Why Vector Files are Preferred for Label Printing
There are two main categories of image types: raster and vector. Each have their place, but vector is preferred in printing (particularly for text). Raster images are – at their most basic level – made up of individual pixels or little squares of colors and shades.
Common raster file types are .jpg, .gif, .tif, and .bmp. Most pictures you’ll find on the web are in these formats and have low resolutions. These lower resolution images do not print well. It’s possible to find high resolution images of 300 dpi (dots per inch), which means there is more detail and better quality for printing. We only recommend high-resolution images for label artwork.
All vector art is high-resolution because vector art is created mathematically without the use of pixels. Rather than using fixed pixels to display art, vector files mathematically represent the relationships between points and the paths connecting them. Some examples of vector file types are .ai, .cdr, .fh, and .eps. It’s possible to place rasterized images in vector art and we can accept these files for label artwork as long as the placed images have high resolutions.
