Your designer just sent you a folder with eight files: a .ai, an .eps, an .svg, two .pdf files, a .png and a couple of .jpg files. Then the printer emails back saying “we need the logo in vector, please”. If that sounds familiar, this guide is for you.
Below we explain what a vector file is, how it differs from a raster image, what each of the main vector formats (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) is actually for, and a simple decision table so you always know which file to send, to whom, and when.
What is a vector file?
A vector file is an image built from mathematical formulas rather than pixels. Instead of storing millions of coloured squares, it stores instructions: points on a grid, the lines and curves between them, and the colours that fill them.
Because the artwork is a set of equations, the computer redraws it at any size on demand. That is why a vector logo stays perfectly sharp whether it is 15 mm wide on a business card or 15 metres wide on a building wrap. There is no fixed resolution and no such thing as “zooming in too far”.
A raster image (also called a bitmap) works the opposite way. A JPG, PNG or Photoshop file has a fixed grid of pixels, for example 1920 x 1080. Enlarge it and the software has to invent pixels that were never there, which is why enlarged logos look soft, blurry or blocky.
The one-sentence version
Vector = maths, infinitely scalable, made for logos, print and cutting machines. Raster = pixels, fixed size, made for photos and screens.
Vector vs raster: the practical differences
| Criteria | Vector file | Raster image |
|---|---|---|
| Built from | Points, lines, curves, fills (maths) | A fixed grid of coloured pixels |
| Scaling | Unlimited, always sharp | Loses quality when enlarged |
| Typical formats | AI, EPS, SVG, PDF, CDR, DXF | JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, PSD, WEBP |
| File size | Usually small for flat artwork | Grows fast with resolution |
| Best for | Logos, icons, illustrations, typography, signage, cutting | Photographs, complex textures, screenshots |
| Editing | Colours, shapes and text can be changed cleanly | Editing is destructive and limited |
| Spot colours (Pantone) | Supported | Not reliably |
The main vector formats and when each one is required
All four formats below can contain vector artwork, but they are not interchangeable. Here is what each one is really for.
AI (Adobe Illustrator)
The master working file. This is where your logo was built, with editable layers, live text, artboards and colour swatches. You will rarely send it to anyone except another designer or a print studio that asked for it specifically.
- Use it for: archiving your brand assets, future edits, handing over to a new agency.
- Do not: put it on a website, email it to a client, or expect a non-designer to open it.
- Business rule: if you paid for a logo, you should own the AI file. Ask for it before the project closes.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
The universal print exchange format. It is an older standard, but almost every print shop, sign maker, embroiderer and promotional-goods supplier can open one. It is the file most suppliers mean when they say “send us a vector”.
- Use it for: screen printing, embroidery digitising, vinyl cutting, banners, vehicle wraps, trade-show stands.
- Watch out for: fonts. Always ask your designer to convert text to outlines before sending an EPS, otherwise the supplier’s machine may substitute a random font.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
The web vector format. SVG is plain code that browsers read natively, so your logo and icons stay razor sharp on every screen, including high-density displays, and the file weighs a few kilobytes.
- Use it for: website logos, icons, illustrations, favicons, email signatures on modern platforms, animation and CSS colour changes.
- Bonus: SVG helps page speed and Core Web Vitals, which supports your SEO.
- Do not: send an SVG to a printer as your only file. Some print workflows still choke on it.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
The everyday delivery format. A PDF can be vector, raster, or both, which is exactly why it confuses people. A PDF exported from Illustrator or InDesign with “preserve editing capabilities” keeps the vector data intact. A PDF made by scanning a printed sheet contains nothing but pixels.
- Use it for: sending artwork to anyone, print-ready files (brochures, packaging, business cards), approval rounds.
- Test: open the PDF and zoom to 1600%. Still crisp edges? Vector. Blurry blocks? Raster in a PDF wrapper.
Other formats you may encounter
- CDR: CorelDRAW’s native file. Common in signage and engraving shops.
- DXF / DWG: used by CNC routers, laser cutters and CAD workflows.
- EPS vs PS: both PostScript based, but EPS is the one suppliers ask for.
