The short version: For the sharpest imprint, send your logo as a vector file (Adobe Illustrator .ai, .eps, or .pdf). If all you have is a JPG or PNG, that's fine. Send the largest version you have, ideally 300 DPI or higher, and our art team can redraw it as a vector at no additional charge. Keep your design simple for small imprint areas, give us your Pantone (PMS) colors if exact color matters, and review your free digital proof carefully before approving it. Proofs are usually ready within 1–2 hours.
Vector vs. Raster: Why Your File Type Matters
Logo files come in two basic types, and the difference shows up right on your product.
- Vector files (.ai, .eps, .pdf, and .svg) are built from mathematical lines and curves. They scale to any size, from a pen barrel to a 10-foot banner, and stay perfectly sharp. Imprint equipment and screen-making work best from vectors.
- Raster files (.jpg, .png, .gif, .tif, and .psd) are built from pixels. Enlarge them too far and the edges turn fuzzy and blocky. A logo copied from a website is usually a small raster file, often only 72 DPI, and it won't print cleanly.
How to tell what you have: If your logo came from the designer who created it, ask for the "vector" or "Illustrator" version. Zoom in close on your file. If the edges stay crisp, it's probably vector. If they get jagged, it's raster.
File Formats We Accept
| Format | Type | Works for printing? |
|---|---|---|
| .ai (Adobe Illustrator) | Vector | Best. Preferred |
| .eps | Vector | Best. Preferred |
| .pdf (saved from a design program) | Usually vector | Best. Preferred |
| .psd (Photoshop, unflattened) | Raster, with layers | Good, if high resolution |
| .jpg, .png, .gif, .tif | Raster | OK at 300 DPI or higher |
| .doc (Word), .pub (Publisher) | Varies | OK at 300 DPI or higher |
Email your files to our art department at art@gimmees.com, or include them with your order. Full details are on our artwork information page.
Don't Have a Good Logo File? We Can Help
- Free vector redraws. Our artists can convert a blurry logo, a low-resolution image, a scan of a business card, or even a photo of your sign into a clean, hand-drawn vector file, at no additional charge.
- Free stock art and logo concepts. No logo yet? Our library has more than 1,400 customizable sports images (mascots, equipment, and icons for schools and teams), more than 1,500 business logo concepts across 10 categories, and high-resolution U.S. flags plus state, military, and government seals, all at no extra charge.
- Custom adjustments. Our artists can change colors and text to fit your imprint.
Designing a Logo That Prints Well on Small Items
A design that looks great on your website can fall apart on a 2-inch imprint area. The principles that make a good logo also make a good imprint:
- Simpler is better. The most recognizable logos in the world are simple shapes and a few letters. Fine detail, thin lines, and gradients often disappear at small sizes.
- Make sure it works in one color. Many imprints are one color, so your logo should still read in solid black or white without its full-color treatment.
- Have a version for dark products. A "reverse" or knockout version, typically white or light, prints cleanly on navy, black, and other dark items.
- Keep text large enough. Taglines and fine print are often the first thing to become unreadable. On small items, drop the tagline and keep your name and one contact method.
- Watch out for tiny symbols. Trademark (™) and registered (®) marks can fill in, break up, or disappear on small imprints, so they're sometimes omitted.
- Use white space. Leave some breathing room around your logo instead of filling every millimeter of the imprint area.
- Think long term. A good logo should still feel right in 5–10 years. Changing it later means reprinting everything, so timeless beats trendy.
Each product page lists its imprint area. Check it before you finalize a design.
Choosing Imprint Colors
Spot color vs. full color
- Spot-color imprints use one or more solid ink colors, like a one-color logo on a pen. They're the most common and most economical option.
- Full-color imprints (also called four-color process or digital printing) reproduce photos, gradients, and multi-color logos. They're available on many products, like the full-color Mood Stadium Cup.
Matching your brand colors (PMS)
If exact color matters, give us your Pantone (PMS) color numbers. PMS matching is available on most products, typically at $40 per color. Because inks behave differently on plastic, metal, fabric, and paper, the factory matches as closely as possible, but an exact match can't be guaranteed on every surface.
