File SchoolArticle 001A guide to keep

File Extensions
& What They Do

A simple guide to understanding the files you receive from TFX Digital and knowing when to use them.

By TFX Digital16 format groupsRead, explore, or look one up

Photorealistic glass folios representing a photo, vector drawing, and document, surrounded by violet smoke — Same project.
Different files.
Different jobs.The letters after the dot help you choose what to use next.

A few letters.
A useful clue.

You receive a folder from TFX Digital. Inside are several versions of your design: perhaps a JPG for posting, a PNG for placing over a background, and a PDF for review or printing. They can look similar while doing different jobs.

A file extension is the ending of a filename, usually after the last dot. In your-logo.png, the extension is .png. It tells software what format to expect. Your device may hide extensions until you enable them in its file-view settings.

The extension is a clue, not a quality stamp. It does not guarantee resolution, print quality, transparency, or editability. Changing photo.jpg to photo.png only changes its name. To convert it, open it in suitable software and export the actual format you need.

You do not need to memorize every ending. Start with the job you want to do, then use the guide below to find a suitable file.

Four things to understand first.

Raster: a grid of pixels.

Photos are usually raster images. They have a fixed number of pixels across and down. Stretch those pixels too far and edges become soft or blocky. JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and TIFF are raster formats.

Vector: shapes and paths.

Vector artwork describes geometry, so its paths can stay sharp as they grow. SVG, AI, EPS, and PDF can contain vector artwork, but they can also contain pixel images. The contents matter as much as the extension.

Transparency: space around the artwork.

A transparent background lets what is behind an image show through. A logo PNG may have it; another PNG may have a solid background. A checkerboard in an editor often indicates transparency, but a checkerboard can also be baked into a picture.

Compression: making the file smaller.

Lossless compression preserves the data it compresses. Lossy compression discards some detail to save space. Either can be useful. File size alone does not tell you whether a design is clear, correct, or ready to print.

Source file or finished export? An AI or layered PSD may be the working source a designer edits. A JPG or PNG is usually a flattened export for a particular use. Keep both if supplied. Editable source delivery depends on your agreed project scope; an export does not automatically include its original layers, fonts, or linked assets.

Go a little deeper: resolution and print size

A 1200 × 1200 pixel image contains the same number of pixels whether its metadata says 72 or 300 pixels per inch (PPI). At 300 PPI it covers 4 × 4 inches without resampling. PPI describes image detail per inch; printer DPI describes output dots. Changing the PPI number alone does not add detail. The right image dimensions depend on the final size, viewing distance, and printer's requirements.

What are you trying to do?

Choose the job. We’ll suggest a starting point and the checks that still matter.

The interactive chooser uses JavaScript. You can still read every format below: JPG for photo uploads, a transparent PNG or suitable SVG for logos, a supplier-approved production PDF for print, ZIP for bundling files, and the original source for design edits. Check each format’s full notes and caveats.

I need a file for…

Start with JPG / JPEG.

For a photo upload, use a suitably sized JPG if the platform accepts it. Keep the high-quality original and follow the platform’s size rules. For your own website, WebP may reduce image data; check the export and workflow.

Read the JPG notes

Meet the formats.

Select a format for its job, typical uses, and practical limits. For the whole picture, read the complete guide below.

JPG / JPEG

Your everyday photo file.

Full name: Joint Photographic Experts Group
What it does: Stores a picture as pixels. Standard JPEG exports use lossy compression: they save space by discarding some image detail. JPG and JPEG are two extensions for the same format.
Where you’ll see it: Photos, website images, online listings, and social media uploads.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include a JPG as a convenient version of finished artwork or a photograph that is easy to view and upload.
When to use it: Choose it for a photograph or a finished graphic with a solid background when the receiving platform accepts JPG. Keep the original high-quality export.
Watch out: JPEG does not support a transparent background. Repeatedly editing and saving a JPEG can add visible compression artifacts. Enlarging a small JPG does not restore missing detail; avoid it as the only master for a logo.

Example filename: team-photo.jpg

The complete file guide.

Open a format for the full explanation. Each entry includes an example filename and the mistakes to avoid.

Everyday image files

JPG / JPEGYour everyday photo file.

Full name: Joint Photographic Experts Group
What it does: Stores a picture as pixels. Standard JPEG exports use lossy compression: they save space by discarding some image detail. JPG and JPEG are two extensions for the same format.
Where you’ll see it: Photos, website images, online listings, and social media uploads.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include a JPG as a convenient version of finished artwork or a photograph that is easy to view and upload.
When to use it: Choose it for a photograph or a finished graphic with a solid background when the receiving platform accepts JPG. Keep the original high-quality export.
Watch out: JPEG does not support a transparent background. Repeatedly editing and saving a JPEG can add visible compression artifacts. Enlarging a small JPG does not restore missing detail; avoid it as the only master for a logo.

