Raster vs. Vector: Why Screen Printers Require Vector Artwork

When it comes to custom apparel and branded merchandise, the quality of your artwork can make or break the final product. At Palmetto Blended, we work with everything from national brands to local Carolina businesses—and one of the most common questions we hear is:

“Why do screen printers need vector artwork?”

It’s a great question, and the answer comes down to the fundamental difference between raster (also called bitmap) and vector graphics.

What Is Raster (Bitmap) Artwork?

Raster artwork is made up of pixels—tiny squares of color that form an image. These are the types of files most people are used to seeing online or on their phones.

Common raster formats include:

JPEG (.jpg)
PNG (.png)
GIF (.gif)
TIFF (.tif)

The Pros

Great for photos or complex gradients
Ideal for websites, digital screens, and social media

The Cons

Pixelation when resized
Resolution-dependent
Not ideal for logos or text-based artwork

This is why a logo pulled from a website—usually saved at 72 DPI—is never print-ready for apparel.

What Is Vector Artwork?

Vector graphics are built using mathematical paths instead of pixels. Because of this, they can scale infinitely without losing clarity.

Common vector file types include:

AI (Adobe Illustrator)
EPS
SVG
PDF (if exported as vector)

Why Vector Artwork Matters

Scales to any size without losing quality
Perfect for logos, text, and brand elements
Allows easy and accurate color separation
Provides crisp, clean edges for printing

Why Screen Printers Require Vector Files

Screen printing is a physical process that relies on individual screens—one per color. Vector artwork allows us to produce these screens accurately and efficiently.

1. Accurate Color Separation

Raster images blend pixels together, which makes it extremely difficult to isolate individual colors. Vector files make separation precise.

2. Perfect Scaling

Whether it’s a left-chest print or a full-back design, vector artwork keeps every line sharp.

3. No Pixelated Edges

If your artwork is blurry or jagged, it will print that way. Vector files keep edges crisp and professional.

4. Cleaner, Faster Production

Print-ready vector files reduce revisions, speed up production, and ensure better registration during printing.

What If You Don’t Have Vector Artwork?

You’re not alone—most clients come to us with a PNG, JPEG, or screenshot of their logo. The good news is:

We can recreate your artwork as a vector file.

For a small art fee, our design team rebuilds your logo so it’s:

Print-ready
Scalable
Professionally refined
Color-separated for screen printing

This also gives you a high-quality asset you can use for signage, embroidery, marketing, and future print runs.

The Bottom Line

If you want your printed apparel to look clean, sharp, and professional, vector artwork is essential. It guarantees the best results across every screen print run.