How to Ensure Your Art Files are Print-Ready at Pulse Merch
At Pulse Merch, we see a wide range of art files that are sent in. Some artwork, like digital photos, are always raster files. While others, like digital graphics, are best as vectors. Not all files are created equal. Here's a breakdown of each and the different file types that correspond to help you get the right file ready to make your print experience with us as smooth as possible!
Vector Images
Vector images will always be king.
Vector images use math to map out designs vs. having pixels. The benefit of having vector art files is they can be scaled to the size of a skyscraper or as small as the eye can see, and they don’t lose their quality.
Common vector file formats are: .svg, .eps, .pdf, and .ai.
We cannot stress this enough - placing a raster image (see below) into a vector file does NOT make it a vector. Vector images have to be created from the start of making the artwork. If you don’t have a vector file, don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world! (see below)
Raster images:
Raster images are typically photo-based images made of pixels. They have limitations (but time and place to be used) because files can only be made with a fixed number of pixels. Once it’s made, if you need to resize it bigger, you will lose the quality of the image.
Common raster file formats are: .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tiff, and .psd. We can print these for the most part as long as they are very high resolution. Preferably we would want a .png or a file with a transparent background.
Important Note:
Vector images can be placed into a raster image (pixels) easily. Once any vector image or text is saved as a png, it becomes a raster image.
Click here to watch a great video that explains the difference easily.
What type of art files do we need from you?
We can typically use the following files without having to modify them:
Adobe Illustrator (.ai)
Encapsulated PostScript (.eps)
Solid Vector Graphics (.svg)
Portable Document Format (.pdf)
If you don’t have these files, don’t worry. The absolute worst-case scenario is we have a team of graphic artists that can make something awesome for you with your ideas! Get in touch with us to figure out your project.
Print Ready Artwork
Print-ready artwork is a file that has the correct file type, resolution, and dimensions for the print. It must include all fonts and be created at 300 DPI (Dots/Pixels Per Inch) or greater to retain clarity and detail throughout the printing process.
Please note most images on the internet are 72 DPI and do not work for printing without modification or redrawing. The clearer your artwork is from the start, the better the print will look. Besides, let’s get something originally made vs. trying to copy someone else’s hard work!
We have a full team of graphic artists at our disposal that can make you something awesome. Get in touch with your print/embroidery needs and ideas!
What if my graphics are not print ready?
If your graphics are not print-ready, we can always make them ready for you. Depending on how print-ready your design is, we would either trace the artwork as a vector or have our team of graphic artists recreate it from scratch. If the image is high resolution, we will need to review it to ensure we can print it.
If you would like us to make a design from scratch, please include any previous sketches, artwork, or details regarding what you are looking for.