Artwork Guide
Custom Pen Design Concepts
At PensXpress, all we need from you is an idea or a concept. We take those thoughts and turn them into reality. Whether you have a sketch, a photo, or a simple description, we can handle the design. Best of all, you can request as many designs and changes as you need to get it right — we never charge for design services.
Submitting Your Logos
Our customers send us many types of artwork, but not all formats are suitable for high-quality digital printing. Logos pulled from websites or scanned from business cards are usually low resolution, meaning they will appear blurry or jagged when printed on your custom pens.
Preferred File Types for Best Results:
- Adobe Illustrator: .AI files
- Encapsulated Post Script: .EPS files
- High Resolution PDF: Over 300 dpi .PDF files
These are known as Vector format files. They can be resized and manipulated without losing clarity, ensuring your brand looks sharp and professional on every pen.
What is Vector Artwork?
Vector art is created using mathematical points and lines rather than pixels. This allows the artwork to be scaled up or down infinitely with the click of a mouse without any distortion. The image below demonstrates the difference between a clean Vector logo and a "Bitmap" logo (like a .JPG or .PNG) which becomes pixelated when enlarged.
How to Identify a Vector File
If your file ends in .JPG, .GIF, or .BMP, it is not vector artwork. If it ends in .AI, .EPS, or .PDF, it is likely a vector. If you are unsure, simply email your file to graphics@pensxpress.com and our team will be happy to help.
I Don't Have a Vector Logo. What Do I Do?
The best step is to contact your original logo designer and ask for the "vector source file." They usually have this on file for business card or brochure printing. However, if you absolutely cannot get a vector file, let us know! Unlike our competitors, we can redraw your logo for you within reason at no extra charge.
Website and Business Card Images
Website Images: These are designed to load quickly, meaning they are very low resolution. We cannot use these for high-quality printing.
Business Cards: Scanned images of business cards are also too low in resolution and will not produce a professional result on your pens.