Vector Art & Logo Prep Guide

We know that the quality of your finished window graphics depends entirely on the quality of your digital art. To get the maximum performance out of premium 3M or Avery cast vinyl, your logo must be in a production-ready format.

1. The Difference: Vector vs. Raster

Most images found online (photos, social media profile pictures, or screenshots) are Raster files. These are made of pixels, and when they are enlarged for a storefront, they become blurry and pixelated.

2. Accepted File Formats

When submitting your files to Advanced Signs for a project quote, please provide one of the following vector extensions:

• .AI (Adobe Illustrator) - The preferred format for precision vinyl cutting.
• .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) - A high-fidelity universal vector file.
• .PDF (Portable Document Format) - Only acceptable if originally saved as a vector.
• .SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) - Common for modern logo exports.

3. Outlining Your Fonts

If your branding uses a specific typeface, it is essential to "Create Outlines" or "Convert to Curves" before sending the file. This process turns your text into a permanent shape, ensuring your logo looks exactly as intended regardless of what fonts are installed on our production computers.

4. Designing for Visibility

In the Alberta climate, contrast is your best friend. As detailed in our Visibility Guide, we recommend bold, high-contrast designs. White or bright yellow vinyl offers the best readability against the natural reflections found on commercial glass.

5. Professional Vector Re-creation

If you only have a low-resolution .JPG or .PNG, it is not suitable for precision vinyl cutting. For these cases, We offer a Vector Re-creation Service. We can manually redraw your logo into a high-fidelity vector format, providing you with a master file that can be used for signs, apparel, and marketing materials for years to come.