Saving files between the programs: pdf

copy and paste—good when you have a simple file from AI that you know you would like to edit again later after it is in InDesign or PS. But the file needs to be simple, complex files do not like to copied and pasted, plus who wants to take forever to paste it and redraw it?

drag and drop—just don’t do it. You end up missing info and landing on your desktop.
PS files as PSD’s with no layers for a transparent background, to use in InDesign, or Illustrator. With layers increases file size.

Illustrator files. Save as a live Illustrator file and to place in InDesign via File>place or Photoshop by just opening the file.

EPS files (Encapsulated PostScript...meaning that they are shape based files from a vector, Illustrator, program and is more or less self-contained.) Utilize this format if you do not know what the printer will need or isn’t up to date with Illustrator.

PDF files for clean edges for type & vector information that is very detailed,  color shifts and is user friendly for printing

TIFF files are used for images used in publishing. Tiff files supports coloring of Grayscales in Adobe InDesign.

Jpegs for images for the web that have no type or are photo based

Gif’s for images with type or flat color

PNG 8’s for images that are a combination of pixels and solid shapes such as type.

How to optimize for the web is on a separate handout.