Raster Vs. Vector art: A Storied Rivalry and What Works Best For Screen Printing.

A simple guide to help you understand raster vs. vector graphics and which are better for screen printing.

We see all kinds of different files sent our way at Terz Ink. Some of you might be sending us photos, which are always raster files, while others might be sending us digital graphics, which are usually vector. So, to help you guys get the right file ready for printing, Here's the break down for both types and the different file formats that correspond to each.

Vector Graphics (the format that melts a graphic designer's heart)

First up, we've got vector graphics. These are special because they're not made out of pixels. Instead, they use math to map out designs on a coordinate plane using individual shapes and paths. That's a bunch of complicated writing to say that they are essentially graphics made of lines. The great thing about vector graphics is that they can be scaled to any size without sacrificing image quality. You'll usually find vector files in formats like .svg, .pdf (sometimes), .eps, and .xml. And hey, a true Illustrator (.ai) file is a vector file too!

Raster Graphics (Great for photos. Not so great for screens)

Next up, we've got raster (or bitmap) graphics. These are typically photo-based images composed of pixels. Raster graphics have limitations because they can only be made with a fixed number of pixels, and that means they don't scale well. If you zoom in on a raster graphic you will see the actual pixels showing up. Screen burning processes hate these pixels and don't translate well to screen. You'll find raster files in formats like .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, and .tiff. We can sometimes print from larger PSD files if they're very high resolution but typically leave these out of screen printing.

What Makes a Good Graphic for Screen Printing

So, what kind of art files do screen printers like? Well, vector graphics by a mile. They are clean and complete - none of that jagged edge pixelation. They are definitely the way to go in this industry. We can typically use Adobe Illustrator (.ai), Encapsulated PostScript (.eps), Solid Vector Graphics (.svg), and Portable Document Format (.pdf) files without having to modify them. print-ready artwork makes us salivate, which is a file that has the correct file type, resolution, and dimensions for the final product. It should include all fonts and be 300 DPI or greater to retain clarity and detail throughout the printing process. if you don't have all of this don't worry. Sometimes people send over blurry cell phone pictures that were taken at night. Terz Ink can generally fix them.

What Graphic Design Programs are the best

Finally, when it comes to creating graphics for screen printing, you can't really beat Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, but they aren't cheap. For the layman, Corel Draw is a notable program for using both vector and raster graphics. There are a few other programs you can use, but your success may vary.