As a general rule of thumb any artwork for branding would ideally be in a vector format.

Vector based artwork is a digital version of the artwork where the “lines” and “solid colours” used to create the artwork have been reduced to mathematical formulas. The “maths” approach enables the artwork to be easily changed in terms of size, colour, shape, etc.

This is as opposed to a “flat” pixel based artwork such as a photo where the artwork is composed of fixed blocks of colour. It is the size of these blocks which determine the resolution or clarity of the image. Common pixel files include JPEG, GIF, PNG, PSD.

Examples of vector based digital file formats are (AI, EPS, CDR). It should be noted that sometimes PDF’s can contain vector information in the file. It should also be noted that you can paste a flat pixel image such as a jpg into a vector file and save the whole thing as an AI or EPS format. Doing this does NOT change that flat image into a vector format it just changes the overall file format not the contents. It is the equivalent of putting water into a vodka bottle and pretending it is now vodka.

Having said this, some of the branding methods such as embroidery, dye sublimation and digital transfers can utilise flat pixel files. The resolution of these files will have a strong bearing on the quality of the end product.

If you do not convert the font to an outline then a copy of the font file in addition to the artwork file is needed to successfully open the artwork.

Pantone created a library or chart of colours to enable people to easily communicate colours to each other particularly in a commercial environment and especially when a colour is not immediately in front of both people.

This is particularly important in today’s environment where artwork is created on a computer. The colour information in the file looks quite different from one computer to another depending on the display monitor capabilities and settings.

This is then compounded dramatically by moving between two very different colour production systems “light” (computer monitors) and “solids” (inks, dyes, etc).

The moral of the story being that if you want your artwork to be reproduced consistently across different products you need to know your pantone colours.

*Please note that although software such as photoshop allows you to adjust the opacity or transparency of a pantone colour this process effectively creates a brand new colour and defeats the whole point of the pantone colour system.

You do not need to save your artwork to the correct size in the artwork file. You just need to tell us what the finished artwork size you want on the actual garment.

We will make artwork adjustments accordingly when we are setting up the artwork in the conversion process.

We offer a relatively low cost service for artwork to be redrawn/recreated.

There are practical limitations to this (i.e. you can not convert a photo into a vector format.)

Please select the branding method from the drop down menu above for further information on the specifics of what is required for the method of branding that you are considering.