Which file do I send? The decision table
| What you need to do | Send this file | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Logo on your website header | SVG (PNG fallback) | Sharp on every screen, tiny file size |
| Business cards, flyers, brochures | Print-ready PDF | Vector text, CMYK, bleed and crop marks |
| Roll-up banner, billboard, vehicle wrap | EPS or PDF | Scales to any size with zero quality loss |
| T-shirts and screen printing | EPS or AI, text outlined | Each colour must be separated into a plate |
| Embroidery on polos or caps | EPS or AI | The digitiser converts clean paths into stitches |
| Vinyl lettering, window graphics, laser cutting | EPS, SVG or DXF | The machine follows the vector cut path |
| Social media profile picture and posts | PNG or JPG | Platforms only accept raster uploads |
| Slide decks and Word documents | PNG (transparent) | Reliable across Office and Google apps |
| Photo on any medium | High-resolution JPG or TIFF | Photos are raster by nature and cannot be vectorised well |
| Brand archive / new agency handover | AI plus EPS, SVG, PDF | Complete, future-proof source files |
How to check whether a file is really vector
You do not need design software to run these three checks:
- Check the extension. JPG, PNG, GIF and WEBP are never vector. No exceptions.
- Zoom aggressively. Open the PDF or SVG and zoom to 1000% or more. Vector edges stay perfectly clean. Raster edges turn into fuzzy squares.
- Look at the file size. A simple two-colour logo that weighs 4 MB is very likely a raster image saved inside a vector-looking container.
Important trap: renaming a file does not convert it. Changing logo.png to logo.eps produces a broken file, not a vector. Likewise, dropping a JPG into Illustrator and saving as AI simply embeds the pixels.
How do you get a vector file?
There are three realistic routes:
- Ask the original designer. Fastest and cheapest. The source file already exists; you just need it exported.
- Have it redrawn (manual vectorisation). A designer rebuilds the logo path by path from your best available image. This gives clean, print-perfect results and correct brand colours.
- Auto-trace tools. Illustrator’s Image Trace and various online converters can turn a bitmap into vector shapes automatically. Fine for a quick draft; usually messy for a real logo, with wobbly curves, stray anchor points and off-brand colours. Always have the result checked before printing.
Free and paid software that creates vectors includes Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Affinity Designer, Figma and the free Inkscape.
The brand file pack every business should own in 2026
If you take one action after reading this, make it this one. Email your designer and request a complete logo pack containing:
- AI master file (layers intact, editable text)
- EPS with text converted to outlines, for suppliers and printers
- SVG for your website and apps
- Vector PDF for everyday sharing and print
- PNG with transparent background, in a few sizes, for digital use
- Each of the above in full colour, single colour black, and reversed white
- Your colour codes: Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX
- The font names and licence details
Store the pack in cloud storage with a clear folder structure. It will save you money and delays every single time you order print, merchandise or a new website.
Common mistakes we see every week
- Sending a screenshot of a logo taken from a website to a sign maker.
- Assuming a large PNG is “good enough” for a 6 metre banner. It is not.
- Losing the AI file when changing agency, then paying to redraw the logo.
- Forgetting to outline fonts, which causes substituted typefaces at print.
- Using RGB colours for print jobs and being surprised by dull results.
- Trying to vectorise a photograph. Photos stay raster.
FAQ: what is a vector file
Is a PNG a vector file?
No. PNG is a raster format made of pixels. It supports transparency, which is why it looks like a “clean logo file”, but it has a fixed resolution and blurs when enlarged. PNG is for screens, not for large-format print.
Is a PDF considered a vector file?
Sometimes. A PDF is a container. If it was exported from vector software it holds true vector artwork. If it contains a scan or an embedded photo it is raster inside. Zoom to 1600% to check before sending it to a printer.
What is an example of a vector file?
The classic examples are AI, EPS, SVG and vector PDF. In practice, a company logo, an icon set, a map, a technical drawing or a cut file for vinyl lettering are all typically vector. See adobe.com for their take.
How do I make a vector file?
Create or redraw the artwork in vector software such as Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Affinity Designer or the free Inkscape, then export as AI, EPS, SVG or PDF. Converting an existing bitmap requires tracing, either automatically (fast, imprecise) or manually by a designer (clean, print-ready).
What is a vector file saved as?
Most commonly .ai, .eps, .svg or .pdf. Specialist workflows also use .cdr (CorelDRAW) and .dxf (cutting and CAD machines).
Can a vector file contain a photograph?
It can embed one, but the photo itself stays raster and will not scale any better. A vector file that contains an embedded JPG is not a true vector file for print purposes.
Why does my printer refuse a JPG logo?
Because JPG has a fixed resolution, compresses edges, cannot hold Pantone colours and offers no transparency. Enlarging it for signage produces visible artefacts. A vector file solves all four problems at once.
Need your logo in vector?
If you only have a PNG or a JPG of your logo, our team at PixelBright can redraw it by hand into a clean, scalable vector and deliver the full brand pack: AI, EPS, SVG, PDF and PNG, in every colour variation, ready for web, print and signage. Get in touch and send us the best version of your logo you have.