Example filename: team-photo.jpg

PNGClean graphics, with room for transparency.

Full name: Portable Network Graphics
What it does: Stores pixels with lossless compression, so compressing the file does not throw away its image detail. It can include an alpha channel that describes transparent and partly transparent areas.
Where you’ll see it: Logos placed over photos, screenshots, icons, and graphics with crisp text.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may deliver a PNG so you can place an exported logo or graphic over a different background, at the supplied pixel dimensions.
When to use it: Choose a PNG when a platform needs a pixel-based logo with a transparent background, or when you need a crisp screenshot. Check the export actually has transparency.
Watch out: Not every PNG is transparent. A white rectangle might be part of the image itself. PNG is still made of pixels and can blur when enlarged; photo PNGs can also be much larger than comparable JPGs.

Example filename: logo-transparent.png

WebPA compact picture for the web.

Full name: WebP (a format name, not an initialism you need to memorize)
What it does: Stores images using either lossy or lossless compression. It supports transparency and animation, depending on how the file is made.
Where you’ll see it: Website galleries, product pictures, and images downloaded from websites.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include WebP images in a website handover to help pages use less image data while retaining suitable visual quality.
When to use it: Use the supplied WebP on a website or in a tool that explicitly accepts it. Choose export settings by looking at both visual quality and file size.
Watch out: Some upload portals, design tools, and print workflows do not accept WebP. Ask for a compatible export if needed. A small file is not proof of quality, and a WebP can be either lossy or lossless.

Example filename: website-banner.webp

GIFSmall loops and simple motion.

Full name: Graphics Interchange Format
What it does: Stores indexed-color images and can arrange frames into an animation. Each frame can use up to 256 palette colors; GIF transparency is on or off rather than a smooth range of opacity.
Where you’ll see it: Reaction loops, simple animated graphics, and some email illustrations.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may supply a GIF for a short, silent animation when the destination requires that format.
When to use it: Use it for a simple loop with a small color palette. Check the first frame communicates the message if a viewer or email client does not animate it.
Watch out: GIF is usually a poor choice for detailed photos, gradients, or long clips. Large animations can be heavy. GIF has no audio, and some services pause it or show only one frame.

Example filename: announcement-loop.gif

Professional design files

SVGA logo that can grow with you.

Full name: Scalable Vector Graphics
What it does: Describes shapes, paths, and text in an XML-based format. Vector paths can be rendered at different sizes without turning into larger pixels. An SVG can also contain embedded raster images.
Where you’ll see it: Website logos, icons, diagrams, and cutting or production workflows that accept SVG.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include an SVG so the vector parts of a logo can be reused at different sizes on a website or in compatible design software.
When to use it: Choose a trusted SVG for a scalable logo when the destination accepts it. Keep a PNG export for tools that do not. A designer can inspect paths in a vector editor.
Watch out: A photo embedded in an SVG is still pixel limited. Missing fonts and unsupported effects can change its appearance. SVG can contain active content; only open trusted files. It is not a universal print-production format.

Example filename: brand-logo.svg

EPSA familiar handoff for some printers.

Full name: Encapsulated PostScript
What it does: Packages PostScript artwork for placement in other documents. It may contain vector shapes, raster pictures, or both; the extension does not tell you which is inside.
Where you’ll see it: Older logo libraries, sign shops, and print suppliers that specifically request EPS.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may provide EPS when a production supplier needs it, using export settings appropriate for that supplier's workflow.
When to use it: Use it when your designer or printer asks for EPS. Let them check the artwork, fonts, color handling, and any embedded pictures before production.
Watch out: EPS does not support modern live transparency; effects may be flattened. It is not a browser image. Embedded low-resolution pictures do not become vector, and exported EPS may not preserve all original editing features.

Example filename: signage-logo.eps

AIThe Illustrator working file.

Full name: Adobe Illustrator artwork
What it does: Keeps an Illustrator document's artwork and, when preserved, its objects, layers, artboards, and editing features. Here, AI identifies an Illustrator file; it does not mean the artwork was made with artificial intelligence.
Where you’ll see it: Brand identity packages, illustration handovers, and designer-to-designer collaboration.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include the AI source when editable source delivery is part of the agreed project scope. Ask which linked assets or fonts are needed.
When to use it: Give it to a designer using compatible software when they need to revise the original vector artwork. Keep a separate exported version for everyday use.
Watch out: Fonts may require separate licenses, linked images may need packaging, and older software may handle features differently. AI can contain raster images. Outlined text stays visually consistent but cannot be edited as ordinary text.

Example filename: brand-master.ai

PSDThe layered Photoshop working file.