Don't know your PMS colors? Your designer or printer may have them, or we can help you choose close matches.
Contrast is everything
Your logo color has to stand out against the product color. Dark ink on light products and white or light ink on dark products are always safe. Avoid low-contrast combinations like navy on black or yellow on white, which look fine on screen but are hard to read in person.
Picking brand colors (if you're starting fresh)
Color expresses personality. Blues feel trustworthy, greens feel natural or financial, reds feel energetic, and black feels premium. Choose 2–3 core colors, record their PMS numbers and hex codes, and use them the same way everywhere, from your website to your promotional products.
Common Imprint Methods (and What They Mean for Your Artwork)
- Screen printing. Ink is pushed through a mesh screen, one screen per color. Common on bags, apparel, and drinkware. Works best with solid-color vector art.
- Pad printing. A silicone pad transfers ink onto curved or uneven surfaces like pens and stress relievers. Best with simple, solid-color art.
- Laser engraving. A laser etches your design into metal, wood, or glass for a permanent, upscale look. It's one-tone (the color of the material), so artwork should be a single solid color. Popular on executive pens, tumblers, and awards.
- Embroidery. Your logo is stitched into fabric. It gives a premium look on caps and apparel, but very fine detail and tiny text don't stitch well, so bolder designs work best.
- Debossing and embossing. Your design is pressed into (or raised from) leather, vinyl, or paper. It's elegant and colorless.
- Full-color digital printing. Reproduces photos and gradients. It's ideal for complex, multi-color logos and photo-based designs.
The available method depends on the product, and each product page shows its imprint options.
Your Proof: The Most Important Step
Every order includes a free digital proof, a computer-generated mockup of your item with your imprint. It's usually ready within 1–2 hours, even on weekends. Before you approve it, check:
- Spelling of every word, including names, phone numbers, website, and email
- Phone number and website are correct and current
- Imprint color(s) and product color
- Logo placement and size
- Quantity and any size or color breakdown
Production starts once you approve, so a careful two-minute review prevents costly mistakes. For large orders or color-critical jobs, you can request a physical pre-production proof, an actual sample with your imprint. It typically costs the price of one item plus the setup fee, and it adds about 3–10 days.
Artwork Checklist Before You Order
- Send a vector file (.ai, .eps, or .pdf) if you have one, or the highest-resolution image you have (300 DPI or higher).
- Confirm the product's imprint area and simplify your design to fit.
- Choose imprint colors with strong contrast against the product color.
- Provide PMS numbers if exact brand color matters.
- Include a one-color or reverse version of your logo if you have one.
- Review every detail of your digital proof before approving.
Once your artwork is ready, see our guide on how to use promotional products effectively for what to put on your item and how to get results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Logos and Artwork
What file format is best for promotional product logos?
Vector files are best: Adobe Illustrator (.ai), .eps, or a .pdf saved from a design program. They scale to any size without losing sharpness. Raster files like .jpg and .png also work if they're 300 DPI or higher.
What if I only have a low-quality JPG of my logo?
Send it anyway. Gimmees.com's artists can redraw blurry or low-resolution logos, scans, and even photos of signs as clean vector files at no additional charge. Email files to art@gimmees.com.
What is the difference between vector and raster artwork?
Vector artwork is made of mathematical lines and curves, so it stays sharp at any size. Raster artwork is made of pixels, so it gets blurry or jagged when enlarged. Imprinting works best from vector files.
Can you match my exact brand colors?
Yes, on most products. Provide your Pantone (PMS) color numbers, and the factory will match them as closely as possible, typically for a $40 charge per color. Because ink looks different on different materials, an exact match can't be guaranteed on every surface.
Do I get to see a proof before my order is printed?
Yes. Every order includes a free digital proof, usually within 1–2 hours, and nothing is produced until you approve it. Physical pre-production samples are also available for an additional charge.
Do you have stock art if I don't have a logo?
Yes. Gimmees.com has more than 1,400 customizable sports images, more than 1,500 business logo concepts, and high-resolution flags and official seals, all available at no extra charge.
Have a question about your artwork? Email our art department at art@gimmees.com or call 888-926-6385. We'll make sure your logo looks its best on every product. We've been helping businesses look good since 2004.