If you have ever sent a logo to a printer, sign writer or embroiderer, you have probably been asked for a "vector file". Many small businesses only have a JPG from an old website or a screenshot from social media. This guide explains what vectorising a logo means, how vector and raster files differ, when you actually need one, and what it usually costs.
Vector vs raster: the simple version
There are two main ways to store an image.
- Raster images are made of pixels, tiny squares of colour. Photos, JPGs, PNGs and WEBPs are raster. They have a fixed number of pixels, so if you enlarge them too far they go blurry or blocky.
- Vector images are made of shapes described by maths: points, lines and curves. SVG, AI, EPS and many PDFs are vector formats. Because the shapes are recalculated at any size, a vector logo looks sharp on a business card and on a billboard.
| Raster | Vector | |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | Pixels | Points, lines and curves |
| Common files | JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF | SVG, AI, EPS, PDF |
| Enlarging | Loses quality past its size | Stays sharp at any size |
| Best for | Photos, detailed artwork | Logos, text, flat graphics |
A quick test: zoom right in on your logo. If the edges turn into steps or fuzz, it is raster.
What vectorising a logo means
To vectorise a logo is to convert a raster image into clean vector shapes. There are two ways it gets done.
- Auto tracing. Software such as Illustrator's Image Trace, Inkscape or free online converters guess where the shapes are. This can work for simple, high contrast logos. On low resolution or complex files it often creates wobbly edges, lumpy curves and far too many points.
- Manual redraw. A designer rebuilds the logo by hand using the original as a guide. Curves are smooth, lines are straight, and the fonts are matched or recreated. This takes longer but gives a file you can use for years.
Be aware that just saving or exporting a JPG as an SVG or PDF does not make it vector. The pixels are simply wrapped inside a new file type.
When you need a vector logo
You do not always need one. Here is where it matters most:
- Signs, vehicle graphics and vinyl cutting. Cutters follow vector paths, so raster files will not work.
- Large prints. Banners and big posters need artwork that can scale without losing quality.
- Embroidery. A digitiser works best from clean vector artwork. See embroidery digitising explained.
- Screen printing. Separating colours into screens is much easier from vector.
- Brand consistency. One master file keeps your logo looking the same everywhere.
For DTF printing, you do not strictly need vector. DTF is printed from a high resolution image, and a transparent PNG at 300 DPI at the final print size works well. The problem is that a small or blurry logo cannot be fixed by DTF. If your only copy is a 400 pixel JPG, vectorising and exporting a fresh high resolution PNG is the cleanest fix. Our guide to artwork for DTF printing covers file prep in more detail.
How much does it cost to vectorise a logo?
Prices vary with complexity and who does the work. As a general guide:
- Free auto tracing tools cost nothing but suit only very simple logos, and the results often need cleaning up.
- Online marketplaces range from a few dollars to much more. Quality and turnaround vary a lot, and you may be dealing with someone in a different time zone.
- Local designers often charge an hourly rate. A simple redraw may be quick, while detailed illustrations, badges or hand lettering take longer.
Things that push the price up include fine detail, gradients, custom lettering, many colours and very poor quality source images.
At Mocked Up, a logo redraw is $25. You get a transparent 300 DPI PNG plus an SVG or PDF vector where the artwork allows. You receive a proof within 2 business days, with 2 rounds of changes included, and you own the finished design. Payment is upfront.
What to send your designer
- The largest, clearest version of the logo you can find.
- Font names if you know them.
- Brand colours, ideally as hex or Pantone codes.
- Any changes you want made while it is being redrawn.
Once you have your vector file, keep it somewhere safe and send it to every supplier who asks. It saves money and time on every job after that.
Need it done?
Send us your logo through the logo redraw service and get back a print-ready vector and PNG. Then put it on a tee with our custom apparel designer or add it to a gang sheet.