When the idea of printing your logo or design onto a t-shirt comes to mind, it is often followed by a long process of creating and cutting before you can finally apply it to a textile.
In this article, we are going to explore together how to vectorize a logo (for free), an essential step to guarantee an optimal result on your t-shirt. 👕
But before we begin, let's ask ourselves a simple question:
What is vectorization?
Vectorization lets you transform your image so that it no longer has any pixels.
If you do not vectorize your logo before cutting the transfer, it may not be smooth at its edges, because it will have reproduced the pixels of the logo.
What's more, if you cut a design that is not vectorized, your cutting blade may get damaged because of the corners of the design that will be pixelated. (the blade will be forced to make little back-and-forth movements instead of a smooth cut.)
1 - Vectorize a logo for free with the Silhouette Studio software
If you use a Silhouette Cameo or Portrait machine with the Silhouette Studio software, this method is made for you:
1️⃣- go into the Silhouette Studio software
2️⃣- Click on "file" then "open" and select the logo to vectorize
3️⃣- wait for the logo to appear, then click on the butterfly-shaped icon labeled "open the trace window" located in the middle right of the software
4️⃣- click on select the trace area and take the entire logo
5️⃣- Click on "trace"
6️⃣- and you're done!
2 - Vectorization with Cricut Design Space
If you own a Cricut cutting machine (Cricut Maker, Cricut Joy), then vectorization will be very simple, because you will just have to follow the steps when you upload your logo into the Cricut Design Space software.
I invite you to watch this video which explains perfectly how to vectorize easily in the software
3 - Vectorization with Inkscape
The 3rd method can be used for all software. Whether you have a Silhouette Cameo, Cricut, ScanNCut or another cutting machine. Inkscape vectorization is used regularly. To do this:
1️⃣- download the Inkscape software, which is a free program
2️⃣- click on "file" then "open" and choose your logo
3️⃣- click on your logo, then on "path" located at the top of the screen, and finally on "trace bitmap"
4️⃣- click on "OK", move your logo using your mouse, and your logo will be vectorized!
If the vectorization is not perfectly to your liking, repeat the process while changing the settings just before confirming the vectorization.
You now need to save the logo to your files, here are the steps:
1️⃣- delete the old logo so you keep only the vectorized logo on the page
2️⃣- go to "file" then "save as" and choose "DXF" as the file type
3️⃣- once that is done, all you have left to do is import your pre-vectorized logo into the software you want, and you're all set!
We hope this blog article will have been helpful and that it will have allowed you to vectorize your logo so you can make your own textile transfer.
To get hold of the most competitive transfers on the market, feel free to take a look at our heat-transfer vinyl shop!
Many types of vinyl are available, such as glitter HTV, velvet HTV or even holographic vinyl!
