Artwork Guidelines

One of the most important aspects of your order is the transition of your logo
from you to us and ultimately onto the product(s) ordered.

Ideally, we like to receive customers' art in a computer format that includes
pantone colours. Acceptable file formats are coreldraw, illustrator or eps; but we
can usually deal with graphics produced in most other software applications.

 

Realistically, we understand that most people rarely have to deal with computerized
graphic design file formats. Rest assured that if your logo exists only on a business
card or even as a concept drawn on a napkin, our graphic department will work wonders.

 

Vector Art
A vector file contains the information for creating lines; an equation that includes both direction and velocity. Using these coordinates, the computer can draw a line from point A to point B, creating a proper curve. Vector files can be enlarged without distortion because the computer simply recomputes the coordinates. There are several file extensions associated with this type of art: AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS (Encapsulated Postscript), CDW (CorelDraw) and others. It is helpful to know whether you should submit Windows or Mac based art, as the file types do vary. Windows can only understand file extensions that contain three characters. So AI, for example, could only be read by a Mac.

 

Bitmap Art
Bitmap files are nothing like vector files. They consist of a series of numbers that represent coordinates within the image area's grid, and the color for that pixel. Pixels are the tiny dots on your computer screen that light up and create everything you see. A line from a bitmap file might look something like this: (62, 19, 64). The first two numbers represent the coordinates on the grid, and the third number represents the color for that pixel. Unlike vector art, bitmap files cannot be enlarged without losing image quality. The current industry standard for bitmap resolution is 300 dots per inch, or dpi, at full size or greater. Common file extensions associated with bitmap files are TIF, BMP, GIF and JPEG.

 

What is NOT Acceptable

While it helps to understand why types of art are acceptable, it is just as valuable to understand what is not usable. Photocopies, faxes, business cards or any other printed materials are never acceptable as art. PDF, DOC, PUB and TXT are all unusable file extensions.

 

Any art related question may be directed to RJ at: art@edgecombes.com