Not sure what to send us? This page explains exactly what file types we can and can’t use for production, what AI image tools typically output, and how our artwork conversion service bridges the gap.
Midjourney, DALL·E, Firefly, Stable Diffusion…
Verdict: Useful as a visual reference. We can convert it, but there is a cost. Lower cost when the art is clean B&W.
What you get when you prompt AI correctly
Verdict: Excellent reference. Minimal conversion work = lower cost to you.
For direct production, with no conversion work required
Verdict: Ideal. It may avoid conversion work, but EmblemArt still reviews the actual artwork and dimensions before confirming setup and any applicable charges.
A raster image is made of a fixed grid of colored pixels. When you zoom in, you see individual squares. When you scale a raster image up to a larger size — like from a phone screen to an emblem that needs to look sharp at 6 inches wide — those squares become visible and blurry. This is why we can’t use a PNG directly for production engraving or die-cutting.
PNG/JPG image-generation output is raster reference artwork. A different file extension does not prove that the artwork contains usable vector paths; EmblemArt reviews the actual content and production suitability.
A vector image is made of mathematical curves and paths — not pixels. You can scale it to any size, from a postage stamp to a billboard, and the edges always stay perfectly crisp. This is essential for emblem production: our manufacturing process uses those paths directly to cut, engrave, or plate the design.
Raster image-generation output is reference artwork. Inspect the actual file for usable vector paths and production suitability, regardless of which tool produced it.
PDF caveat: a .pdf is a container, not a vector format. It is production-usable only if it actually contains suitable vector paths — a .pdf exported from a photo or an AI render is a raster file in a wrapper. We verify that on review.
File requirements depend on what you are ordering. Unchanged stock items do not need artwork at all, while injection-molded projects need a different kind of file again. Tell us the product first.
| Product | What we need | Not required |
|---|---|---|
| Unchanged stock letters & stock items | Stock style, the characters or pieces needed, quantity, and any placement or alignment needs. | No vector file, and no custom-design feasibility check — we use the stock dimensions already published for that style. |
| Engraved and cut custom emblems | Requested finish, quantity, overall dimensions with units, and the actual artwork. | — |
| Engraved drinkware | Stock item and size, quantity, finish, where the engraving sits on the item, and the engraving content itself — lettering typed out is fine. | Artwork, if the engraving is simply text. |
| Injection-molded emblems and parts | 2D design reference (.svg, .ai, .eps) and/or a STEP 3D file, overall dimensions with units, target quantity, finish, and mounting method (adhesive, studs, or clips). | STL files will not work for our process. |
| Research & Development projects | Intended use, a description of the design, overall dimensions with units, target quantity, and project scope. | — |
Status: Good reference material — we can work with this. Conversion cost is minimized when the artwork is clean, high-resolution, and black-and-white only.
Submit it through our Get Started form as an attachment. Note that it’s a B&W AI-generated image in your message, and include your intended dimensions and quantity. We’ll quote you including a conversion estimate.
Status: Useful concept reference, but more conversion work required. Full-color renders with shading, gradients, and depth effects need more processing before they can be used for production — which adds to your setup cost.
You can send it to us as-is and we’ll quote the conversion. Or, if you still have access to your AI tool, try re-prompting it with our B&W prompt to generate a cleaner version before submitting.
Status: Ideal — this is exactly what we need. A clean, 2D, flat-art vector file may avoid conversion work, but it still goes through artwork and dimension review before production setup because file quality alone does not confirm manufacturability or applicable charges.
Make sure it’s actually a true vector (created in Illustrator, Inkscape, Affinity Designer, CorelDRAW, etc.) and not just a raster image saved with a .svg extension. A .pdf counts only if it really contains vector paths. If you’re unsure, send it to us and we’ll verify.
Status: Perfect for text-only emblems. If your emblem is primarily or entirely text (name, initials, word mark), a font file or font name is often the most efficient way to work. We can set your text directly in the correct font and convert it to outlines for production.
You can find fonts at Google Fonts (free), DaFont, Adobe Fonts, or MyFonts. Send us the font name or attach the .ttf/.otf file with your submission. Our Font Preview tool lets you preview our in-house font library too.
Status: Completely fine. Describe your concept in words on the Get Started form — what the emblem represents, approximate dimensions, desired finish, and anything that describes what you’re after. A concept is a starting point, not an approval: artwork and dimension review, and EmblemArt’s final production approval, still apply.
If you want help creating artwork from scratch, we offer design-from-scratch services. Or, use our AI design concept guide to develop your idea into a detailed brief, then use AI to generate B&W artwork from it.
Don’t have a vector file? Not a problem — we offer artwork conversion services. For a deeper dive on file types, see our Vector Files and Suitable Design Files Knowledge Base entries.