When you’re selecting the right promotional product, it can be easy to forget all the other details that are part of the ordering process. It’s not hard to understand why. After all, with so many products to choose from, who has time to think about anything else?
Unfortunately, choosing the right water bottle or click pen is only half the battle. Ultimately, your imprinted item is only as good as the artwork you use in the design.
Not to worry! These easy-to-follow guidelines will ensure that your next promotional product order is a rousing success!
accepted file formats
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator CC or Earlier (Vector)
Adobe Illustrator is best for spot color logos and text on apparel, water bottles, pins, and many other popular promotional products. Illustrator is also the program that we use in-house to process your artwork. Files from Adobe Illustrator should be saved with an .AI or .EPS extension with the fonts converted to outlines or included on your flash drive/e-mail/etc. If images are placed in the file, the original images must be included as separate files when you send us your artwork. Please note: Placing Photoshop images in Illustrator does not automatically make them vector images.
CDR
Freehand and CorelDRAW (Vector)
Freehand and CorelDRAW are also best for spot color logos and text on your promotional products. However, it should be noted that the more gradients you use in these programs, the more time it will take for us to process your artwork. Files from Freehand or CorelDRAW should be saved with the file extensions .FH or .CDR, with fonts converted to outlines. If images are placed in the file, please include the originals as separate files when you send us your artwork.
Quark
Quark
Quark works well for combined graphics created from multiple image files, kind of like a big multi-format stew. Files from this program are best sent full-size with all images created from any other program (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) and fonts included as separate files. You can do this by selecting “File” and then “Collect for Output.”
Photoshop
Photoshop CC or Earlier (Raster)
Since Photoshop creates raster images, it is best for photos. You should only use Photoshop for items that can accept photo transfers for printing or will be printed with HiRes AccuColor or full color Process (also called digital printing, CMYK printing, and full color printing). Products often printed with four color processing include mouse pads, magnets, and custom can koozies.
In order for your raster artwork to work, it is best to send it with an .EPS, .PSD, or .TIF extension, 100% or larger than your imprint size, and at a resolution of at least 600 dpi. Images at any lower resolution will create pixelated, jagged edges!
If there are any halftones in your image, we will not accept .BMP files. We will accept .JPEG, .JPG, and .GIF files. Be warned, however, that those file types will require massive cleanup 98% of the time, which will cost you time and money!
If you want an even more detailed breakdown of how to select the right file format, check out the handy video below!
Accepted, but not recommended
JPG
Low-Resolution Image Files like .JPEG and .GIF
Some of the files for saving artwork end up looking blurry and unclear when they’re printed on promotional products. These include low-resolution image file formats, like .JPEG and .GIF, as well as file formats not made for art programs, like .DOC and .PPT files. Art submitted in any of these file formats might have to be redrawn or recreated. While we will accept these files, it may affect the processing time of your order. Please also note that depending on the size and quality of the image, we may or may not be able to use images or logos saved from a website. We’re here to make sure your artwork is printed at the best possible quality and that you receive top-notch promotional products every time!
Document
Extensions from Office Software
.TXT, .PPT, and .DOC: These files are extensions from office software and cannot be opened in our graphics program. Most of these cases will require art re-creation.
Re-creating your art from these files may add to your order’s processing time, but the good news is that the Quality Logo Products Art Team can do this for you at no extra charge!
File formats that are not acceptable
AutoCAD and PageMaker. Files from these programs are incompatible with most of the software we use internally.
What’s the difference between vector and raster?
Unlike vector images, which are created using mathematical formulas, raster images are made up of pixels. When raster images are resized, there is a loss of resolution and crispness. That’s why images saved as file formats like .JPEG and .GIF may have to be redrawn by our artists before they can be printed on your promotional products. Only high-resolution raster images (300 dpi at full size) can be used “as is.” Raster images work best for printing with four-color processing (also known as digital printing, CMYK printing, and full color printing).
Simply compare these vector and raster images to see why we prefer vectored artwork for your imprint. The vectored version of our logo is on the left, you can see that the image is crisp and clear at any size or magnification.
How do I send my artwork?
Let’s get started!
Got your artwork all sorted out and in the correct file format? When you’re ready to submit your artwork, it’s best to send your artwork via email. If your file exceeds 15 MB, please contact customer service at (866) 312-5646 and ask for help logging into our FTP so you can transfer your artwork files faster and easier. Please note: in addition to the formats listed above, we also accept IBM zipped (without the self-extracting program) and Mac stuffed files.