A common mistake many beginners make is sending a web image to a printer or putting a print-ready file on a website. These two mediums speak completely different languages.
1. Color Mode: RGB vs. CMYK
Web (RGB): Screens create colors by mixing Red, Green, and Blue light. This can create vibrant, neon colors.
Print (CMYK): Printers use ink—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). Ink cannot glow like a screen. If you send an RGB file to a printer, those bright greens and oranges will come out looking dull and muddy.
2. Resolution: DPI (Dots Per Inch)
Web (72 DPI): Screens are low resolution. An image only needs 72 dots per inch to look sharp.
Print (300 DPI): Paper requires much higher density. If you print a 72 DPI image, it will look blurry and pixelated.
3. The Format Cheat Sheet
For the Web:
- Photos: WebP or JPG (Small file size, RGB)
- Logos: SVG or PNG (Sharp edges, Transparent)
- Animations: MP4 or WebP (GIF is outdated/heavy)
For Print:
- Professional Photos: TIFF (Uncompressed, high detail)
- Layouts/Vectors: PDF or EPS (Scalable)
- Quick Proofs: High-quality JPG (CMYK mode)
Bottom line: Never use a screen capture for a business card!