Supplying Artwork for Print: Which File Format Should You Send?

SUPPLYING ARTWORK FOR PRINT: WHICH FILE FORMAT SHOULD YOU SEND?

PDF, EPS, SVG or JPEG? Supplying the correct artwork helps us reproduce your branding accurately, maintain a sharp finish and avoid unnecessary delays before production begins.

If you are not familiar with artwork formats, there is no need to worry. Send us the best files you have and our design team will check them before anything enters production. However, understanding a few basic differences can make the process much smoother.

VECTOR ARTWORK: THE BEST OPTION FOR LOGOS

Where possible, logos, lettering and illustrations should be supplied as vector artwork.

Unlike an ordinary image, a vector graphic is constructed from shapes and paths rather than pixels. This means it can be enlarged from a business card to the side of a building or commercial vehicle without losing quality.

Common vector file formats include:

• PDF
• EPS
• AI
• SVG

A vector PDF is often the most convenient format, but simply saving a low-resolution image as a PDF does not make it vector. The quality of the original artwork remains unchanged.

If your logo was originally created by a graphic designer, they may already have supplied a vector version. It is worth checking your original branding folder or contacting the person who created it.

WHAT ABOUT JPEG AND PNG FILES?

JPEG and PNG files are made from pixels, so their quality depends on their original dimensions and resolution. They can work well for photographs, textures and printed imagery, provided the file is large enough for the finished application.

Problems arise when a small image has been copied from a website, social media page, email signature or screenshot. It may look acceptable on a phone or computer screen but become blurred or pixelated when enlarged.

For the best result:

• Send the original image rather than a screenshot
• Choose the largest available file
• Avoid repeatedly saving or compressing JPEG images
• Do not enlarge a small image before sending it
• Send photographs at their original camera resolution

PNG files are useful when a transparent background is required, but they are not automatically suitable for large-format production. The overall resolution still needs to be checked.

FONTS AND LETTERING

If you are supplying completed artwork, any fonts used should either be embedded within the file or converted to outlines.

Converting text to outlines changes the lettering into vector shapes. This prevents the font from being substituted or displaying differently when the file is opened on another computer.

If the text needs to remain editable, please supply the font files or let us know the exact typeface used. Remember to check that you have permission to share and reproduce any commercially licensed fonts.

LINKED IMAGES AND GRAPHICS

Design files created in programmes such as Adobe Illustrator may contain images that are linked from another location rather than stored inside the document.

If those linked files are not included, they may appear as missing when we open the artwork. Images should therefore be embedded within the document or supplied separately alongside the main artwork file.

A packaged artwork folder containing the design file, images and fonts is particularly helpful for more complex projects.

COLOUR MATCHING

Colours displayed on a monitor can vary significantly between different screens and may not exactly represent the final printed result.

Where accurate brand colours are important, please provide any available Pantone, CMYK, RGB, HEX or RAL references. Pantone and RAL references are especially useful when printed graphics need to coordinate with existing paintwork, signage or other branded materials.

We will prepare artwork using the most appropriate colour settings for production, but printed colour, vinyl colour, paint and illuminated signage can each reproduce colour differently.

ARTWORK SIZE, SCALE AND BLEED

Ideally, artwork should be created at the final production size. For very large projects, it may instead be supplied at a clearly stated scale, such as 10%.

Any required bleed, overlaps, panel divisions or cutting paths will depend on the type of product being produced. A business card, wall covering, sign panel and vehicle wrap all require different preparation.

If you are unsure, it is usually better to send the original editable artwork before adding your own crop marks, bleed or panel divisions. Our team can prepare the production file according to the final measurements and installation method.

FILES TO AVOID WHERE POSSIBLE

The following can create problems when enlarged or prepared for production:

• Screenshots of logos
• Images downloaded from social media
• Graphics copied from websites
• Logos contained only within Word documents
• Photographs of printed business cards or letterheads
• Low-resolution JPEG files saved as PDFs
• Artwork with missing fonts or linked images

These files may still provide a useful visual reference, but the artwork could require recreation before it can be produced to an acceptable standard.

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE SUITABLE ARTWORK?

Not every customer has access to original design files—particularly when a logo has been in use for many years.

Where possible, our design team can recreate existing graphics as clean, production-ready vector artwork. We can also develop new artwork from an initial idea, rough sketch or supplied branding material.

If recreation or additional design work is required, we will explain this before production begins.

OUR QUICK ARTWORK CHECKLIST

Before sending your files, check that:

• Logos are supplied as vector PDF, EPS, AI or SVG files where possible
• Photographs are provided at the highest available resolution
• Fonts are embedded, outlined or supplied separately
• All linked images are embedded or included
• Any important colour references have been provided
• Finished dimensions or intended use are clearly stated
• Names, telephone numbers, web addresses and other wording are correct

Every design will be presented for approval before production, but supplying complete and accurate information at the beginning helps the project progress more efficiently.

STILL UNSURE WHAT TO SEND?

Send us the best artwork you have along with a description of what you need. The Eagle Signs team will assess the files, explain whether they are suitable and advise on the next step.

Good production begins with correctly prepared artwork—and we are here to make sure your project starts in the right format.