About graphic file formatsAdobe Illustrator can import and export many common file formats. Graphic file formats are distinguished by the way they represent graphic information. Graphic information can be represented as either vector drawings or bitmap images. Some graphic file formats contain only vector drawings or only bitmap images, but many can include both in the same file. AutoCAD Drawing (DWG) and AutoCAD Interchange File (DXF) formats DWG is the standard file format for saving vector graphics created in AutoCAD. DXF is a drawing interchange format for exporting AutoCAD drawings to or importing drawings from other applications. The DXF format is a tagged data representation of all the information contained in an AutoCAD drawing file. Note: By default, white strokes or fills in Illustrator artwork is exported to the DWG and DXF formats as black strokes or fills. Bitmap (BMP) format BMP is the standard Windows bitmap image format on Windows-compatible computers. When saving an image in this format, you can specify either Microsoft Windows or OS/2® format, but your choice is limited to 24-bit depth for the image. Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) format CGM is a vector-based file format for the exchange of two-dimensional graphical data. The metafile format is primarily for the exchange of graphical images, including complex engineering or architectural images and complex illustrations. CGM is not the primary choice for text-based artwork. Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) format The EPS file format is used to transfer PostScript language artwork between applications and is supported by most illustration and page-layout programs. Typically, EPS files represent single illustrations or tables that are placed onto a host page, but an EPS file can also represent a complete page. Because EPS files are based on the PostScript language, they can contain both vector and bitmap graphics. In addition to the PostScript language representation of the graphics to be placed, many EPS files contain a bitmap preview of the graphic that the application can display. EPS files intended to be used by Macintosh applications, for example, can contain PICT or TIFF images for screen preview; those intended for use by Windows applications contain either TIFF or Windows Metafile bitmap images. Not all applications that create EPS files create preview images, however. When you place an EPS file without a preview image, Illustrator displays a box with an "X" to represent the EPS artwork. For more information on importing and exporting EPS files in Illustrator, see Opening and placing artwork and Managing linked and embedded images. Enhanced Meta File (EMF) format The Enhanced Meta File format is widely used by Windows applications as an intermediate format for exchanging vector graphics data. Illustrator may rasterize some vector data when exporting artwork to EMF format. Filmstrip format (FLM) The Filmstrip (FLM) format is an image-editing format used primarily by the Adobe Premiere and Adobe Photoshop applications. FLM organizes images into a long vertical strip containing numbered frames as well as the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) time code. Macromedia Flash format (SWF) The Macromedia Flash format is a version of the Macromedia Flash Player vector-based graphics format for interactive, animated Web graphics. You can export artwork to the Macromedia Flash format for use in Web design, and view the artwork in any browser equipped with the Macromedia Flash Player. GIF format Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is the file format commonly used to display indexed-color graphics and images over the World Wide Web. GIF is an LZW-compressed format designed to minimize file size and electronic transfer time. The GIF format supports binary transparency by allowing one of the indexed colors to be fully transparent. GIF does not support partial opacity as found in an alpha channel. JPEG format Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format is commonly used to display photographs and other continuous-tone images over the World Wide Web. JPEG compresses file size by selectively discarding data. Because of this, JPEG compression is referred to as lossy. JPEG format does not support transparency. Note: Artifacts, such as wave-like patterns or blocky areas of banding, are added to a file each time you save the file as a JPEG. You should always save JPEG files from the original image, not from a previously saved JPEG. A JPEG image is automatically decompressed when opened. A higher level of compression results in lower image quality, and a lower level of compression results in better image quality. In most cases, the Maximum quality option produces a result indistinguishable from the original. PCX format PCX format, established by Z-Soft® for its PC Paintbrush® software, is commonly used by IBM PC-compatible computers. Most PC software supports version 5 of the PCX format. Version 3 files do not support a custom color palette. For this reason, when you open a version 3 PCX file in Illustrator, the palette is ignored and a standard