ACCEPTABLE FILE FORMATS

Q: What type of file do we need?

A: File format depends upon the process used to create the sign: solid colors and shapes require a vector file. Photos, shadings, or gradients require a raster file.

Only PC format vector and raster files can be used. Please follow the guidelines
below for each format.

DIGITAL FILE TYPES
(an example image is provided below)

Vector Files

"Drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator create vector graphics, made of lines and curves defined by mathematical objects called vectors. Vectors describe graphics according to their geometric characteristics. For example, a bicycle tire in a vector graphic is made up of a mathematical definition of a circle drawn with a certain radius, set at a specific location, and filled with a specific color. You can move, resize, or change the color of the tire without losing the quality of the graphic.

A vector graphic is resolution-independent—that is, it can be scaled to any size and printed on any output device at any resolution without losing its detail or clarity. As a result, vector graphics are the best choice for type (especially small type) and bold graphics that must retain crisp lines when scaled to various sizes—for example, logos..."

Raster Images

"Paint and image-editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, generate bitmap images, also called raster images. The images use a grid (also known as a bitmap or raster) of small squares, known as pixels, to represent graphics. Each pixel in a bitmap image has a specific location and color value assigned to it. For example, a bicycle tire in a bitmap image is made up of a collection of pixels in that location, with each pixel part of a mosaic that gives the appearance of a tire. When working with bitmap images, you edit pixels rather than objects or shapes.

Bitmap images are the most common electronic medium for continuous-tone images, such as photographs or images created in painting programs, because they can represent subtle gradations of shades and color. Bitmap images are resolution dependent—that is, they represent a fixed number of pixels. As a result, they can appear jagged and lose detail if they are scaled on-screen or if they are printed at a higher resolution than they were created for."

- Excerpts from Adobe Illustrator Help File

Notes:
Files that started as a low resolution file increased to a high resolution will not work well. An original high resolution file is required.
We generally cannot accept files downloaded from the internet as the files are normally created as low resolution files (72 dpi) and is not acceptable quality for sign production.
All vector files should be converted to outlines/paths or curves unless the fonts are supplied with the file.

Example of a logo in both Vector and Raster formats

Vector

Logo is composed of mathematical points and lines which can be
manipulated, filled with color and resized without loss of quality.

Raster

Logo is composed of invidivdual pixels and can't be resized without a loss
in quality, giving the image a "stairstepped appearance".