A photo might look good on your screen, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready for your client. If you are sending raw screenshots, oversized files, or uncompressed formats, you are not just risking poor presentation but wasting your client’s time and damaging your own credibility.
The difference between a well-prepared image and a rushed one isn’t subtle. It’s the kind of thing that separates amateurs from professionals.
This tutorial takes you through the steps of preparing images for delivery, from tidying up the source file to selecting the appropriate export format. Whether you’re presenting design mockups, edited photography, or web-ready assets, these methods will take you from camera roll to client-ready without a problem.
Let’s dive into the minutiae that really count.
Table of Contents
Photos are derived from all sorts of cameras, such as DSLRs, Android devices, iPhones, and even tablet screenshots. But here’s where things get tricky: various cameras save pictures in various formats. Not all of them are as useful when delivering to clients.
For instance, most recent Apple devices will automatically save images in HEIC format. It’s file-size and image-quality friendly, but not everyone can open it without additional software. If you send a client an HEIC image who doesn’t have an Apple device, they may not even be able to open it.
To prevent that clutter, it’s nice to convert HEIC files into something more generic, such as JPEG for fast previews — a recommended option when preparing images for delivery, PNG for having transparent areas, or PDF in certain situations. If you are bundling images as part of a design presentation while preparing images for delivery or collating images into a document, converting HEIC to PDF is particularly helpful. It keeps things organized and legible regardless of what system your client has.
Tidy up the raw image before you even consider exporting or resizing. Examine it properly and ask yourself:
Even minimal tweaks to exposure, contrast, or white balance can result in huge gains. Don’t over-filter unless it’s included in your style guide. Make use of simple editing capabilities to fix perspective, get rid of dust or spots, and crop out whatever is irrelevant.
Keep in mind during the process of preparing images for delivery, a client isn’t just checking over your work; they’re getting an idea of how you show it.
When an inconsistent-sized batch of images is sent, it’s disorienting. The viewer is then distracted by layout problems rather than the content itself. Select a standard resolution that is suited to the context, such as social media, web, or print.
Some handy standards:
The goal is to produce visual harmony. When you resize, don’t stretch. Lock the aspect ratio and strategically crop if necessary. Leave the focus area in place.
Compression isn’t about making your image look worse. It’s about reducing file size without losing quality.
JPEGs are ideal for photos where file size matters. PNGs preserve transparency and sharpness but come with larger sizes. PDFs are great when you’re bundling visual documents or compiling a set.
Always check your exports. Zoom in at 100% and check whether the details work. A small file may be quick to send, but not if it’s pixelated or murky.
Don’t export and re-export from various programs, as it weakens the file. Work from a master file and only save your final version at the end.
Image_2394_finalFINAL.png is a file-naming crime. It wastes time and looks unprofessional.
Instead, name files based on the project, date, and version. For example:
Good naming is about clarity. Your client should know what they’re looking at before opening the file. You’ll also thank yourself later when you’re digging through past projects.
If sending multiple images, don’t send separate attachments. Send your files bundled together in a ZIP folder or PDF. Name folders if sending multiple formats (e.g., “Web Assets”, “Print Ready”).
Use folders to divide drafts, finals, and editables. That differentiation avoids confusion, especially when bringing in outside teams.
If there are editable elements to the project, such as layered PSDs or Illustrator files, ensure that those are kept distinct from the flattened images. And always double-check not to include anything incomplete or out of scope.
This should be obvious, but here’s the checklist:
Open the final documents on various devices if at all possible, particularly mobile. What appears great on a Retina display can disintegrate elsewhere. If you’re delivering via PDF, scroll through it gradually and inspect alignment.
As soon as your client opens your delivery — the final result of preparing images for delivery, that’s your lasting impression. Make it worthwhile.
When your client opens your delivery, it must feel professional and have no cluttered folders, dead links, or cryptic file names. Just well-prepared, considerate work indicating that you don’t just care about what you produce but also about the process.
From camera roll to client-ready isn’t perfect; it’s intentional. And when you put in the effort, especially when preparing images for delivery the way you should, it will definitely pay off. Every time.
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