Whether you’re offering printable colouring pages, showcasing digital art, or promoting your brand online, it is essential to save your images in the right format. In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to save images depending on how you plan to use them. This ensures your designs always look their best.

Note: If you’re not sure about some of the abbreviations, zoom down to the glossary!

Best Image Format for Printable Colouring Pages

When preparing printable colouring designs, clarity and resolution matter most.

• Recommended Format: PNG
• Resolution: 300 DPI
• Colour Mode: Greyscale for line art, CMYK for colour-friendly designs
• Why it Works: PNG is lossless and preserves sharp lines – ideal for intricate colouring pages

Top Tip: Use vector-based artwork when possible to guarantee clean scaling across sizes.

Best Way to Save Digital Colouring Files (Tablet & App Use)

For artists and customers who prefer digital colouring on devices, these settings offer flexibility and crisp visuals.

• Recommended Formats: PNG (flattened) or PSD (layered)
• Resolution: 150–300 DPI
• Colour Mode: sRGB
• Why It Works: PNG keeps the lines clean; PSD allows editable layers for more advanced colouring

Top Tip: Layered files allow users to colour without altering the original line art—a big win!

Optimizing Images for Your Website or Etsy Store

Your storefront needs to load fast and look polished. Here’s how to save website visuals for greatest appeal:

• Recommended Format: JPEG (for photos), PNG (for line art or text-heavy graphics)
• Resolution: 72-150 DPI
• Colour Mode: sRGB (standard for web viewing)
• Why It Works: Small file sizes load quickly without sacrificing appearance

Top Tip: Use tools like TinyPNG to compress files before uploading.

How to Save Images for Social Media Platforms

Social platforms love high-quality, engaging images. Format them right to attract more eyeballs and engagement.

• Recommended Formats: JPEG (photos, lifestyle shots), PNG (text or art-based images)
• Platform Guidelines:
  • Instagram: 1080x1080px (1:1) or 1080x1350px (4:5)
  • Pinterest: 1000x1500px (2:3)
• Why It Works: Optimised sizing ensures your content looks great and performs better in the feed

Top Tip: Tall, vertical images with bold text work best for Pinterest—don’t forget your branding!

Image Tips for Email Marketing and Newsletters

Emails should load fast but still show your style and branding clearly.

• Recommended Format: JPEG or compressed PNG
• Resolution: 72 DPI
• Ideal File Size: Under 100KB when possible
• Why It Works: Smaller image sizes improve email loading speed and avoid spam filters

Top Tip: Always include ALT text for accessibility and added SEO value.

Final Thoughts: Matching Image Formats with Purpose

Saving your designs with intention isn’t just about file types—it’s about the experience you create for your audience. From printable colouring pages to fast-loading web graphics, these tips will help you:

• Preserve your image quality
• Improve performance across platforms
• Support your eco-conscious and professional brand

Glossary of Common Digital & Design Terms

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

A high-quality image format that supports transparency and doesn’t lose quality when saved. Perfect for web graphics, logos, or digital downloads with transparent backgrounds.

PSD (Photoshop Document)

A layered file format created by Adobe Photoshop. It allows for full editing of each layer (text, images, effects). Often used by designers to create and edit complex graphics.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

A commonly used image format that compresses file size by slightly reducing quality. Ideal for photos and general-purpose web images.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

A measure of image resolution. Higher DPI (e.g., 300) means better quality for printing. Lower DPI (e.g., 72) is suitable for screens or online use.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

The practice of improving content and websites so they show up higher in search engine results (like Google). Good SEO helps more people find your site or products.

sRGB (Standard Red Green Blue)

A colour profile used for digital screens. Most websites, phones, and monitors use sRGB, making it the best colour mode for digital designs and online images.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)

A colour model used for printing. CMYK is ideal for designs that will be physically printed (like cards or posters), ensuring precise colour reproduction.

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Want to put these tips into action?

Explore the Little Purple Print collection and see our designs in high-quality PNG—ready to print or colour digitally with confidence.