What is a vector file?

29 July 2024 - Reading time 3 min. - Floris de Bruin

Marketing & Design Tutorials & Explanation

For printing and engraving tableware or glassware, the right logo file is very important. Which logo files should be supplied for the ideal printing or engraving? As you can imagine, it makes little sense to supply a very blurred file with few pixels. The ideal file for printing or engraving contains no pixels at all; this is also called a vector file.

What is a vector file?

A vector file is a file in which the shapes are based on mathematical shapes and equations. Vector files are known for allowing you to zoom in infinitely without the image becoming blurred. A vectorised file can therefore be very small and very large. For example, a vector file can be used very small as a logo for on a pen, while it can also be used as a huge logo for on a billboard along the motorway.

A vector is a path and has a beginning and an end, with other points in between. When you zoom in on a vector file, the mathematical equations are recalculated so that the image remains sharp, making working with vector files ideal for designers.

What vector files are there?

There are lots of different vector files. These are the best-known forms:

.PDF (Portable Document Format)
.eps (Encapsulated PostScript)
.SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic).
.AI (Adobe Illustrator)

All these files can be used by Riké when creating a design for your printed glassware or tableware. We will be happy to help you with this!

Why is a vector file useful?

A vector file can be used for lots of different things, but is mainly used when designing logos. The purpose of a logo is to let the world know who your company/agency is and what it contributes to the world. Logos are distributed in many different ways, for example on vans, on office buildings or on corporate gifts such as pens, water bottles or caps that have logos on them.

So all these logos originate from vector files and are essential in the design world. Therefore, it is also important to know what a vector file is and what it is used for.

Difference from a raster image

A raster image is a file consisting of a specific number of square pixels. These on the also small pixels make up the image as a whole. When zooming in on a raster file, the pixels get bigger and bigger, making the image increasingly blurred. So the main difference between a raster file and a vector file is that a vector file remains infinitely sharp, whereas a raster file becomes increasingly blurred when zoomed in.

How does Riké use vector files?

Riké uses vector files when making proofs. It is sometimes possible for a raster file to be supplied by the customer and for us to convert it to a vector file. However, this is usually not possible as raster files are usually too blurred.

A blurred file cannot be printed or engraved on our products. Therefore, it is convenient to supply a vector file, which ensures that the quality of the image is always good. If a file is sharp enough, we can create a design for you and develop your order into a beautiful result! Thus, sending the right files can help the smoothness of the order process.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We will be happy to inform you and can create a design for you. When creating a design, we are happy to think with you and see whether engraving or printing is the best option. Request a quote or a digital proof and receive it within one working day!