Vector software is used to create and edit vector graphics: images built from mathematical paths, such as lines, curves and shapes, rather than from pixels. Because the shapes are defined by maths, a vector graphic can be scaled to any size without losing sharpness. A logo drawn in vector software looks just as crisp on a 10 mm pen as it does on a 10-metre billboard.
Raster images, such as JPEGs, PNGs and photos, are made from a fixed grid of pixels and go blurry or blocky when they are enlarged. That one difference is why vector software sits behind so much of the design, print and manufacturing work you see every day. For a quick primer, read Graphic Files Explained: Vector vs Raster.
Common uses of vector software
1. Logo design and branding
Logos need to work everywhere: business cards, websites, signs, uniforms, vehicles and packaging. Vector software lets designers build a logo once and use it at any size and in any colour. It is also where brand colours are set with exact CMYK, RGB and Pantone values so the logo looks consistent across every supplier. See Why Vector Graphics Are Essential for Your Brand’s Scalability.
2. Print design
Business cards, brochures, flyers, posters, menus and packaging are usually laid out with vector artwork. Printers prefer vector files because they print sharply at any size and colours can be controlled precisely. More on that in What Printers Actually Need: Vector File Requirements Explained.
3. Signage and vehicle graphics
Sign makers use vector files to output large-format prints and to drive vinyl cutters, which physically follow the paths in the file. A clean vector logo is essential for shopfront lettering, wall graphics, window decals and vehicle signage.
4. Apparel: embroidery and screen printing
Embroidery digitisers start from vector artwork to plan their stitch paths, and screen printers use vectors to separate each colour onto its own screen. Simple, clean shapes give much better results on shirts, caps and workwear. See Vector Files for Embroidery, Screen Printing and Laser Cutting.
5. Laser cutting, engraving and CNC
Laser cutters, engravers, CNC routers and plasma cutters all follow vector paths. Makers use vector software to prepare SVG and DXF files for timber signs, acrylic displays, metal plaques, trophies and promotional products.
6. Illustration
Illustrators use vector software for flat-style artwork, icons, infographics, maps, characters and patterns. Each element stays editable, so colours and shapes can be changed long after the illustration is finished.
7. Web and app design
Icons, buttons, logos and simple illustrations on websites are often saved as SVG, a vector format that stays sharp on every screen size and high-resolution display, while keeping file sizes small.
8. Typography and font design
Every digital font is a set of vector shapes. Type designers use vector tools to draw and refine letters, and logo designers use them to customise lettering. Read The Importance of Font Identification in Brand Consistency.
9. Technical drawing, CAD and mapping
Architects, engineers and surveyors use CAD software, which is also vector-based, for precise plans and diagrams. GIS mapping software uses vectors to represent roads, boundaries and other features accurately at any zoom level.
Popular vector software
- Adobe Illustrator – the industry standard for logos, branding and print. Saves AI, EPS, PDF and SVG files.
- CorelDRAW – widely used in the sign, print and engraving industries.
- Affinity Designer – a lower-cost, one-off purchase alternative to Illustrator.
- Inkscape – free and open-source, and a good option for opening and making small edits to SVG and EPS files.
- Online editors such as Canva and Figma – handy for simple layouts and web graphics, but limited for print-ready logo work.
If you have been sent an EPS file and are not sure how to open it, see What Programs Can Open and Edit EPS Vector Files.
Common vector file formats
- AI – Adobe Illustrator’s working format.
- EPS – a long-standing universal format for logos and print.
- PDF – can contain vector artwork, and is easy for anyone to view.
- SVG – the standard vector format for the web, also used for cutting machines.
- DXF – used for CAD, CNC and laser cutting.
Our guide SVG vs EPS vs AI: Which Vector File Format Should You Use? explains which one to send where.
Do you need vector software yourself?
Most business owners do not. What you need is a proper vector master file of your logo that you can send to printers, sign writers, embroiderers and web designers. The problem is that many businesses only have a small JPEG or PNG of their logo, and automatic “convert to vector” tools usually produce messy results. See Why Auto-Tracing Logos Produces Poor Vector Results.
VectorMan redraws logos by hand in Adobe Illustrator and supplies them as AI, EPS, PDF and SVG, plus PNG copies for everyday use. If you need your logo as a true vector, get a quote. It is free, and most jobs are back within 24 hours.