Image Resolution and Vector Graphics — Getting Your Artwork Right for a Giant Deckchair

This is the single most common conversation we have with new customers — and it almost always starts the same way: "Here's our logo, can you just put it on the sling?"

The answer is nearly always yes. But the file you have in mind is often not quite up to the job, because a giant deckchair sling is not a business card. It is 1.32 metres wide and 2.1 metres long. Your logo might end up printed at 50 to 75 centimetres across. That is a scale most people never have to think about, and it changes everything about what makes a usable image file.

This guide explains — in plain English, no design degree required — why resolution matters at this size, what the difference is between the two main types of image file, and exactly what to send us so your sling looks sharp and professional.

What Is Image Resolution and Why Does It Matter?

Resolution is simply how much detail an image contains. On a screen, everything looks fine because screens are small and pixel-dense. But when you blow that same image up to 75 cm wide on a printed canvas, the pixels become visible. Edges that looked crisp on your monitor start to look soft, blocky, or blurred.

Think of it like this: if you take a passport photo and enlarge it to poster size, you will see every grain and artefact. The same thing happens when a small logo file gets stretched across a giant deckchair sling.

The rule of thumb for print is 300 dpi (dots per inch) at the final printed size. So if your logo will be 60 cm wide on the sling, you need that logo file to be at least 7,087 pixels wide (60 cm × 300 dpi ÷ 2.54 cm per inch). Most website logos are around 200 to 500 pixels wide — roughly one-fifteenth of what you actually need.

Raster vs Vector — The Two Types of Image File

Not all image files are created equal. The difference between raster and vector is the single most important thing to understand when preparing artwork for large-format printing.

Raster Images (Pixel-Based)

Raster images are made up of a fixed grid of coloured dots — pixels. JPGs, PNGs, TIFFs, and BMPs are all raster formats. They have a set resolution, and if you enlarge them beyond that resolution, quality degrades. There is no way to add detail that was never there.

Raster files work fine when they are high-resolution to begin with — for example, a PNG that is already 5,000 pixels wide. But a 300 × 200 pixel logo pulled from a website header is simply too small.

Vector Images (Mathematically Defined)

Vector images are not made of pixels. Instead, they describe shapes using mathematical curves and points. This means they can be scaled to any size — from a postage stamp to a billboard — without any loss of quality. The lines stay perfectly sharp at every size.

AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS, SVG, and PDF files are typically vector formats. If your logo was professionally designed, there is a very good chance the original was created as a vector. That is the file we want.

What File Formats to Send Us

Here is a quick reference:

Format	Type	Suitability
AI (Adobe Illustrator)	Vector	Ideal — this is the gold standard
EPS	Vector	Ideal — widely compatible
SVG	Vector	Ideal — especially for logos
PDF (from Illustrator or similar)	Usually vector	Ideal — check it was exported from a vector source
PNG (high resolution)	Raster	Acceptable — if at least 300 dpi at print size
TIFF (high resolution)	Raster	Acceptable — same condition
JPG (high resolution)	Raster	Acceptable but not ideal — compression can introduce artefacts
JPG/PNG from a website	Raster (low-res)	Not suitable — far too small
Screenshot	Raster (low-res)	Not suitable
Canva free export	Raster (low-res)	Often not suitable — usually 96 dpi

In short: send us the vector file if you have one. If you only have a raster file, send us the highest resolution version you can find.

How to Check If Your File Is Good Enough

You do not need design software to do a quick sanity check:

1. Look at the file size. A vector file (AI, EPS, SVG) is almost always fine regardless of file size. For raster files, a good logo for large-format print will typically be at least 1 to 5 MB. If your logo file is 30 KB, it is almost certainly too small.

2. Zoom in. Open the image on your computer and zoom to 300 or 400 percent. If the edges of text and shapes look soft, pixelated, or blocky at that zoom level, it will not print well at giant deckchair scale.

3. Check the pixel dimensions. Right-click the file, check properties or get info, and look for the pixel dimensions. If the longest edge is under 2,000 pixels, it is unlikely to be large enough for a sling print.

If you are unsure, just send us what you have and we will let you know whether it will work. There is no charge for us to check.

Common Mistakes We See

These come up again and again, so do not feel bad if any of them sound familiar:

• Downloading your logo from your own website. Website images are deliberately small and compressed for fast page loading. They are typically 72 to 96 dpi and a few hundred pixels wide — fine for a screen, far too small for print.

• Using a business card or letterhead PDF. These are usually set up at business card or A4 size. Even if the logo looks sharp at that size, the resolution may not survive being scaled up to 60 cm or wider.

• Screenshots from social media. A screenshot of your Facebook profile picture or Instagram post will be low resolution, cropped, and compressed. It is never suitable for print.

• Canva and online logo maker exports. The free tiers of tools like Canva typically export at 96 dpi (screen resolution). Even the paid tier often maxes out at 300 dpi at A4 size — which is still far too small for a 1.3-metre sling. If your logo was designed in Canva, ask whether the original elements are available as vectors.

• Sending a Word document or PowerPoint with the logo embedded. Office applications compress images heavily. Even if the original logo was high resolution, embedding it in a document usually strips that quality away.

What to Ask Your Designer

If your logo was professionally designed, the designer will have the original vector source files. Here is exactly what to ask them:

"Can you send me the vector source files for our logo? Ideally in AI, EPS, or SVG format. We need it for large-format printing at approximately 60 to 75 cm wide."

Any professional designer will know exactly what this means and should be able to provide the files quickly. If they created the logo, they should have the originals on file.

If your designer is no longer available or the original files have been lost, that is more common than you might think — and it is not the end of the road.

Do Not Have a Suitable File? We Can Help

If your logo is only available as a low-resolution raster file, we offer two services that can solve the problem:

• Logo Redrawing Service — we professionally redraw your existing logo as a clean, scalable vector file suitable for large-format printing. This is ideal when you have a usable reference image but no vector source. The redrawn vector is yours to keep and use for future print projects too.

• Complete Custom Sling Design — if you would like us to design your entire sling layout from scratch, including logo placement, colours, text, and any additional artwork, our design team will create a complete print-ready file based on your brief.

Both services include a digital proof for your approval before anything goes to print.

Try the Online Sling Designer

If you already have high-resolution artwork or a vector logo, you can upload it straight into our online sling designer to preview how it will look on the chair. It is free to use and gives you a realistic mockup you can share with your team before placing an order.

Summary

• Giant deckchair slings are large — 1.32 m × 2.1 m — so artwork needs to be high resolution.
• Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) are ideal because they scale to any size without quality loss.
• Raster files (JPG, PNG, TIFF) work only if they are high resolution — at least 300 dpi at the final print size.
• Website logos, screenshots, and most Canva exports are not suitable for large-format printing.
• Ask your designer for the original vector source files.
• If you are stuck, our Logo Redrawing Service and Custom Sling Design services are there to help.

Not sure whether your file will work? Just send it over and we will take a look — no charge, no obligation.