Full name: Photoshop Document
What it does: Can preserve layers, masks, effects, and other Photoshop editing information. Much of the artwork is typically raster-based, although text, shapes, and smart objects can retain other properties.
Where you’ll see it: Photo editing, promotional artwork, mockups, and layered design handovers.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include a PSD when the project includes an editable Photoshop source. The layer structure depends on how the file was prepared.
When to use it: Use compatible editing software to change the design, then export a suitable JPG, PNG, or production file for the intended destination.
Watch out: A PSD can be flattened, so the extension does not promise separate editable layers. Fonts, linked smart objects, and software differences matter. Enlarging raster layers will not recreate original detail; PSD is not a normal website image.

Example filename: campaign-master.psd

Documents and print files

PDFA document that keeps its layout.

Full name: Portable Document Format
What it does: Packages pages containing text, pictures, and sometimes vector artwork. PDF preserves a page layout for viewing and sharing, but the quality and contents depend on the export.
Where you’ll see it: Proofs, flyers, menus, brochures, instructions, and print-production handovers.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may send a review PDF for checking or a separately prepared production PDF made to a printer's specifications. Use the version named for your purpose.
When to use it: Use a viewing PDF to read or approve a layout. For printing, ask the supplier for final size, bleed, color requirements, and preferred PDF standard, then use the matching checked production export.
Watch out: Every PDF is not print-ready. A PDF can contain low-resolution images, missing bleed, unsuitable color, or flattened text. It may be a proof only. Do not treat it as a substitute for the native source when substantial editing is needed.

Example filename: flyer-print-approved.pdf

TIFF / TIFA detailed image for specialist workflows.

Full name: Tagged Image File Format
What it does: Stores raster images with flexible color and compression options. TIFF may be uncompressed or use lossless compression such as LZW or ZIP; some TIFF files can use lossy JPEG compression.
Where you’ll see it: Scans, photography archives, image retouching, and print workflows that request TIFF.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may supply a TIFF when a printer or image specialist needs a high-quality raster export with specified dimensions and color settings.
When to use it: Use it in the agreed photography or print workflow. Confirm the intended physical size, pixel dimensions, color profile, and compression with the receiving supplier.
Watch out: TIFF files can be large and are not a usual choice for web pages. TIFF does not automatically mean high resolution or lossless storage. Layers and transparency are supported in some workflows, but receiving software may ignore or flatten them.

Example filename: product-retouch.tif

Compressed archives

ZIPSeveral files, one easy delivery.

Full name: ZIP archive (a format name)
What it does: Bundles files and folders into one archive and can compress their data without changing the extracted originals. It is a container, not an image or document format.
Where you’ll see it: Brand packages, project downloads, website handovers, and folders sent by email or download link.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may send a ZIP to keep your artwork, exports, and instructions together with their folder structure intact.
When to use it: Download the complete archive, then extract it before opening or editing its contents. Keep the folder names and read any included delivery notes.
Watch out: Zipping a photo will not improve its quality, and already-compressed files may shrink very little. Editing files from inside an archive can cause confusion about where changes are saved. Only extract trusted packages; password-protected ZIPs need compatible tools.

Example filename: tfx-brand-delivery.zip

RARA package that may arrive in parts.

Full name: Roshal Archive
What it does: Bundles and compresses files into an archive. A RAR delivery can be split across several numbered volumes that are needed together for extraction.
Where you’ll see it: Large downloaded packages, archived project folders, and transfers prepared with RAR-compatible software.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX might provide RAR if a particular transfer workflow calls for it. ZIP is usually the simpler handover when broad compatibility is the priority.
When to use it: Use a trusted, compatible archive tool. If there are numbered parts, download every part to the same folder and begin extraction with the first volume as the sender directs.
Watch out: Not every device or application can create or open every RAR variant. A missing or damaged part can stop extraction. An archive does not make its contents safe, editable, or higher quality; keep any supplied password separate from the files.

Example filename: project.part1.rar

7ZA tightly packed project folder.

Full name: 7z, the 7-Zip archive format
What it does: Bundles files into an archive with support for several compression methods. It can use features such as solid compression and optional encryption; settings determine the result.
Where you’ll see it: Large project backups, software downloads, and compressed handover folders.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX might supply a 7z archive when useful compression savings justify the need for a compatible extraction tool.
When to use it: Open it with a trusted tool that supports 7z and extract the complete package before working on individual files. Ask for ZIP if your device's workflow cannot handle it.
Watch out: Higher compression can take more time and memory. A 7z archive is not automatically encrypted, and an encrypted one still needs its password. Packing files together does not convert their formats or improve their resolution.

Example filename: project-archive.7z

Website files

HTMLThe content and structure of a page.

