Raster Files vs Vector Files
There are two main types of image files: Raster and Vector.
Raster Files
A raster-based graphic is an image made of hundreds or thousands of tiny squares of color information, commonly referred to as pixels. Because raster-based graphics have a specific number of pixels, when you increase the size of the image, the end result can look pixelated or blurry.
To figure out what size your image can be printed, first you must find out the minimum resolution (pixels per inch) that your image needs to be. You then multiply the width or height in inches by the amount of pixels per inch. For example, if you need an image that is 300 pixels per inch (ppi) and you want to print it 8 inches wide, the image must be at least 2400 pixels wide.
The most common file formats for raster-based graphics are JPG/JPEG, PSD, PNG, TIFF, BMP and GIF.
Vector Files
In simple terms, vector-based graphics use math to draw shapes using points, lines and curves. Because these files are not pixel-based, they are not resolution-dependent and can be scaled to virtually any size without losing any image quality whatsoever. Also unlike raster-based files, a proper vector file can be easily edited as well.
The most common file formats for vector-based graphics are AI, EPS, PDF and SVG.
Do not be fooled, because it is possible to save a raster-based image such as JPG and save it as a PDF or any other file format. Just because the file is a PDF doesn’t necessarily mean that it was created correctly. This is why it’s very important to have a graphic designer create your logos correctly the first time.
Low Resolution Logos
Do you have a low resolution JPEG that you’ve been told is too small to put on any large format products? Does your logo look blurry on anything you put it on? Let us help!
We can easily redraw your logo in a vector-based format and provide you with a multitude of different file formats for use in Microsoft Office products, websites, vehicle wraps, large format printing, business products and much more.
Contact us today for a free estimate for our logo redraw service.