Understanding design file formats is essential for every designer. Here are the 10 formats you must know.
1. PSD (Photoshop Document)
Photoshop’s native format. Used for photo editing, digital painting, and UI design. Supports layers, masks, and effects.
2. AI (Adobe Illustrator)
Illustrator’s native vector format. Used for logos, illustrations, and print design. Infinite scalability without quality loss.
3. PDF (Portable Document Format)
The universal format. Opens on any device. Used for sharing, printing, and archiving. Supports both vector and raster content.
4. INDD (InDesign Document)
InDesign’s format for page layouts. Used for magazines, books, brochures, and multi-page documents.
5. CDR (CorelDRAW)
CorelDRAW’s vector format. Popular in printing and sign-making industries.
6. EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
A universal vector format. Compatible with most design software. Common for stock illustrations.
7. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Web standard for vector graphics. Used for icons, illustrations, and animations on websites.
8. PSB (Photoshop Big)
Photoshop’s large document format. Supports files over 2GB and dimensions over 30,000 pixels.
9. C4D (Cinema 4D)
Cinema 4D’s 3D format. Used in motion graphics, product visualization, and architectural rendering.
10. MAX (3ds Max)
Autodesk 3ds Max format. Used in game development, film, and architectural visualization.
Need to Convert Between Formats?
VersionFixer supports all 10 formats and 101+ conversion paths between them. Free to try.