’s resolution.
Check your image before you print
Upload a file, pick a print size and PrintCheck tells you in seconds if it will print sharp, needs upscaling, or is too small. Free, no sign-up, and your image is deleted straight after the check.
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