These copyrighted TAU images were designed and produced for the Secular Franciscan Order USA.

OFS USA regions, fraternities, commissions, and committees can download and use them in their documents and web pages to identify their association with OFS-USA.

Images may not be altered from the original design.

Guide for Selecting the Right Image for your Project

  • The image sizes indicated on the links (e.g. 980 x 1188) indicate the level of resolution of the image, the higher the resolution the more file space is required to store the image.
  • The transparent TAU image should be used if you have a background that is not white.  The background color will fill in the spaces in the image and also come right up to the edge of the image.
  • The PDF file is a vector file, which means that no matter how much you enlarge or reduce it for your project, it will not degrade in quality.  Vector files are not made up of pixels, so the edges will not break up (pixelate) when enlarged.
  • The scaled image (the largest of the images) is an enlarged image using a special tool to avoid quality degradation.  It’s a good choice if quality is a priority, and file storage space is not an issue.

Advantages of an Adobe Photoshop Image Element file (PSD) over PNG

  1. Layer Support – PSD files preserve layers, allowing designers to edit individual elements separately. PNG files are flat and do not support layers.
  2. Advanced Editing – PSD files retain adjustment layers, masks, and effects, making them ideal for complex image editing.
  3. Higher Quality – Since PSD files do not use compression, they maintain full image quality without loss, unlike PNG, which may compress images.
  4. Vector and Raster Support – PSD files can contain both raster and vector elements, making them more versatile for design work.
  5. Better for Printing – PSD files support CMYK color mode, which is essential for professional printing, while PNG is primarily optimized for digital use.
  6. Integration with Adobe Software – PSD files work seamlessly with Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, allowing direct editing and updates.

When to Use PNG Instead

  • PNG files are better for web graphics because they support transparency and are widely compatible across different platforms.
  • PNG is ideal for sharing because it does not require specialized software to open.