Full name: HyperText Markup Language
What it does: Uses markup to describe headings, paragraphs, images, links, forms, and other page elements. A browser interprets that structure to display a webpage.
Where you’ll see it: A website source folder, a saved webpage, or a custom email template.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may supply HTML as part of a static website handover, alongside the assets and supporting files that make the page complete.
When to use it: Open a trusted page in a browser to view it, or use a text editor to change the source. Follow the handover instructions for local preview and deployment.
Watch out: One HTML file may rely on CSS, JavaScript, images, and a server. Moving it out of its folder can break links. A local page is not automatically published; a form also needs a configured service to deliver submissions.

Example filename: index.html

CSSThe visual rules behind the page.

Full name: Cascading Style Sheets
What it does: Describes how elements look and adapt: type, color, spacing, layout, responsive behavior, and more. HTML connects a stylesheet to the content it styles.
Where you’ll see it: Files named style.css or similar in a website handover or developer project.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include CSS so a site's presentation can be maintained as part of its source. A project may also generate CSS from other source files.
When to use it: Let the website load it, or have a developer edit the relevant source and preview the result at different screen sizes.
Watch out: Opening CSS alone does not show a complete website. Rules can affect multiple pages, and later rules may override earlier ones. Keep referenced fonts and images in the right place, and do not change a compiled file if the project regenerates it.

Example filename: style.css

JSThe code behind interactive behavior.

Full name: JavaScript
What it does: Runs program logic, such as changing a selected option, opening a menu, or responding to a button. In websites, JavaScript often works with HTML and CSS to create an interactive experience.
Where you’ll see it: Files such as app.js in a website project, or scripts loaded by a webpage.
Why TFX might deliver it: TFX may include JavaScript source as part of an agreed website handover so interactive features can be maintained.
When to use it: Let it run in the intended project environment. Have a developer follow the supplied instructions to edit, test, and deploy it safely.
Watch out: A script may require other files, libraries, or a backend. Do not execute an unfamiliar script just to see what it does. Browser-delivered JavaScript is visible to visitors, so passwords and private API keys must never be placed there.

Example filename: app.js

Your quick reference.

On a small screen, scroll the table sideways. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys. Select a format name to open its full guide.

Typical capabilities; the actual contents and export settings determine the result.
Format	Typical use	Transparency	Scalability	Editability
JPG / JPEG	Photos and social uploads	No	Pixel limited	Pixels only; no original layers
PNG	Logos, screenshots, clear backgrounds	Supported; optional	Pixel limited	Pixels only; no original layers
WebP	Website pictures and animation	Supported; optional	Pixel limited	Pixels / frames; tool dependent
GIF	Simple silent animation	One transparent palette entry	Pixel limited	Frames / pixels; tool dependent
SVG	Scalable logos, icons, diagrams	Supported; optional	Vector parts scale	Paths / text; font dependent
EPS	Supplier-requested print artwork	No live transparency	Vector parts scale	Partial; effects may flatten
AI	Editing Illustrator artwork	Supported; content dependent	Vector parts scale	Source; compatibility dependent
PSD	Editing layered Photoshop artwork	Supported; optional	Raster parts are pixel limited	Source if layers are retained
PDF	Reading, proofs, specified print exports	Supported; PDF/export dependent	Vector parts scale	Limited; content / permissions vary
TIFF / TIF	Scans, retouching, requested print images	Possible; workflow dependent	Pixel limited	Pixels; layers tool dependent
ZIP	Bundling files for delivery	Depends on files inside	Depends on files inside	Extract contents first
RAR	Archive transfers, including volumes	Depends on files inside	Depends on files inside	Extract contents first
7Z	Compressed project archives	Depends on files inside	Depends on files inside	Extract contents first
HTML	Webpage content and structure	Not an image format	Layout dependent	Text / code editor
CSS	Website presentation and layout	Not an image format	Layout dependent	Text / code editor
JS	Website interactive behavior	Not an image format	Behavior dependent	Text / code editor

Before you send the file.

Read the delivery notes. Use the version labeled for your purpose. Keep an untouched copy of the original package.
Ask the destination. A printer, social platform, and web developer can need very different files. Check accepted formats and final dimensions.
Inspect the result. Confirm the wording, image detail, background, and layout. A familiar extension cannot tell you if the artwork itself is correct.
For print, check the specifications. Confirm size, bleed, safe areas, color handling, fonts, and any requested PDF standard. A review proof may differ from a production export.
Keep the package together. Extract archives and retain linked assets. Ask for help before moving or renaming website dependencies.

Still unsure which version to use? Tell TFX where the file is going and what you want to do with it. That is usually enough to choose the next step.

Design & artwork help Website services Digital support

Technical references & editorial notes

Written for TFX clients in plain English. Capabilities vary with software, file contents, and export settings. These official references support the format details.

A few letters.A useful clue.