To vectorise a logo for printing, trace your JPG or PNG in vector software, tidy the paths, convert the text to outlines and save the result as an AI, EPS, SVG or PDF file. Then check it at its real print size. This guide walks you through each step in plain terms.

A vector file is made of paths, not pixels. That is why printers ask for one. It stays sharp on a pen barrel, a cap or a tote bag. We see this every day in promotional products, so we have written the steps the way we would explain them to a customer.

TL;DR

• A vector logo is built from editable paths. It stays sharp at any size, so it suits pens, shirts, bottles and bags.
• To convert a JPG or PNG, use an image trace tool, expand the result and clean up the shapes by hand.
• Convert text to outlines on a copy of your file. Keep the original with live fonts for future edits.
• Check the logo at actual size before you send it. Thin lines and tiny text are the usual trouble spots.
• Not comfortable doing this yourself? Our free artwork service is there to help.

Table of Contents

• What a vector logo is, and why printers ask for one
• Before you start: prepare your source image
• How to vectorise a logo in Illustrator
• How to vectorise a logo in CorelDRAW
• What if you do not have design software?
• How to convert text to outlines
• Check your logo at real print size
• Which file should you send?
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Our perspective
• Get your logo onto products with PromoShop
• FAQ
• Sources

What a vector logo is, and why printers ask for one

A raster image, such as a JPG or PNG, is a grid of pixels. Enlarge it and the edges turn soft or blocky.

A vector image is a set of mathematical paths. Adobe describes vectorising as converting a rough or low-resolution image into editable graphics that you can reshape and restyle. Because paths are not tied to a pixel count, the logo scales up or down without losing sharpness.

This matters for merchandise. One logo might go on a small pen and then on a large banner or a hoodie. A vector file lets the same artwork work across all of them.

For a deeper look at which format suits which job, see our guide to logo file formats to send for printing.

Is your file already a vector?

Many logos arrive as a vector in name only. Renaming a JPG to “.eps” or “.ai” does not change what is inside. A PDF can also hold a placed JPG and still be raster.

Here is a quick test in Illustrator:

1. Open the file and zoom in to a high level.
2. Click on a letter or shape with the Selection tool.
3. Look for anchor points and editable paths.

If the whole logo selects as one flat image, it is still raster. It needs to be vectorised.

Before you start: prepare your source image

The better your starting image, the cleaner your trace. A few minutes here saves a lot of editing later.

• Find the largest, clearest version. Look for the original design file, an old brand pack or a high-resolution export. Avoid screenshots and images pulled from a website.
• Choose simple artwork. Clear shapes with a small number of flat colours trace best.
• Note your brand colours. Write down the Pantone or CMYK values if you have them. Our guide to CMYK vs Pantone explains which to use for which job.
• Check the resolution. A sharp image gives the trace tool more to work with. Our page on 300 DPI file checks shows what to look for.

If you only have a small, blurry file, the trace will copy the blur. In that case a designer may need to redraw the logo. Our team can help with that through free artwork design.

How to vectorise a logo in Illustrator

Illustrator is the tool most designers use. The steps are short.

1. Place the image. Go to File > Place and choose your JPG or PNG.
2. Select it. Click the image so the Image Trace option appears.
3. Pick a mode. Choose a preset that suits the artwork. Black and white logo presets suit one-colour marks. Colour presets suit multi-colour logos.
4. Adjust the settings. Open the Image Trace panel. Change paths, corners and noise until the preview matches your logo. Fewer colours usually gives a cleaner result.
5. Click Expand. This turns the trace into real vector paths.
6. Clean up. Delete stray specks and background shapes. Merge shapes of the same colour where it helps.

Adobe’s page on vectorising images in Illustrator covers the tool in more detail.

Check the trace, then fix it

Automatic tracing is a starting point. It is not a finished logo. After you expand, zoom in and look closely at:

• Curves that look lumpy
• Corners that should be sharp but are rounded
• Too many anchor points
• Letterforms that have changed shape
• Colours that have shifted
• Overlapping shapes and leftover background pieces

Place the original image next to your trace and compare them side by side. If a shape is wrong, redraw it with the Pen tool. For simple logos, redrawing a few key shapes often gives the best result.

How to vectorise a logo in CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW has its own tracing tools. CorelDRAW recommends Outline Trace for clearly defined shapes. It suggests Centerline Trace for complex illustrations made of many lines.

The flow is similar to Illustrator:

1. Import the image.
2. Choose the trace type that suits the logo.
3. Adjust detail, smoothing and corner smoothness.
4. Remove the original bitmap once the trace looks right.
5. Delete unwanted background shapes.
6. Merge adjacent objects of the same colour.
7. Compare the result with the source before you finalise.

Whichever program you use, the principle is the same. Trace, clean up, compare.

What if you do not have design software?

Online vectorising tools exist, and some free vector editors can trace images too. They can be fine for a simple one-colour mark. Always open the result and run the same checks described above. Look at the curves, the lettering and the colours.

The other option is to let us handle it. We offer free artwork design, so you can send us the best logo file you have and we will work with you on the print-ready version. You can start from our home page.

