Album Printing
JPG vs PNG vs TIFF vs PSD: Which File Format for Wedding Albums?
The finished album design has to leave your computer as a file your lab can print. JPG, PNG, TIFF and PSD each have a role: one is the lab default, one is lossless, one is the archival standard and one keeps your layers. This article explains the differences and which files this guide's Smart Photo Selection workflow produces: JPG, PNG and layered PSD.
By Smart Photo Selection TeamUpdated 5 min readIn Album Printing
The quick answer
Send what your lab asks for. For most album labs that is a high-quality JPG at the album's full size and resolution, one file per spread. Keep a layered PSD for yourself so you can make changes later. Use PNG when a lab prefers lossless files and accepts them. TIFF is a common archival and lab format; the Smart Photo Selection workflow described here produces JPG, PNG and layered PSD.
| Format | Compression | Layers | File size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Lossy (quality setting) | No | Small | Sending spreads to most labs |
| PNG | Lossless | No | Large | Lossless delivery when the lab accepts it |
| TIFF | Lossless or none | Possible, rarely used by labs | Very large | Archival masters and some labs |
| PSD | Lossless | Yes | Very large | Editable working file, finishing in other software |
JPG
JPG is the most widely accepted print format. Its compression is lossy, but at high quality settings the difference is not visible in print. The risks are low quality settings, which show blocky artefacts in skies and smooth gradients, and re-saving the same JPG many times, which compounds the loss.
- Export once, from the full-resolution design, at high quality.
- Check that the file's DPI matches what the lab expects (often 300).
- Do not edit and re-save the exported JPG; go back to the design instead.
PNG
PNG is lossless, so every pixel is exactly as rendered. Files are much larger than JPG at album sizes. Some labs accept PNG; many prefer JPG or TIFF. PNG is a good choice for proof files you will compare pixel by pixel, or when a lab specifically asks for lossless files and lists PNG.
TIFF
TIFF is a long-established format in print and archiving. It can be uncompressed or losslessly compressed and supports high bit depths and print colour modes. Some album labs request TIFF. The Smart Photo Selection exports covered in our export guide are JPG, PNG and layered PSD. If your lab requires TIFF, a lossless PNG or layered PSD is the best starting point: save it as TIFF in your usual image software, then follow the lab's colour instructions.
PSD
PSD keeps layers, masks and blend modes, which makes it the right working format. It is rarely the right file to send to a lab, because labs print flattened images and a layered file may render differently in their software.
Smart Photo Selection's PSD export is genuinely layered. If the sheet came from your own PSD template, the template's layer tree is kept, and each photo is inserted as a raster layer clipped to its slot, with the original placeholder hidden. Text and adjustments added in Smart Photo Selection are rasterized. Each file is re-opened after writing to verify it. That makes the PSD useful for final touches in a desktop editor or for archiving an editable version.
Colour profiles and CMYK
A colour profile tells software how to interpret the RGB numbers in a file. Most album labs work from RGB files, commonly sRGB, and convert to their printer themselves. Some ask for a specific profile, and a few ask for CMYK.
- Smart Photo Selection exports RGB. When a sheet comes from a PSD template that contains an ICC profile, the JPG export embeds that profile. Otherwise the export has no embedded profile and is treated as sRGB.
- There is no CMYK export in Smart Photo Selection. If your lab requires CMYK, convert in your own software using the profile the lab provides, and ask for a proof.
- Do not convert to CMYK unless asked. An unnecessary conversion can dull colours, and the lab may convert again.
Resolution, size and naming
Format matters less than resolution. A file that is too small prints soft in any format. At 300 DPI a 12 × 36 in spread is 10,800 × 3,600 px and a 14 × 40 in spread is 12,000 × 4,200 px (see 12 × 36 vs 14 × 40). Smart Photo Selection exports each sheet at the document's full size and DPI, renders from your original photos rather than previews, and flags photos below 200 ppi before generation.
Files are named in order, for example rahul-priya-album-sheet-01.jpg, so the lab can see the page sequence. The whole album can be downloaded as a ZIP.
A practical delivery set
- For the lab: JPG (or the format they specify) at full size and DPI, one file per spread, numbered in order.
- For your archive: the layered PSD of each sheet, plus the original photos.
- For the client preview: smaller JPGs for approval before printing. See the album delivery workflow.
Smart Photo Selection projects are stored in the browser on the device you use, not in the cloud, so download and back up your exported files once an album is final. For the full album process, read AI wedding album design: the complete guide, and for the click-by-click export steps, how to export JPG, PNG and PSD.
file formatsalbum printingcolour profilesexport
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JPG good enough for album printing?
Yes, at high quality and full resolution. It is the format most album labs request. Avoid low quality settings and repeated re-saving.
Which Smart Photo Selection export should I send for printing?
Usually a high-quality JPG at full size, with a layered PSD kept as your editable master, and PNG when the lab wants lossless files. If your lab requires TIFF, convert a PNG or PSD in your own software and follow the lab's colour instructions.
Does Smart Photo Selection convert to CMYK?
No. Exports are RGB. If a lab asks for CMYK, convert with the lab's profile in your own software and request a proof.
Should I send the PSD to my lab?
Usually not. Labs print flattened images. Keep the PSD as your editable master and send the format the lab specifies.
Related Articles
- AI Wedding Album Design: The Complete GuideHow AI wedding album design works, what it does well, where you still decide, and a practical workflow from photo selection to print-ready export.
- Bleed, Safe Area and the Centre Fold in Wedding AlbumsWhat bleed, trim, safe area and the centre fold mean for wedding album spreads, how binding affects the gutter, and how to keep faces and text safe.
- 12 × 36 vs 14 × 40 Wedding Album: Which Size Should You Offer?12x36 vs 14x40 wedding albums compared: page size, ratio, pixels at 300 DPI, photo resolution needed and which layouts and clients each size suits best.
Step-by-Step Guides
- How to Export a Wedding Album as JPG, PNG or Layered PSDExport one album sheet or the whole album from Smart Photo Selection as full-resolution JPG, PNG or a verified layered PSD, and download everything as a ZIP for your lab.
- How to Prepare a Wedding Album for PrintA print checklist for Smart Photo Selection: resolution and DPI, low-ppi warnings, centre fold, trim and safe area guides, bleed, sRGB colour and what to ask your album lab.
Related Features
Design Your Next Album in Smart Photo Selection
Generate spreads from a booking's photos, refine them in the layer-based editor and export print-ready files.