UNCW logos are provided in each of four widely supported digital file formats. These are TIFF (tif), EPS (e-p-s), GIF (gif or jif) and JPEG (jay-peg). A given graphic can be saved in any of the four formats, and each has particular strengths that can be lost in conversion. Use these recommendations to choose the best format for your project.
TIFF
Advantages
- Fonts are embedded in the image
- Works well with paint/image editing applications
- Prints well on postscript and non-postscript printers
- Uses lossless LZW compression
Disadvantages
- Permanently converts spot colors to process
- Large file size (compared to vector-based graphics)
- Loses image quality when enlarged
- Text cannot be edited with text tools
Recommended Uses
- Printing on departmental (non-postscript) printers
- Scanned photographs and art from paint (image-editing) applications
GIF
Advantages
- For web graphics with areas of solid color
- Background color can be made transparent
- Supports web animation
- File size can be reduced by limiting the number of colors used
- Built-in, customizable color table gives good color control
Disadvantages
- Maximum 256 colors
- Most GIF's are saved at screen resolution (72 dpi - unacceptable for print)
- Text cannot be edited with text tools
- Loses image quality when enlarged
- Recommended Uses:
- Use GIF files for UNCW logos published on web pages.
- Use GIF files for art with limited color palettes intended for web publishing.
- JPEG
Recommended Uses
- UNCW logos published on web pages
- Art with limited color palettes intended for web publishing
JPEG
Advantages
- For full-color web graphics (photographs)
- Uses compression optimized for reducing file size for web publishing
Disadvantages
- Compression proportionally reduces image quality
- Compression results in progressive color shifts
- Most JPEGs are saved at screen resolution (72 dpi - unacceptable for print)
- Most JPEGs are compressed too much for use in print
- Loses image quality when enlarged
Recommended Uses
- Use JPEG files for publishing photos on web pages
- Some digital photograph companies provide uncompressed JPEGs on CD-ROM suitable for print
EPS
(Downloadable in The Gateway for Licensed Vendors. Contact UNCW Licensing with questions at licensing@uncw.edu.)
Advantages
- Preferred by graphics professionals for use with vector graphics
- Very small file size
- Editable text
- Works with vector-based graphics
- Supports spot colors
- Does not lose image quality when enlarged
Disadvantages
- Prints unacceptably on non-postscript compatible printers
- Requires linked font files if text not converted to artwork
- Cannot be edited in paint applications unless converted to bitmap
Recommended Uses
- Use EPS files when sending logos to off-campus vendors.
- Use EPS files when sending UNCW logos to Printing Services.
- Use EPS files for saving vector-based art.