How to convert text to outlines

Your logo may include live text. Live text depends on a font being installed. When the file opens on a computer without that font, the software may swap in a different one. Your logo then prints with the wrong lettering.

Outlining fixes this. It turns each letter into a vector shape, so the file no longer needs the font.

In Illustrator

1. Save a copy first. Keep one master file with live text. Save the outlined version under a new name.
2. Proofread the text. After outlining, you cannot type over it.
3. Unlock all layers. Locked or hidden layers can be skipped.
4. Select the text. Use Select > All if you want every text object.
5. Choose Type > Create Outlines. The shortcut is Shift + Ctrl + O on Windows and Shift + Command + O on a Mac.

Adobe notes that after you create outlines you cannot change the character style or font. It also advises duplicating the text before converting it.

To confirm it worked, zoom in on the text. Each letter should show anchor points around its edges.

In other programs

The command has a different name elsewhere. In CorelDRAW it is “Convert to Curves”. In Inkscape it is Path > Object to Path. In each case, work on a copy and keep your editable master.

When not to outline

Outlining suits final, signed-off artwork. If there is any chance the wording will change, keep the editable file safe and outline only the copy you send for printing.

Check your logo at real print size

A vector can look perfect on screen and still print badly. Fine detail that is easy to see on a monitor may vanish on a pen or a cap.

Try this simple routine:

1. Set the logo to the size it will be on the product.
2. View it at 100% on your screen.
3. Print it at actual size on paper if you can.
4. Look at the smallest text, thinnest lines and tightest gaps.

Things that often fail at small sizes:

• Taglines that are too small to read
• Hairline strokes that disappear
• Gaps between shapes that fill in
• Light text on a mid-tone background

If something is hard to read at actual size, simplify it. A cleaner version of the logo often works better on merchandise. Many brands keep a small-size or one-colour version for this reason.

The right size depends on the product. Our guide to logo size on shirts gives practical ranges for apparel. For other products, see our logo placement guidelines.

Which file should you send?

Send the vector version, saved in a format the printer accepts. The common choices are AI, EPS, SVG and PDF. Requirements can vary by decorating method, so confirm the details first.

Here is a simple checklist before you send:

Check	What to look for
File type	AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF
Text	Converted to outlines on the print copy
Colours	Defined as Pantone or CMYK values
Background	No stray boxes or leftover shapes
Size	Logo set to the intended print size
Master file	Editable original saved separately

Method matters too. A logo for embroidery has different limits from one for printing. Our page on embroidery vs printing logos explains the difference. For a final review, our preflight checks for print-ready artwork are written for designers.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Renaming the file type. Changing “.jpg” to “.eps” does not vectorise anything.
• Trusting the auto trace. Always zoom in and check every curve and corner.
• Outlining your only copy. Keep an editable master.
• Too many colours. Extra shades make the trace messy and the print harder to match.
• Skipping the size check. Test at the real print size.
• Sending a screenshot. Always start from the best source you have.

Our perspective

Most logo problems we see come from the file, not the design. A logo that looks fine in an email can be hard to use once it has to fit a pen, a cap or a drink bottle.

That is why we put free artwork design at the centre of what we do. You should not have to become a vector expert to get branded products you are proud of. Send us what you have. We will help you get it ready.

We also source products factory-direct through a trusted global supply chain, and we back our range with a Price Beat Guarantee. A clean vector file lets you take full advantage of that. The same artwork works across apparel, drinkware, bags and pens, so your brand looks consistent everywhere.

Our advice is simple. Keep a master file with live text. Keep a vector copy with outlined text. Check it at actual size. Then get in touch.

PromoShop

Get your logo onto products with PromoShop

Once your logo is ready, we make the next step easy. We offer custom branding, free artwork design and an express service across a wide range of products, from promotional clothing to drinkware and pens.

Send us your logo, even if it is only a JPG. We will help you take it from there. Visit PromoShop to browse the range and get in touch.

FAQ

Can I vectorise a logo for free?

Yes. Some design programs and free vector editors include a trace feature, and online tools exist too. Whichever you use, zoom in afterwards and check the curves, corners and lettering. You can also send your logo to us, as we offer free artwork design.

What is the difference between vectorising and converting text to outlines?

Vectorising turns a pixel image into paths. Converting text to outlines turns live font text into shapes. A print-ready logo often needs both. The first gives you scalable artwork, and the second means no font is needed to open it.

Is SVG or PNG better for a logo?

SVG is a vector format, so it stays sharp at any size. PNG is a raster format and is made of pixels. For printing, send a vector file such as SVG, AI, EPS or a vector PDF. Keep a PNG for web and email use.

Do I need to outline fonts before sending a logo to print?

For final artwork, yes, it is the safest approach. Outlining stops font substitution on another computer. Save an editable master first, because outlined text cannot be typed over. See our logo file formats guide for more on what to send.

Sources

• Vectorize Image | Adobe Illustrator
• Vectorize Font | Adobe Illustrator
• Convert JPEG images to vector in CorelDRAW

Recommended

• Logo File Formats: Which One to Send for Printing
• Embroidery vs Printing Logos: Free Artwork Help Before You Order
• Designers: 5 Preflight Checks for Print Ready Artwork
• 300 DPI: 3 File Checks to Avoid Reprints