Logo and artwork

For printing, it is best to send the logo as a vector file. A vector logo stays sharp at any size, from the barrel of a pen to the side of a bag. If you do not have a vector logo, a PNG or JPG image may also be enough.

Which file is suitable for printing

In a vector file, the logo is saved as lines and shapes. This means it can be enlarged or reduced to any size and the edges stay sharp. Common vector file formats are AI, EPS, SVG and PDF. In a PDF file, it is best to convert the text to outlines so that the font does not change when the file is opened on another computer.

PNG and JPG are pixel images: they are made up of pixels, that is, small image points. A pixel image works at its own size or smaller, but when it is enlarged, its edges become blurred or jagged. A screenshot is rarely suitable for printing because it has too few pixels.

The file extension alone does not tell you whether the logo is in vector format, because a PDF or EPS file may also contain a pixel image. You can check this by zooming in on the logo on screen: the edges of a vector logo stay sharp.

How to attach your logo to a quote request

You can attach up to 3 files to a quote request in PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PNG or JPG format, and each file can be up to 10 MB. The form does not accept other files, for example word processor documents. If you send several files, state in your message which file is for which product.

Most products are printed with a logo, and in that case only a logo file is needed. If a whole image is printed on the product, for example on a roll-up or a flag, print-ready artwork is needed, that is, a file of the correct size that can be printed as it is.

The artwork can also be sent later, so you can request a quote even if the logo is not yet ready.

If you do not have a vector logo

Send the file you have, for example a PNG or JPG image as large as possible. We will check whether its resolution is sufficient for printing.

A vector logo can often be found from the logo's designer or in the company's brand guidelines. You can also ask a print shop that has previously made the company's business cards or signs.

Colours

You get an exact shade when the colours of the logo are given as PMS codes. PMS colours are numbered ink colours in the Pantone system, so the code allows the shade to be reproduced accurately. CMYK is four-colour printing in which all shades are formed from four colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Not all PMS colours can be matched exactly with CMYK colours.

The PMS and CMYK values of the logo can usually be found in the company's brand guidelines. Please state them in the quote request, because the same colour looks different on different screens.

The print included in the price is one-colour and is made in one position. For this, a one-colour version of the logo is needed, for example entirely black or white. If the logo is printed in several colours, the additional colours are priced in the quote.

Small details

In a small print area, thin lines and small text may not stand out. On the barrel of a pen, the print area, that is, the area reserved for the logo, may be for example 45 x 5 mm, and on a keyring 20 x 15 mm. If the product information includes a print area, it shows how large the logo can be printed.

The same applies to pad printing (printing with a soft pad onto a curved surface) and embroidery, in which the logo is stitched onto fabric: not all small details are reproduced accurately. For ballpoint pens and keyrings, it is therefore advisable to choose a simple version of the logo, for example without a small slogan.

Proof

A print proof is made for every order, showing the position, size and colours of the logo. Production starts once the proof has been approved. Also check the texts and numbers on the proof, for example the telephone number and web address. If anything needs to be corrected, tell us before you approve the proof.

The lead time is counted from the approval of the proof. Typical lead times and the other steps of an order are described on the page How to order.

Rights

According to the terms of delivery, the customer is responsible for ensuring that the material to be printed is correct and that they have the right to use and print it. For example, printing the logo of another company or organisation requires the permission of its owner. The same applies to photographs and drawings whose rights belong to someone else.

Frequently asked questions

Is PNG a vector format?

No. PNG is a pixel image like JPG, even if its background is transparent. A large PNG image may be enough for a small print, but it cannot be enlarged without the edges becoming blurred.

What is a vectorised logo?

A vectorised logo has been converted from a pixel image to vector format. Usually the shapes of the logo are redrawn as lines and curves. A vectorised logo can be enlarged and reduced without loss of quality, and it is saved, for example, in AI, EPS, SVG or PDF format.

What is a PMS colour?

A PMS colour is a colour in the Pantone colour system with its own code, for example PMS 485 C. From the code, the printer knows exactly which shade is wanted, and the colour does not have to be judged from a screen.

Is Pantone the same as PMS?

In practice, yes. PMS comes from the words Pantone Matching System, which is the colour system of the company Pantone. In printing, a Pantone colour and a PMS colour mean the same thing.