🎨 What Are Vector and Raster Files?

If you’ve ever tried to print a logo and it turned out blurry, or your designer asked for a vector version and you weren’t sure what that meant — this guide is for you.

At Replica Print, we work with both vector and raster files every day, and knowing the difference can save you time, money, and headaches when it comes to professional printing.

🔹 Vector Files (Best for Print)

Vector files are made from paths, lines, curves and shapes that are mathematically scalable. That means no matter how large you stretch the design — whether it’s on a business card or a billboard — it will stay crisp and clean.

You can edit vector files easily, change colours, scale them infinitely, and maintain quality at any size.

Common vector file types:

  • .AI – Adobe Illustrator’s native format. Ideal for logos and illustrations.
  • .EPS – A versatile format widely accepted by printers. Great for sending vector artwork to press.
  • .PDF – When saved from vector software like Illustrator or InDesign, PDFs retain vector quality and are perfect for final print.
  • .SVG – Often used for web graphics but still great for logos and line art in print when saved correctly.

✅ Use vector files for logos, icons, text-based graphics, and anything that needs to be sharp at any size.

🔸 Raster Files (Resolution-Dependent)

Raster files (also called bitmap files) are made up of pixels — thousands (or millions) of tiny coloured squares that form an image. If you stretch them too large, they become blurry or “pixelated.”

Raster files are great for photography and complex artwork, but they need to be the correct resolution (300dpi minimum) for print.

Common raster file types:

  • .JPG / .JPEG – Most common image format. Good for photos, but not logos. Must be high-resolution for print.
  • .PNG – Supports transparent backgrounds. Ideal for digital use, but usually RGB and not recommended for print unless converted.
  • .PSD – Adobe Photoshop’s layered format. Great for editing images but not a print-ready file on its own.
  • .TIFF – High-quality raster file often used in photography. Large file sizes but excellent image retention.

⚠️ Raster images must be designed at the correct size and resolution. You can’t just “enlarge” them later.

🖨️ Why It Matters for Printing

When you print a design, especially something like a logo, signage, or a large-format poster, the file format directly impacts how good the result looks.

  • A vector logo will print sharp on everything from pens to vans.
  • A raster logo pulled from a website will likely look blurry or jagged, especially when enlarged.
  • Photos need to be 300dpi minimum — anything lower will degrade quality.

That’s why Replica Print always recommends using vector formats for artwork and high-resolution raster files for photography.

📤 Not Sure What File Type You Have?

We can check it for you! Just send us your file, and we’ll tell you if it’s suitable for print, or help you convert it into a usable format.

We also offer vector redraw services — perfect if you only have a low-res JPG of your logo and want it looking clean and professional for future print use.

✅ Final Tips

  • Always design your logos and icons in vector software like Adobe Illustrator
  • Never pull logos from websites — they’re usually low-resolution JPGs
  • Export PDFs from vector software to maintain scalability
  • When using raster images (like photos), make sure they’re at 300dpi at actual size
  • Save layered artwork (like PSDs) separately from print-ready files

👋 Need Help with Print-Ready Artwork?

At Replica Print, we work with hundreds of clients across Southport and the North West to ensure their files are always press-ready. Whether you’re printing menus, posters, flyers or branded materials, we’ll make sure your graphics come out looking flawless.

📩 Send your file today for a free artwork check – and let’s get printing.