Table Cloth Logo Format

What is a vector?

A vector is a graphic that is made with points, lines, and curves, often with the aid of programs such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW and the pen tool. These lines are important because they are interpreted mathematically and can be enlarged infinitely without reduction in quality. To put this in perspective, you can print a high-quality image on a sheet of paper or something as large as a billboard and it will still be clear and high-quality.

Note that the original vector format is typically found with an .EPS or .AI extension.

How is this different from other picture formats (such as JPG, PNG, or GIF)?

Most other picture formats that you are probably familiar with are in a raster format. Raster formats are based on pixels and screen resolution rather than mathematics, which means that when they are enlarged or if you zoom in far enough, they become heavily distorted and pixilated. The size of JPG, PNG, and GIF files determines the exact size it will print at -- For example, if you only have a 2” JPG image of your logo, it cannot be blown up to 28” without becoming very blurry and almost indistinguishable.

Can I just save a raster image (such as a JPG, PNG, or GIF) in a vector (EPS/AI) format?

No. This will not produce the same results as having the original, mathematical lines intact from the original creation. As a rule, you may save an original vector format as a raster (JPG/GIF/PNG/etc), but not the other way around.

What if I cannot find the original vector format?

You may have an easier time finding a PDF of your logo instead. The PDF format supports both vector and raster images, so it is likely that your PDF may have the vector lines we need -- this would be the next best format to having an original .EPS or .AI format.

What if I only have a JPG/PNG file?