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Guide

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each

The export dialog is where good designs go to look bad — pick the wrong format and your crisp design turns to mush. Here's the decision tree.

The format decision tree

PNG — graphics with text, logos, screenshots, anything needing transparency. Lossless, so edges stay sharp. Larger files.
JPG — photographs and photo-heavy designs. Much smaller files; use the highest quality setting for anything with overlaid text.
PDF — print, multi-page documents, resumes, anything a print shop or recruiter will open. One page per design page; choose the print/PDF option for the highest quality.
MP4 / WebM — anything with motion: video posts, intros, animated ads.

Screen rules

Export at 2× the display size for retina sharpness (a 600 px email column wants a 1200 px image). For social, match the platform's recommended sizes — our templates are pre-sized so you don't have to think about it.

Print rules

Print needs resolution, not pixels on screen: aim for 150–300 DPI at final size. Export PDF — it keeps text as sharp vectors regardless of size. Pro plans unlock the highest-resolution PDF exports and transparent PNGs for print-ready logos.

The transparent PNG question

Need your logo or cut-out on a transparent background? That's the transparent PNG export option — available on Pro plans. Free plans export on a solid background, still with no watermark.

Frequently asked questions

JPG for photo posts (smaller, uploads faster); PNG for graphics with text (sharper edges).

A high-resolution PDF. It keeps text sharp at any size and is what print workflows expect.

Try it yourself

Everything in this guide works in the free editor — open the app and follow along.

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Follow the idea

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each

Follow the dot — it traces the argument of this article.

SparkDraftPublish

Portrait of a woman sculpting — Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each motion card

A canvas that keeps upExporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each — frame 1 of 4

Vibrant abstract light art with geometric patterns — Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each motion card

Type that performsExporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each — frame 2 of 4

Art class with instructor and students in studio — Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each motion card

Photos with presenceExporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each — frame 3 of 4

Dynamic abstract red lighting with fluid curves — Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each motion card

Export without fearExporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each — frame 4 of 4

Drag the cards — they glide with inertia. Scroll — the blob morphs and the dot traces the flow.

Don’t just read

Key takeaways

The article’s section on “The format decision tree” is the one to re-read — it carries the practical core of the piece.
The article’s section on “Screen rules” is the one to re-read — it carries the practical core of the piece.
The article’s section on “Print rules” is the one to re-read — it carries the practical core of the piece.

Do the work

Put it into practice

1
First pass
Read once for the big idea, ignoring the details.
2
Second pass
Re-read with your current project open beside it.
3
Apply
Apply one technique from the article today — just one.
4
Compare
Save the result and compare it against your previous work.

Shot on real photography

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, and When to Use Each — every visual on this page is a real photograph, not a placeholder.

Visual guides

Every fact, visualized

Ten detailed infographics — every number real, every label earned. Built for Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, only on this page.

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF takeaways: the article, compressed

Practicing Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF, step by step

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF by the numbers

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF concept map

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF practice checklist

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF: myth vs reality

From Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF to portfolio proof

Keep the Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF momentum

Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF reader questions

Your Exporting for Print vs. Screen: PNG, JPG, PDF action plan

Live telemetry

EXPORTING FOR PRINT VS. SCREEN: PNG, JPG, PDF — PAGE TELEMETRY

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0Sections

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0Infographics

0FAQs

Breakdownlive

13

Sections

8

Subsections

42

Photos

10

Infographics

Cumulative depthlive

Real pixels

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The photoaicompany stock library

Hand-picked photography for photoaicompany — refreshed on this page alone.

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