From a logo to a printed part: which file it takes
Why a JPG is not enough, what a vector file is, and how a flat logo becomes an object with volume that can be printed.
The question arrives most weeks: "I send you the logo and you print it, right?". Yes — but it depends a great deal on the format that logo arrives in, and the difference between one file and another can be half an hour or half a day of work.
Pixels versus curves
A JPG or PNG is a grid of coloured pixels. It does not know where your logo ends: it only knows this dot is orange and the one beside it is white. An SVG, an AI or a vector PDF store something else: the outline as curves, as equations. Printing needs that outline, because the outline is what becomes the wall of the part.
| What you have | Usable | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| SVG, AI, EPS, vector PDF | Yes, directly | It gets extruded and it is a solid. This is the fast case. |
| PNG with transparent background, high resolution | Almost | It auto-traces; on simple logos it comes out fine. |
| JPG, or a screenshot | No | It has to be redrawn by hand. That is modelling work. |
| An STL or STEP you already have | Perfect | Upload it to the configurator and you have a price instantly. |
From flat to solid: the decisions
- Thickness: how far the logo stands out. 0.6 to 1 mm if it sits on another part; 3 to 5 mm if the logo is the part.
- Floating elements: many logos have parts that do not touch each other. They would float. They need joining with a tie, or mounting on a backplate.
- Thin strokes: anything under 0.8 mm wide will not print. Either it gets thickened, or the whole logo scales up.
- Colours: each colour is a separate piece printed apart and fitted together, or it is solved with paint. A four-colour logo does not come off one print.
If you have the vector, say so with the order and attach it: turning it into a solid is quick. If all you have is a JPG, send it through the contact form anyway with the size you want, and we will tell you what it involves before starting anything.