Artwork | How To Optimise Your TIFF Files To Use As Artwork

Artwork | How To Optimise Your TIFF Files To Use As Artwork

Overview

The Kornit X Platform now supports the uploading of TIFF format artwork files when creating Virtual Products. These can be uploaded in two ways via the Virtual Product creation wizard:
  1. Artwork - When creating Virtual Products via the Artwork process, use the 'Add Print Ready Artwork' option
  2. Manual - When creating Virtual Product via the Manual process, upload the file directly to the Print Area > Artwork Slot.

TIFF format can produce very large file sizes (in mb) - the Platform has been enhanced to support an increased file upload limit of 100mb. Despite this, it is still considered best practice to optimize TIFF files prior to upload to minimise any impact in file handling / artwork processing. This article offers a simple solution to compress large TIFF files without compromising on final print quality.
Note: This article is written on the presumption that any associated Blank products are being fulfilled by Kornit Fulfillers, using associated hardware and software. Adobe Photoshop is used to manipulate and save the TIFF files - other artwork packages can be used.

1. Change to RGB Color

  1. Go to Image > Mode > RGB Color

2. Save As TIFF

  1. **If you have an additional Base White Channel, toggle the visibility so it cannot be seen - this ensures the previewed design displays correctly within the Platform.
  2. Go to File > Save As
  3. Select the Save as type to TIFF
  4. In the TIFF options, enable LZW compression
  5. Enable 'Save Transparency' if your image has transparency
  6. Set Layer Compression to ZIP.
    1. Note: If you have a multi-layered or particularly large file it may be best to Discard Layers and Save a Copy.

Check the subsequent file size to see if it is under the 100mb max file size limit within the Platform. If it is not, please proceed to Step 3.

*3. Lower the Image Resolution

As a final step, you can reduce the Image Resolution. Generally designs and artwork files are created at 300ppi (although can vary depending on the intended size of the final print). The 300ppi artwork file can be lowered to 200-250ppi to reduce the overall file size, without detrimental affect on the final print quality (in DTG printing the minimum recommended value is 150).

  • Go to Image > Image Size
  • Lower the resolution to 200-250 - try different values to impact the file size, the aim should be the largest ppi possible within this range, based on the file size limitation.
  • Repeat Step 2 to Save the file.


    • FAQS

    Why do I need to change the color mode?
          Conversion to RGB in the artwork packages removes any potential auto-conversion further down the line. Auto-conversions can lead to undesirable results and impact on final print colour.

    What is LZW compression?
          LZW is a universal lossless data compression algorithm. For more information please see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lempel%E2%80%93Ziv%E2%80%93Welchto