Artwork files guide
Vector files
If you are not a graphic designer, the term ‘vector file’ may make no sense at all and justifiably so! Follow our easy-to-read guide below and sharpen your learning.
There are two groups of electronic files that contain images and/or text. One of them is a ‘raster’ file which you would probably unwittingly be aware of. These ‘raster’ files are usually .jpgs. For example, a digital photo of your favourite person or place captured by your camera saves it as a .jpg file. The issue with ‘raster files’ (which include .png, .tiff, .gif, .bmp, and .exif files as well as .jpg) is that they can only be printed with severe limitations on size.
The technical reason for this limitation is that a raster file/image is made up of tiny dots called pixels where, on face value and to the naked eye it looks like a perfectly good image. However, when one zooms in on the image (much like a telescope action) you will quickly see the image becoming more and more blurry as these little ‘pixels’ (dots) become further and further apart.
This is where a ‘vector file’ comes into play. Vector images are made up of geometrically based shapes: lines, filled areas, triangles, curves, etc. Each one of these geometric shapes is subject to a combination of ‘rules’, so when you scale it (zooming in as explained above), the equation is merely recalculated at the current size. For this reason, vector images are flexible at any scale. Typically, that same image of your favourite person or place when changed into a vector file by a graphic designer can now be made as big as even a poster on a bus without that blurry effect. Printers, sign makers, engravers and rubber stamp manufacturers all need a vector file to do their job for you.
So, if you have an image that is a raster file and you wish to employ the services of a printer, sign maker, engraver or rubber stamp manufacturer, you will need to engage a qualified graphic designer to re-build your raster file into a vector file.
In summary, the files that are not suitable (raster files) are; jpg, .png, .tiff, .gif, .bmp, .exif.
Files that are suitable typically are; .pdf (sometimes) .eps, .ai and .cdr.
Original image
Zoomed-in example of a raster image
Zoomed in example of a vector image
Designing for embossing / notary seals
In the art of embossing, the activity is usually done by using a pair of die plates, one being a ‘female’ die and the other being a ‘male’ die. The female die is the portion of the die set that pushes a design down into a piece of paper (or other substrate) with the male die being at counterpoint underneath the piece of paper. These two components slowly squeeze the piece of paper together much the same as a pair of pliers does but instead the female and male dies intermesh – one fits into the other snugly.
For this reason, design of the embossing image is of paramount importance. As we use embossing sets where the primary designs are either 50mm diameter or 25 x 50mm rectangle, artwork must not comprise overly intricate designs. Our applications are ‘single-level’ embossing or ‘chisel die embossing (for debossing purposes). Embossing depicts a raised image and debossing depicts a depressed image.
As far as text is concerned, 6pt and 7pt text is the smallest you can go.
Line thickness needs to be a minimum of 0.2mm, though all lines should be expanded/flattened at the correct size before sending your file.
We require a single color, black with a transparent background. White can not be used in the design as white is treated differently to what it is in traditional printing and will cause the embossing pairs to not match perfectly.
For a more comprehensive lesson on embossing types and techniques, we highly recommend Rikard’s blog entitled “The Graphic Designer’s Guide To Embossing”.
Feel free to contact us at any time for any further information or assistance regarding embossing seals.
