Vector art is created using vector illustration software programs. These programs use mathematics and geometric primitives (points, lines, and shapes) to create art that is clean, camera ready, and can be scaled infinitely without any loss of quality or fidelity.
Anything we print on your product must be in Vector. It doesn't matter if it is your logo, an image, or even just plain text such as phone numbers, addresses, or name of company. This is in order to have the scalability.
Scalability is one of the main reasons that Vector art files are so valuable when it comes to printing your promotional products. The same art file can be used to reproduce your design on something as small as a pen or as large as a t-shirt.
How can you tell if your art is Vector Art? One way is by the file type. Modern vector art is usually created in Adobe Illustrator and is commonly saved with certain file extensions. Common Vector files extensions are .ai, .pdf., and .eps. Vector PDF is preferred. If you aren't sure, you can send us what you have and we will tell you if the art is Vector.
Just because a file is saved in one of these formats does not mean that it is truly vector art. Sometimes, people open raster files in Adobe Illustrator and re-save the file in a vector format without recreating the art using the vector editing tools. Only art originally created in a vector editing program, such as Adobe Illustrator, is truly vector art.
The file that you have might not be the only one out there. If you had a professional designer create your art, chances are they created your design as vector art, but could have neglected to provide you with the vector files. Contact your designer and ask for the vector files. If you work in a large company, contact your company’s marketing department or design department. They will probably have the files that you need.
If you know you don't have a Vector file or need a new design in Vector, then we have graphic designers who can vector any images or text. The typical cost we charge is $15.00 per design or text graphic, although some may cost more depending upon the complexity. However, we will give you a specific quote for your job before proceeding.
*Note: This is not the same thing as creating a design, graphic, or layout. If you are needing a new design, graphic, or layout, then contact us for a quote. Our standard pricing on graphic design is $50.00 an hour with a minimum charge of two hours.