How to Save Different File Formats in Photoshop

Have you ever wondered why you can save an image from Photoshop into so many formats? Have you ever taken your company logo to a printer for a letterhead and discovered it wasn't the correct format? No, Adobe isn't just being senseless, there really is a use for all those various file formats. I'll break down the most common files for you in plain english so you have a better understanding of how to save your images.

Photoshop .PSD - This is the native Photoshop file. This is great when you are working on a file and saving it often and coming back to it or printing a file in photoshop or wanting to import it into a program like InDesign.

Photoshop EPS (.EPS) - This is a great file format to save your files when you want to import your images into a page layout program and have a transparent background or "cutout" around your image. You will need a Clipping path around the part of the image you wish to be visible and everything else with be knocked out (like the background color you don't want to show up on your page layout program). Generally used by commercial printers, you must note this is not the same as a vector .eps If your printer asks for a vector .eps that means a drawing file (vector), not a picture file (bitmap), and is a whole other ball of wax.

CompuServe GIF (.GIF) - If you have a file saved as a GIF file then you have a web file for sure! A .gif file is terrible for printing but usually very small and excellent for email or a website. A gif file can handle only a specific, user defined color palette making it a poor choice for photos but excellent for logos or other material that isn't too color heavy. Commercial printers will not accept .gif files however as the quality in printing them is terrible.