Raster vs vector images: what's the difference for plastic card printing?
When you send artwork for plastic card printing, the file type you supply makes a significant difference to the quality of your finished cards. This guide explains the difference between raster and vector images — and which one you should be sending us.
Raster images
Made of pixels (dots of colour)
- Best for photographs and complex imagery
- Resolution is fixed — enlarging causes blurring
- Minimum 300 DPI required for card printing
- Common formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF
Vector images
Made of mathematical paths
- Best for logos, text, and line-based artwork
- Infinitely scalable with no quality loss
- No DPI requirement — resolution-independent
- Common formats: AI, EPS, SVG, PDF (vector)
What is a raster image?
A raster image is built from a grid of tiny coloured squares called pixels. Photographs from a phone or camera are raster files. When you zoom in far enough, you start to see the individual dots that make up the image.
The quality of a raster image is measured in DPI (dots per inch). Web images are typically saved at 72 DPI — far too low for print. For plastic card printing, raster artwork must be supplied at 300 DPI minimum at the actual print size. A standard credit card measures 85.6 × 54mm. A logo saved from a website at 72 DPI will print blurry — no amount of resizing in software can recover the lost detail.
Important: Do not try to resize a low-resolution raster image to make it bigger. This stretches the existing pixels and makes blurring worse. If your only file is a small JPG or PNG grabbed from a website, contact us before ordering — we can advise on the best course of action.
What is a vector image?
A vector image uses mathematical equations to describe shapes, lines, and curves. There are no pixels involved. Instead of storing colour information for thousands of individual dots, the file stores instructions such as "draw a rectangle at this position, 50mm wide, filled with this precise colour."
Because the image is defined by maths rather than pixels, it can be scaled to any size — from a 10mm loyalty card to a 3-metre banner — without any loss of quality. This is why vector files are the preferred format for printing logos and text.
Which format should you send for plastic card printing?
Send vector if you have it
Logos, text, icons, and line-based artwork should always be supplied as vector files. Your graphic designer or brand guidelines will often include AI or EPS files. These print at perfect sharpness regardless of card size or quantity.
Raster is fine for photos
Staff photos, product images, and complex photographic backgrounds work best as raster files. Supply them at 300 DPI at card size — bigger is always better. A TIFF or high-quality JPG is ideal.
Most card designs use both formats together: a vector logo with a raster photograph in the background. That's perfectly normal and exactly what our prepress team works with every day.
File formats at a glance
Raster formats
Vector formats
Quick check: Zoom into your image to 400%. If the edges stay sharp, it's vector. If you see pixelation or jagged edges, it's raster. A PDF can be either — it depends on the software that created it.
Why this matters specifically for plastic cards
Plastic card printing is unforgiving. Cards are handled and viewed up close — unlike a poster seen from a distance — so any blurring or pixelation in a logo or text is immediately obvious. Our presses print at high resolution, which means low-quality artwork is not masked by the process; it's revealed.
Supplying vector artwork also means your card design can be reused in the future — for different card formats, lanyards, or other printed materials — without starting from scratch.
If you're unsure about your files before placing an order, our team is happy to check them. Email your artwork to us and we'll advise before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about artwork file formats for plastic card printing.
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, or vector PDF) are the preferred format for logos, text, and line-based artwork. For photographs and complex imagery, supply raster files (JPG, PNG, or TIFF) at 300 DPI minimum at the actual print size. Most card designs combine both: a vector logo with a raster photograph in the background.
Raster images must be supplied at a minimum of 300 DPI at the actual print size. A standard credit card size is 85.6mm × 54mm. Images downloaded from websites are typically saved at 72 DPI and are not suitable for print without a high-resolution original source.
Zoom into your image to 400% in any image viewer. If the edges of shapes and text remain perfectly sharp, it is likely a vector file. If you see pixelation, blurring, or jagged edges, it is a raster file. You can also check the file extension: AI, EPS, SVG, and CDR are vector formats. JPG, PNG, TIFF, and BMP are raster formats. Note that PDF files can be either — it depends on the software used to create them.
Only if the JPG or PNG is high resolution — at least 300 DPI at the actual print size. Logos downloaded from a website are typically 72 DPI and will print blurry. Where possible, request the original vector file (AI or EPS) from your designer or brand team. If only a raster version exists, contact CP Cards before placing your order and we can advise on the best approach.
Yes. PDF files are accepted, but the quality depends on how the PDF was created. PDFs exported from Adobe Illustrator or InDesign are typically vector-based and print at full sharpness. PDFs created by saving or printing from Photoshop or Word are usually raster-based and must meet the 300 DPI minimum requirement.
Our prepress team checks all artwork before production. If your file is below the required resolution, we will contact you before printing to request a higher-quality version. We do not print blurry artwork without letting you know first. Plastic cards are handled up close, so image quality is critical to the finished result.
A raster image is made of a fixed grid of pixels (dots of colour). It has a set resolution and will become blurry or pixelated if enlarged beyond its original size. A vector image is made of mathematical paths and shapes. It contains no pixels and can be scaled to any size — from a small loyalty card to a large banner — without any loss of quality.
Not sure about your artwork files?
Email them to us before ordering. Our UK-based prepress team will check them and advise — no charge, no obligation. We manufacture here in England.
