Since the JPG file format is so prevalent these days here are some guidelines that will save you time and money.

By its nature, every JPG is compressed at least a little bit. But too much compression will create blurry edges and even the color tends to shift and get splotchy. The JPG file format was created back in the days of small hard drives to save disk space. In these days of very large hard drives, there is no need to add compression to a JPG that will be used for printing. You must keep in mind the end use requirements of the JPG (or any other bitmap format) file you are creating. In JPG’s there is never "one size fits all". A JPG created to print a logo on a business card will not be of sufficient size and DPI to then use for posters and other large signs.

when you want to save a file as a JPG, I suggest the following rules:

TURN COMPRESSION OFF! If your software cannot do this, then get different software! Cheap software will waste much more of your time than it is worth.

Once you are over that barrier, then select an appropriate physical size for the file. A good rule of thumb is to make it no less than 1/4 scale of the desired final output. Example: a logo on a business card is likely not any larger than say 1 square inch. You could save this at 1/4 scale but, because it is small already, it could easily be saved at 100% scale and at 150 to 200 DPI without any problem with file size or print quality of the business cards.

Now, if you also need to make posters, banners or other large prints using the same logo, then the business card file will not work even at 100% scale because it is too small to blow up very far.  You will need to start with your original artwork and create an entirely different file for larger output.

NO LESS THAN 1/4 SCALE AND 300 DPI!  You can’t go wrong with this. Remember the business card file? it was 1 square inch? For a poster you now need to make that logo very much larger, say 1 square foot or 144 times larger than the same logo on the business card. This cannot be done with the same JPG file and maintain a clear undistorted image. You must go back to the original artwork and create a new JPG file that is at least 6" on a side (6"x6" or 36 square inches if it is not a square shaped logo. That makes it 1/4 scale of the desired output) and at least 300 DPI. This will be a significantly larger file size than the business card file.

Remember, creating a JPG file at the proper DPI is just as important as the proper scale for your desired output. Both equally affect the quality of the final print.

WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP IT LARGE! This is the best advice you can take with regard to bitmap artwork. It is easy for a graphic artist or printer to make a file smaller to suite a particular purpose. It is impossible to make it larger without creating the problems described above.

IF POSSIBLE, FORGET BITMAP ARTWORK ALTOGETHER! If you have the ability to create your original artwork in a vector format, you are miles ahead. Software such as Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator/Creative Suite are excellent vector based graphic arts programs. With vector based artwork, everything mentioned above is irrelevant.

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