JRN 440Adv. Online JournalismVector file formats for print and projected

Wednesday, 2/22/12

Class Objectives

Neat Trick Lecture

Vector File Formats for Print and Projected Why we care to learn about vector,

http://actualobjects.com/collections/economic-bailout-information-graphics

Homework Ex. 4 and 5 due by 2:05 pm 2/29/12

Vector Graphics

Definition= The creation of digital images through a sequence of commands or mathematical statements that place lines and shapes in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space.

Made up of individual objects These objects are defined by

mathematical equations not pixels (“smart”)

Each object has individual properties assigned to it such as color, fill, and stroke.

Vector Graphics

Resolution Independent What does this do? Vector

images always render at the highest quality... Whether stamped sized or billboard sized

Crispness of lines and shapes no matter what size

No “jagged” edges when you enlarge

Vector Graphics Characteristics

Good for drawing shapes, lines, polygons, texts Reduces detail of photographs BUT, images are cartoon-like

Easier to manipulate as objects remain as individuals (not flattened into a painting)

Resolution independent Can scale to any size

Final vector file can be any shape Not restricted to rectangular format

Usually smaller file size than raster

Questions

Remember “dumb” or “smart” files of each

1. Can I easily convert my raster file to a vector file? Not easily

Can use live trace in Illustrator, but not really good results

Most will “trace” using the Pen Tool 2. Can I easily convert my vector file to a raster file?

Yes, <File <Export

2d Vector File Formats

Native: .ai (Illustrator), .fla (Flash) Most commonly used for printing: EPS

Can contain raster images “wrapped” within them Next best thing is to use a PDF

As of 2009, an open standard for printable documents on the Web (free to use)

Can contain vector images within them (e.g. text and paths) as well as raster elements

But it’s best to know how these files were originally created If originally raster, they’ll remain raster If originally vector, they’ll remain vector but you might lose text

paths If hybrid, when imported/opened in a software, will have both

2d Vector File Formats

“De-facto” printing standard for CAD files: .dxf/dwg, (owned by Autocad) Other files that are used are .iges, .step

Web standard: .svg (static and for animation) May need a Plug-in to see (depends on

browser) Written in XML

“De-facto” web standard: .swf The Flash plug-in is on almost all browsers

3d Vector File Formats

Native: .3dm (Rhino), .3ds (3d Studio Max), .DWG (AutoCAD), (Maya, Sketchup, ProE, AutoCad)

For 3d models: From Autocad alone:

DXF (drawing exchange format) between software DWF (design web format) for Web

.u3d (supported by Adobe, works in Photoshop) For previewing on web pages: .x3d and .vrml

(standards) Need a plug-in to see these

Which file format to use?

If moving from one vector software to another eps or pdf dwg 3ds

If printing, pdf and eps are safe bets But ask your printer what they want

If on-line and have plug-ins installed, swf for 2d x3d for 3d

File Management:Moving your design project and files Why would you move your project and files?

If you are going to have it professionally printed

If you’re going to another computer If you’re handing it off to someone else and

they need to open the project

File Management:Moving graphic files In many cases, you will need to transform

your file into a non-native format Native is .MAX, .FH, .PSD Non-native is EPS, PDF, TIFF, JPG, GIF,

PNG, SVG, DXF, DWG

Remember!!! Always save a native version of your design.

File Management:Moving your design project and files If you will be moving your project, you need to

move ALL files associated with it Image and data files

All vector (2d, 3d) All raster (skins, rendered files)

Design (html, page-layout files like qxd) Misc. files (“readme”, pre-flight checklist, fonts)

Converting/ moving graphic files

Also called “porting” Porting = Translating software to run on a

different computer and/or operating system Difference between <File <Open and <File

<Import or <Place Think about how InDesign does this

Place is simply linking (not porting) files You’ll need to include them when you move the job

Porting

1st Need to consider how is data stored or created? Raster vs. vector (metafiles) 2d vector vs. 3d vector

2nd What software are you using to port into? Illustration program = Illustrator Image Editor = Photoshop

Some software packages can handle porting of native formats

Adobe suite products – Photoshop can port (by simply opening) Illustrator’s native format

Porting Raster files

What do you have to worry about with moving raster files? RESOLUTION BASED!!! A raster file on a web page is ~72 dpi, for print it

should be 600 dpi for b/w, 300 for grayscale and color

Do NOT trust your monitor when it displays your raster file NEVER “scale” up raster in Illustrator or InDesign

to more than 200% and try to print it out. Do scaling in PhotoShop (and upsampling

is still not a good idea here)

Porting vector files

1st, what is your original vector file 3d 2d What software used, version of software

2nd, where are you moving it to? 3d 2d What software to open/import Where is the final “viewing” place?

Web or monitors (loss of control over certain things… think colors on monitors)

Print (non-3d quality)

Porting vector files

What do you have to worry about? Almost everything… regardless of where

moving to (3d to raster, 3d to 2d, 3d to 3d, etc.)

Biggest problem = some software will import or open certain files, some will not

Check ALL that you have access to! Color shifting

Especially if your final output is print! Losing details of your original design

Strokes (too little, too big, lost altogether) Rendering (skinning, lights, colors)

Porting vector files

Losing details Shapes not coming through

Getting distorted Disappearing altogether Shifting in terms of x,y,z planes (which are

important on maps, cad drawings) Fonts

Certain letters missing Not coming up as letters at all

“Extra” features of software Transparency in Illustrator Layers

Porting vector files

What do you NOT have to worry about? Resolution (yeah!)… vector files are resolution

independent. Again? Why is it so difficult to move vector versus

raster? Raster files are just pixels Vector files have tons on info. in them