# Vector vs Raster Graphics

Source: https://dijitulmedia.co.uk/compare/vector-vs-raster/
Updated: 2026-10-12

> Vector graphics are built from mathematical paths, so they scale to any size without blurring; raster images are grids of pixels that lose quality when enlarged. Logos, icons and signage should be vector, photographs are raster. dijitul supplies logos in vector formats from £150 + VAT and redraws old raster logos at £45 an hour + VAT.

## Key facts

- Vector formats: AI, EPS, SVG and vector PDF
- Raster formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, PSD
- Vector scales from a business card to a building without losing sharpness
- Raster quality depends on pixel count: about 300 dpi at final size for print
- Sign makers, embroiderers and vinyl cutters need vector artwork
- Auto-traced logos usually need redrawing by hand to look clean at large sizes

## Vector and raster compared

| | Vector | Raster |

| Made of | Points, lines and curves defined mathematically | A fixed grid of coloured pixels |
| Scaling | Any size with no loss | Blurs or pixelates when enlarged |
| Best for | Logos, icons, type, illustrations, signage, cutting | Photographs, textures, painted artwork |
| Common formats | AI, EPS, SVG, vector PDF | JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, PSD |
| Editing | Shapes and colours easy to change | Pixel-level editing, retouching |
| File size | Usually small for simple artwork | Grows with resolution |

A file extension is not proof. A PDF or EPS can contain a raster image, and a PNG saved from a vector file is still raster. Zoom right in: if edges stay crisp at 800%, it is vector.

## Why your logo must be vector

A logo appears at wildly different sizes: 16 px in a browser tab, 30 mm on a business card, two metres on a van, ten metres on a building. Only vector artwork stays sharp across that range. Vector files also allow processes raster cannot: vinyl plotters and laser cutters follow the paths, embroiderers convert paths into stitch files, and screen printers separate each colour onto its own screen.

If your logo only exists as a JPEG from an old website, it will look soft or jagged when printed large. 'Your logo looks blurry when it's printed big' is one of the most common reasons people contact us. The fix is a proper redraw.

## Auto-trace vs redrawing by hand

Software can auto-trace a raster image into vector shapes, and online converters do the same. On simple, high-contrast artwork the result can be acceptable. On most logos it gives wobbly curves, uneven line weights, hundreds of unnecessary anchor points and lettering that is almost but not quite the right font. At business card size you may not notice; on a fascia sign you will.

Redrawing means rebuilding the logo with clean geometry, matching or replacing the typeface, and correcting colours to defined Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX values. dijitul charges £45 an hour + VAT for redraws, or quotes a fixed price after seeing the file. Simple marks take far less time than detailed illustrations.

If the original font cannot be identified, we either find the closest licensed match or redraw the letters as shapes, and we tell you which so you know whether the typeface can be used elsewhere in your branding. Old logos sometimes have small flaws that were invisible at small sizes, such as uneven spacing between letters or a curve that does not quite meet a line. A redraw is a good moment to fix those quietly without changing what people recognise.

## When raster is the right choice

Photographs are raster by nature, and so are textures, painted illustrations and most images on social media. For print, a raster image should be about 300 dpi at the size it will appear; a 3000 × 2000 px photo prints sharply at roughly 25 × 17 cm. Large-format posters and banners viewed from a distance can use lower resolution, often 100 to 150 dpi at final size, but check with your printer.

For screens, choose the format by content: JPEG or WebP for photos, PNG for graphics with sharp edges or transparency, and SVG for logos and icons on websites, because SVG stays sharp on high-resolution screens and is usually tiny in file size. Our CMYK vs RGB page covers colour modes for each.

## What you should have in your logo folder

- Master vector file: AI or EPS
- SVG for websites and digital use
- Vector PDF for printers and sign makers
- PNG files with transparent backgrounds at several sizes
- Full colour, one colour black, and reversed white versions
- A note of your colours in Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX

Every dijitul logo, from £150 + VAT, comes with this set. If you are missing some of it, we can create it from your existing artwork. A brand guidelines document then explains how to use each version.

## FAQs

### Is a PNG a vector file?

No. PNG is a raster format made of pixels, even if it was exported from vector software. It is ideal for web graphics with transparency but will blur when enlarged. Vector formats include AI, EPS, SVG and vector PDF. dijitul supplies logos in both vector and PNG formats.

### Why does my logo look blurry when printed?

Usually because it is a low-resolution raster file, such as a JPEG taken from a website, being enlarged beyond its pixel size. Print needs about 300 dpi at final size, or vector artwork. dijitul can redraw the logo as clean vector artwork at £45 an hour + VAT.

### Can I convert a JPEG logo to vector myself?

Auto-trace tools can do it, and simple artwork may come out acceptably. Most logos end up with wobbly curves, uneven lines and the wrong lettering, which shows on large signs. dijitul redraws logos by hand with clean geometry and correct colours, quoted after seeing the file.

### What file does a sign maker need?

Most sign makers ask for vector artwork, typically AI, EPS or vector PDF, with fonts converted to outlines. Vinyl cutters and routers follow the vector paths directly. dijitul supplies vector logos and signage artwork prepared to the sign maker's specification.

### What resolution should photos be for print?

About 300 dpi at the final printed size for close-viewed items such as brochures. A 3000 × 2000 pixel photo prints sharply at around 25 × 17 cm. Large banners viewed from a distance can often use 100 to 150 dpi; check with your printer.

## Prices and contact

Prices (all from, + VAT): Logo design £150; Brand identity pack £395; Business cards or letterhead £75; Flyer or leaflet £95; Brochure £295; Social media graphics pack £99; Photography, half day £295; Photography, full day £495; Product photography £25 per image; Video £695; 2D/3D CAD and design time £45 an hour. All prices are "from" and exclude VAT. Every job gets a fixed price before work starts. Printing, and travel for shoots beyond the Mansfield and Nottinghamshire area, are quoted separately. Contact: https://dijitulmedia.co.uk/contact/ · 01623 650333 · info@dijitul.uk