Chap. 4 & 5
 Files to Print
 The most commonly used file printing formats would be TIFF, EPS, and Photoshop PSD or PDF.
Now a TIFF (tagged image file format) is the most widely accepted file format because of it's transferability skills that is pertains. Happy being transported from Illustrator, to Microsoft Word and everything in between. Along with the import features TIFF's also use RGB and CMYK color spaces and allows to contain spot-color channels.
EPS (encapsulated PostScript) really is described as encapsulated art. Able to contain raster images, vector artwork, or both combined EPS is said to be postscript in a bag. Historically EPS files were saved to preserve a special function, such as a vector based Clipping Path.
Photoshop PSD's and PDF's were two formats saved through the Photoshop program. PSD's used to be saved strictly as a Photoshop document that was then flattened and saved as a TIFF or an EPS format. A PDF however contains about the same information as a PSD but is just encased. There is no reason to use a PDF when a PSD will work.

Files Not to Print
 There are a list of files that are strictly only used for web content and print is not an option. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a graphic that can contain alot of neccessarry qualities for print it has no CMYK color space. BMP (Bitmap) can do black and white but again has no CMYK color space. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a strict web use file because of it's low resolution qualities. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) mainly because of it's loss qualities that it has through devices. Every time you save a JPEG you lose your Image quality.


Pixel vs.
A pixel (definition from the book) is shorthand for picture element, the smallest unit of information in a digitized image. Before pixels came to be cameras were used to capture artwork from drawings to painted illustrations. The job of capturing these images was time consuming to say the least. It required years of apprenticeship and experience to master the skill of capturing these images.
Now that we have discovered the pixel instead of having family photos smashed in a closet somewhere we now can have a stack of CD's organized and neat atop our desk. The pixel is the way of the future you could say comparing it the cave paintings and the ways that were done before the pixel came to be. It allows work to be done faster and more efficiently than any of these earlier ventures into photos.
 


JPG vs. RAW
 JPG is a compressed file format that can either be compressed a lot loosing image information or compressed a little only compressing a small bit of information. Image RAW is a feature that comes on higher end digital cameras, the point and shoots do not allow you to shoot in RAW. Camera RAW format is subject to no compression what so ever from the digital camera, this allows that whenever you open your RAW file into Photoshop you can change alot of the settings as if you were while you were taking the photo and not loose any picture information. Now camera RAW files cannot be dropped directly into Indesign, or Illustrator they must be ran through Photoshop first.

PPI Resolution
 PPI or pixels per inch this is the resolution on which you set your images for different mediums, for instance if you are setting an image for the web it would be set at 72 ppi at it's final size. These standards change however for every medium that you are using and print is widely debated format on ppi resolutions. With the updated technology that we use today we have settled on a resolution of 300 ppi. The debate use to be that 300 was insufficient because the RIP's would choke down and take all kinds of time, an also because the hard drives would be filled up rapidly, but with the technology of today we can run a 300 ppi image quickly and therefore efficiently.

Bitmap Images
 The main part of Bitmap images is that they are strictly black and white with no shades of gray in them at all. Commonly used for scans of signatures, or black pen sketches because it can offer a sharp, clean high resolution image. Yet another advantage to a Bitmap file is that they can offer these very high res images on a small files size.

Cropping and Rotating
 Cropping images is when you pretty much cut off the excess fat around an image that is unnecessary to be there. Cropping images is also used to center up a subject or to reduce the size down to what's needed for you to place onto a job. One major important factor to remember about cropping is to always keep a backup image on hand for any just in case purposes.
Rotating images is used all the time within logo design, page layouts, web design, etc. However one key note to remember about rotation is that the only safe rotation is a 90 degree rotation. Whenever you rotate an image less or more than the safe 90 you get the softening of detail inside the image.


Transparency Tip
 Whenever you are using any sort of transparency you must be careful switching between editorial programs. For instance whenever you are transporting your file into Indesign from Illustrator and you have a drop shadow upon print that drop shadow will show up gray, so it is best to make sure that whenever transporting files that everything matches up.

Vector Graphics
First and foremost things to know about Vector Graphics is that they are pixel free. What does this mean? This means that scaling dimensions is no limit, you won't ever get that pixel line at any point of your project.

Vector File Formats
Again you need to know what file formats are acceptable in the printing world and what's not. We back to EPS files, this file format is the most common file format for vector artwork. As for use with this EPS file you will find out that if you try and stick and EPS file into a microsoft word document that it's not going to show up correctly because the software cannot read it correctly.  So mainly use your EPS files for placed artwork.
Adobe PDF is one that we haven't been brought to yet, saving you vector art as a PDF ensures that your art cannot be changed. Also it is only intended for the use in page layout softwares that are going to be a finished print.


Embedded Fonts
Fonts that are embedded means that whenever you created a file in Illustrator or save it as an EPS this means that the font should now be available for print and viewing purposes, however this doesn't mean you can change the font in your layout software. Also not all fonts can be embedded, at times font sites will put a don't embed flag on there fonts to ensure the use for personal only.

Outlining Text
Converting your text to an outline text eliminates that someone will embed your font and cancel all edit ability. Also if your saving you file out as a PDF then outlining is pointless because of the edit ability restrictions that come with a PDF.


Simplifying Paths
Fewer Points smoother the drawing. Simple right? However it used to be believed that the more points the more detailed your drawing would be but however that's not the case. It is important to try and use as few points as possible but make sure those points are the right points.