What is a vector file?

A vector file is a type of digital image that’s built from mathematical paths—lines, curves, and shapes—rather than pixels.

How it works

• Instead of storing colors for each tiny square (like a JPEG or PNG does), it stores formulas for the shapes.
• That means you can scale it infinitely—make it the size of a postage stamp or a billboard—without losing crispness. No blur, no pixelation.

Common uses

• Logos, icons, and illustrations that need resizing for different formats.
• Print materials like posters, stickers, or T-shirts, where sharp edges matter.

File types

• .AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• .SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics, web-friendly)
• .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript, often used in print)
• .PDF (can contain vector data, though not always exclusively)

If you’ve ever zoomed way in on a JPEG and seen the blocky squares, vector files dodge that fate. They stay smooth no matter how close you get.

Vector vs. Raster in Printing

• Raster files (JPEG, PNG, TIFF): These are made of pixels. For printing, you need them at a high resolution (300 DPI or more). If the file is too small, it looks blurry when enlarged.
• Vector files (AI, SVG, EPS, some PDFs): Since they’re math-based, there’s no resolution limit. Printers can scale them up or down and the lines stay razor sharp.

Where it matters

• Logos, text, and line drawings → should almost always be vector, so they print crisp at any size.
• Paintings and photographs → these are raster by nature (you can’t describe watercolor texture with math). Even if you save them “as a vector,” they’ll just be embedded rasters. So for your art prints, high-res TIFF or PNG is the way to go.

When you might need vector

• If you design your own branding (logo, signature mark, packaging elements).
• If you combine your hand-drawn painting with graphic text or shapes for a brochure, postcard, or sticker.

Your paintings live best in raster, but your shop’s branding and marketing elements benefit from vector. 

Archival Grade Printing – Perfect for artists and photographers who want museum-quality prints with exceptional color accuracy.

Stationery Printing – Great for everyday prints, greeting cards, postcards, or branded materials.