What is a Zip File and How do I Unzip It?

On The Graphics Fairy Members site, you will see the option to download your bundle images and printables in a zipped file (these are gold download buttons at the bottom of an individual bundle’s page).  A zip file is a package of files that have been grouped and compressed so they are easier to share and send. A Zip file is a great way to download a bunch of images all at once, to save time. 

To open the group of files, you must first download the zipped file and then you will unzip (or extract) those files.

How to Download, and open, a Zip File on a PC

On a PC, first click on the download link and save the zipped to your computer (note the location where you saved it).  Now navigate to the location where the zipped file is. Double click on the zipped file (it looks like a file folder with a zipper).  You can now see the zipped folder’s contents.  Click on the option at the top to “Extract all Files”.   Windows asks you where you want to save the extracted individual files.  Select a file folder and hit “Extract.”  You now have all of the individual files on your computer, ready to use in your graphics programs.

How to Download, and open, a Zip File on a Mac

Mac Computers have a built in compression support called the Archive Utility.  The Archive Utility is located at /System/Library/CoreServices, navigate there to open it.  Click on File > Expand Archive.  Navigate to the zipped file you want to expand, select the file, and hit Expand.

On a Mac, many people have additional apps to help work with zipped files.  This article from About.com has more information for Mac users.  WinZip, The Unarchiver, and iZip are popular third party options to help unzip files.