VGA color palette is used instead. Portable Document Format (PDF) The PDF format is used by Adobe Acrobat, Adobe's electronic publishing software for Mac OS, Windows, and UNIX. You can view PDF files using the Acrobat Reader software included on your Adobe Illustrator CD. PDF can represent both vector and bitmap graphics and can also contain electronic document search and navigation features. PDF files, for example, can contain hypertext links and an electronic table of contents. Because Illustrator can open a PDF file, you can use the vector artwork or bitmap images from any PDF file in an Illustrator file. Macintosh PICT format (PIC) The PICT format is widely used among Macintosh graphics and page-layout applications as an intermediary file format for transferring files between applications. The PICT format is especially effective at compressing images that contain large areas of solid color. PNG format Developed as a patent-free alternative to GIF, Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format is used for lossless compression and for display of images on the World Wide Web. Unlike GIF, PNG supports 24-bit images and produces background transparency without jagged edges; however, some Web browsers do not support PNG images. PostScript file format (PS) PostScript is a page description language that is built into many desktop printers and virtually all high-end printing systems. Because it is built into so many printers, most Mac OS, Windows, and UNIX applications can create PostScript files for printing. You cannot save PostScript files directly from Illustrator. However, if you're using a PostScript printer, you can use the Print to File option (Windows) or the File option in the Destination pop-up menu (Mac OS) in the Print dialog box to create a PostScript file. Note: For best results, Adobe recommends that you create PostScript files with the Apple LaserWriter 8 or Adobe PostScript printer driver. The first version of the PostScript file format, PostScript LanguageLevel 1, represents both grayscale vector graphics and grayscale bitmap images. The second version, PostScript LanguageLevel 2, represents color as well as grayscale vector and bitmap images, and supports RGB, CYMK, and CIE-based color models for both vector and bitmap graphics. (Some PostScript LanguageLevel 1 files also represent color with extensions to the PostScript language that were generalized in PostScript LanguageLevel 2.) PostScript LanguageLevel 3 provides additional functionality to LanguageLevel 2, including the ability to print mesh objects when printing to a PostScript® 3 printer. Since printing to PostScript LanguageLevel 1 and LanguageLevel 2 devices converts gradient mesh objects to bitmap images, it is preferable to print artwork that contains gradient mesh objects to a PostScript 3 printer. Note: PostScript LanguageLevel 1 is not supported for export to EPS or printing in the current version of Illustrator. However, LanguageLevel 1 export is supported for Illustrator 8.0 and lower EPS formats. PIXAR format (PXR) The PIXAR format is designed specifically for high-end graphics applications, such as those used for rendering three-dimensional images and animation. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) and Scalable Vector Graphics Compressed (SVGZ) formats The Scalable Vector Graphics formats are a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) specification for a standard, two-dimensional vector graphics language for the Web. SVG works well with HTML and JavaScript, giving Web designers creative control in designing an interactive and dynamic Web experience. (See About SVG.) You can reduce file sizes by 50% to 80% using SVGZ format. However, because SVGZ is a binary format, you cannot use a text editor to edit SVGZ files. Note: The SVG plug-in is normally installed with Illustrator. If you need to find the plug-in separately, go to the SVG zone on www.adobe.com to download it. Targa (TGA) format The TGA format is designed for use on systems that use the Truevision® video board. If you are saving artwork in this format, you have the option of choosing the resolution and color depth you want. Tagged-Image File Format (TIFF) TIFF is used to exchange files between applications and computer platforms. TIFF is a flexible bitmap image format that is supported by virtually all paint, image-editing, and page-layout applications. Also, virtually all desktop scanners can produce TIFF images. TIFF supports RGB, CMYK, and grayscale color models. It also supports LZW compression, a lossless compression method that does not discard detail from the image. When you export Illustrator artwork in TIFF, you can choose an RGB, CMYK, or grayscale color model and define the image resolution. To compress the file to a smaller size automatically, click the LZW Compression option. Windows Meta File (WMF) format The Windows Meta File format is an intermediate exchange format for 16-bit Windows applications. WMF format is supported by almost all Windows drawing and layout programs. It has limited vector graphics support, and wherever possible EMF format should be used in place of WMF format. |