About Different File Types
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There are MANY different file types that are used for clip art... and each file type has different properties. Here's some VERY BASIC file type knowledge for you:
DJ clip art on NEWER CD's or digital downloads include both of these:
jpg: One of the most common file types used today, jpg files have a WHITE background (not very good for layering)... OR the image continues to all 4 sides (most photographs are jpg files). They are also 'flat' files... meaning they can't be broken down into parts or changed without photo editing software. Jpg is usually used for our full page borders, finished projects, cards & digital backgrounds or 'papers'... because they take up less space on your hard drive & they don't need to layer.
png: A newer file type, png files have a transparent background that makes layering very easy. They are great for layering & so commonly used for digital scrapbooking. They are also 'flat' files... meaning they can't be broken down into parts or changed without photo editing software.
DJ clip art on older CD's or floppies might include:
wmf: these files would be found in a "Vector" folder. They're big and dated... and the trick only works on a PC/Windows computer. They have a transparent background & are good for layering. However, we are moving away from this type because the file size is quite large & newer computers won't let you view them as thumbnails/large icons. Click here to learn a way around this problem...
eps: Found in a "Raster" folder, these files work best on a MAC computer. They have a transparent background & are good for layering.
tiff, bmp, pict: less common in OUR products... but occasionally found in our really old "Raster" folders. These file types have white backgrounds & are not very good for layering.
IF you find that you have an image in a file type you can't use, you can try a free graphics converter (like versiontracker.com) to help you convert a file to a type that you can use.
TTF font files: DJ FONTS are always .ttf (true type) format. TTF fonts are MAC & PC/Windows compatible & are the most common font type. They are an 'open type' or 'outline font'... meaning the letters are made up of outlines (you can't fill the open spaces with color or edit them without flattening or 'rasterizing' your text in a good photo program).
DJ clip art on NEWER CD's or digital downloads include both of these:
jpg: One of the most common file types used today, jpg files have a WHITE background (not very good for layering)... OR the image continues to all 4 sides (most photographs are jpg files). They are also 'flat' files... meaning they can't be broken down into parts or changed without photo editing software. Jpg is usually used for our full page borders, finished projects, cards & digital backgrounds or 'papers'... because they take up less space on your hard drive & they don't need to layer.
png: A newer file type, png files have a transparent background that makes layering very easy. They are great for layering & so commonly used for digital scrapbooking. They are also 'flat' files... meaning they can't be broken down into parts or changed without photo editing software.
DJ clip art on older CD's or floppies might include:
wmf: these files would be found in a "Vector" folder. They're big and dated... and the trick only works on a PC/Windows computer. They have a transparent background & are good for layering. However, we are moving away from this type because the file size is quite large & newer computers won't let you view them as thumbnails/large icons. Click here to learn a way around this problem...
eps: Found in a "Raster" folder, these files work best on a MAC computer. They have a transparent background & are good for layering.
tiff, bmp, pict: less common in OUR products... but occasionally found in our really old "Raster" folders. These file types have white backgrounds & are not very good for layering.
IF you find that you have an image in a file type you can't use, you can try a free graphics converter (like versiontracker.com) to help you convert a file to a type that you can use.
TTF font files: DJ FONTS are always .ttf (true type) format. TTF fonts are MAC & PC/Windows compatible & are the most common font type. They are an 'open type' or 'outline font'... meaning the letters are made up of outlines (you can't fill the open spaces with color or edit them without flattening or 'rasterizing' your text in a good photo program).