We have been doing a lot of custom dirt bike graphics kits lately. Even though the site only lets you pick from our database, you also have the option of emailing us your personal logos to use. However, we need the logos to be high quality and preferably vector files. We've posted about this before, but wanted to refresh everyone on what is usable versus what is not. Keep reading for tips and instructions on sending us usable logos for your kit.

Logos

If you have a personal logo you want to use, mention it in your order notes and send the file(s) to customer service at support@sengegraphics.com. In order for us to be able to use your logo, it preferably needs to be a vector file. 

When you are picking your logos from our database, you cannot type in your own logos (aka ones we don't have), it will not come through on our end with your order. Please mention in the notes you have custom logos to add and reach out via email.

We prefer vector files for our kits. The most common types of vector files are ai (Illustrator), .pdf (our most preferred), .eps and .svg. 

But what is a vector file? Vectors are the most versatile file types because they are composed of shapes rather than pixels (see image below from Adobe). This allows us to scale the logo without losing quality. It also means that the logo is broken up into pieces that we are able to change and manipulate. Think of it as a vector file being like a puzzle (so we are able to rearrange it, take it apart, change colors, etc) versus a picture in a frame (any other file such as a .jpg or .png is a solid piece that cannot be changed).

The alternate file type is raster files. These are unusable because they are pixelated, which causes them to be blurry when scaled to be used on kits. Essentially, a raster file is a picture rather than artwork. The most common raster files are .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .gif and .tiff. We most likely cannot use any of those file types for logos on your kit, unless they are extremely simple and we can remake them.

It is also important to consider that vector files consist of a limited number of shapes, whereas raster files are made of millions of pixels. Therefore, the file sizes for raster images are very large, which slow down our printing processes. Read more about the differences between raster and vector files here.

If you don't have a vector file for the logo you want to use, the best option is to reach out to the company whose logo it is and see if they have one. If they do not (or it's your personal company's logo), you could try reaching out to whoever designed the logo. They should have a vector file for it.

The only way to achieve a vector file is to have the original artwork. You cannot resave a raster image as a pdf (or any other vector file type), as it will not covert it from pixels to shapes. In the case that you still cannot find a vector file for the logo you wish to use- you have 2 options. We can either type the logo out for you in the font of your choice, or redraw the logo entirely to make it into shapes rather than pixels (in other words, we are turning a raster into a vector by tracing the image). The raster file needs to be high enough quality that we can see the details in order to remake it. This is an additional fee based on the amount of time it will take us.

Another common problem we have is people sending pictures of their computer screen or a picture of the logo in real life (like on a shirt or business card). Keep in mind that if that is the only version of the logo you have, we will have to redraw it or type it out.

Check out this video for even more explanation on why vector files are important for what we do.

Stickers

We've also been printing a lot of regular stickers lately. Check out our Amazon listing for them here.

For stickers, we still prefer vector files but we can make raster files work also. It is important to make sure the image is high quality for the best print. If it is blurry on your screen, it is going to print out blurry as well. 

Just like our graphics, our stickers have many different base and laminate options. Check them out below!

Base options:

• standard 
• holographic
• chrome

Laminate options:

• no laminate
• gloss
• metallic
• matte

Photos

Another problem we run into is usable photos when we create banners. In case you didn't know, we can also create banners with your racing pictures and sponsors (see example below). However, we need high resolution pictures and vector logo files in order to do so.

As we talked about with raster files, images are composed of pixels. In the case of a banner, it is fine to send us a raster file because that is the most efficient type of file for a photo. However, we need the image to be high resolution. In other words, it is created with more pixels than a low resolution, meaning it can be scaled to fit onto your banner without getting blurry. Low resolution images may look fine on your screen, but when printed at large scale, they become blurry.

The best way to find high resolution images is from a professional photographer. Many race series have photographers that take images that are available for purchase. You would need to send us one or more of those images to use. Phone camera images and screenshots are not usable because they are low quality (yes- even screenshots of high quality images are no good. Taking a screenshot lowers the resolution. Please save the original file). It is definitely best to reach out and support local photographers for pictures!

Take the banner below for an example. Since these are high quality images, they are clear and easy to see. If they were low quality, you would see the pixel squares rather than a sharp image. Read more about image resolution here.

Reach out to customer service if you have any more questions regarding usable logos or high resolution images. We will do our best to create a solution for you, as we want your kit, stickers or banner to look great!