- Karaca Çanta
- 6 min read
Short answer: To prepare a logo file before printing, save your logo in vector format if possible (PDF or EPS), state the colours to be used in the print and the number of colours, and do not send a low-resolution image that has been enlarged. The quote form accepts PNG, JPG, WebP, PDF and EPS files, up to 5 MB. A logo file is not required for a quote, but it is needed for the design draft.
The logo field in the quote form is optional, and most people leave the file for later. That is enough to get a quote; but to move on to printing you need a real file, and for the design draft you need that file to be of good quality. Most time in the process is lost when the file arrives late or incomplete.
In this article we go through, in turn, which file type is preferred and why, which formats can be uploaded to the form, how to pass on colour information, and how a QR code can be included on the bag.
Is a logo file required when ordering bags?
Not for a quote. In the quote form, name, company, phone, email, delivery province, estimated quantity and subject are the basic fields; product type, material, size, number of print colours, print sides, desired delivery date and logo file are optional details. If you haven't found your logo yet, there is no need to hold up the quote process.
Still, the earlier the file arrives, the clearer the quote. How many colours the logo has and whether it carries very fine detail are details that affect the printing method and the quote. At the design draft stage, though, the file is needed: we prepare the draft from the file you send, and we do not go into production without your approval.
Why does a vector logo matter?
A logo can be stored in two ways. Pixel-based files (JPG, PNG, WebP) hold the image as an array of tiny squares; when you enlarge it, the squares become visible and the edges get jagged. Vector files (EPS, most PDFs, AI, SVG) store the logo as line and curve definitions, so it fits with the same sharpness on a small label or a large bag.
In bag printing, this difference shows directly in the result. A low-resolution image that looks small on screen prints blurry when scaled up to a size you can hold in your hand on a bag. With a vector file, enlarging or shrinking the logo to the bag's size causes no loss of quality.
There is a practical way to tell whether your file is vector: zoom in very far in a design program. If the edges stay sharp, the file is vector; if squares appear, it is pixel-based. If it turns out to be pixel-based, it is worth asking the person or agency who prepared the logo for the original design file.
Which logo files can be uploaded to the form?
The quote form accepts PNG, JPG, WebP, PDF and EPS files; the limit is 5 MB per file. The table summarises the structure of these formats and what to do with formats not accepted by the form.
The 5 MB limit is rarely a problem with vector files; high-resolution PNG files, though, can exceed it. If your file does not fit, the solution is to produce a vector version or to set the resolution to just enough for printing, without excess.
Logo file formats and whether they can be uploaded to the form
| Format | Structure | Can it be uploaded via the form? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can be vector or pixel-based | Yes | Saving as PDF from a design program can preserve the vector | |
| EPS | Usually vector | Yes | One of the formats commonly used in print preparation |
| PNG | Pixel-based | Yes | Can carry a transparent background; keep the resolution high |
| JPG | Pixel-based, lossy compression | Yes | Risk of blurry edges; use if there is no other file |
| WebP | Pixel-based | Yes | A format developed for the web; logos downloaded from the internet may be small |
| AI, SVG | Vector | Not among the accepted formats | Export as PDF or EPS and upload |
Logo file checklist before sending it for printing
A few minutes of checking before you send the file reduces back-and-forth at the draft stage. The items below make a sufficient order of preparation for most logos; it is enough to compare your file against this list from start to finish.
- Find the vector version; if there isn't one, choose the largest, sharpest file you have.
- For logos containing text, convert the fonts to outlines; otherwise the font may change on another computer.
- Also prepare a single-colour and a reversed (light-colour) version of the logo; it helps on dark bags.
- Count the colours: logos with gradients and shadows count as multicolour.
- Clean up unnecessary background, frames and screenshot edges around the logo.
- Write any additional text for the bag (slogan, phone, address) separately and without typos.
- Check that the file does not exceed 5 MB and that its name is clear.
How are Pantone and colour information passed on in a print order?
Pantone is a colour system that defines colours by number; in corporate identity guidelines, the brand colour is often written as a Pantone number. If your guidelines have such a number, send it with the logo file when requesting the quote. This is the clearest way to describe your target colour. How closely that colour is matched in print varies with the fabric and the method; this is clarified together at the quote stage.
If there is no number, the RGB or CMYK values in the logo's vector file can be read by a designer. The colour you see on screen and the colour printed on fabric will not be identical: a screen emits light, while print is formed with ink on fabric, and the background colour changes the result. So set your expectation not on being exactly identical but on being recognisable and consistent.
Can a QR code be printed on a bag?
Because a QR code is a single-colour pattern, it is a graphic that can be printed on a bag, but it is harder to read on fabric than on paper. The result depends on three things: size, contrast and the empty space around it. As the square gets bigger, the fabric texture disturbs the cells of the pattern less; a dark pattern on a light background is read most reliably, and some scanners cannot read reversed-colour codes; you need to leave an empty frame around the code.
Placement matters too. Do not align the code with a handle attachment, a seam or a gusset fold; the pattern is distorted where the fabric folds. A flat area close to the centre of the bag face is the best. Keep the address the code points to short, because a short address produces a sparser pattern. If you use a redirect whose destination you can change later, you can update the target page even after the bags have been printed.
Before approving the draft, scan the code on screen with a phone, and scan one when the bags reach you. State that you have a QR code when requesting the quote; the application method, size and position are settled at that stage. Also open the address the code points to one last time before it goes to print.
Frequently asked questions
Is a logo file required when ordering bags?
It is not required for a quote; the logo file is optional in the quote form. It is needed when the design draft is prepared, because the draft is made from that file. If your file is not ready, you can first request the quote and send the file afterwards.
Which logo files can be uploaded to the quote form?
PNG, JPG, WebP, PDF and EPS files can be uploaded; each file can be up to 5 MB. If you have an AI or SVG file, export it as PDF or EPS. A file you upload to the form is not public; it can only be downloaded from the authorised administrator panel.
What should I do if my logo is low resolution?
Send the largest, sharpest file you have; you cannot gain resolution by enlarging a small image. Ask the person or agency who designed the logo for its vector file. If it cannot be found, state this when requesting the quote, and the printing method and feasibility are assessed together at that stage.
Can QR codes be used on promotional bags?
Yes, a QR code can be printed on a bag, as long as it is big enough, high-contrast and has space left around it. Do not align the code with a handle, a seam or a gusset fold, and scan it with a phone before approval. The application details are settled at the quote stage.
Do I need to give a Pantone number?
It is not mandatory, but if you are particular about your brand colour, writing the number in the quote is the clearest way to convey the target colour. How closely the colour is matched in print depends on the fabric and the method; this is discussed together at the quote stage.
