7 Simple Steps to Make an SVG File

SVG scalable vector graphics files are the best option for screen printing. If you work with various designs for printing, you may encounter problems with the images, particularly their resolution. High resolution is crucial in producing high-quality images for screen printing. Otherwise, the results may appear distorted and poorly scaled.

To resolve all these respective issues, you need to use the SVG file, which is the perfect solution for all image-related issues and can generate perfectly crisp graphics for your printing purpose —

Only if you know when and how to use them.

And there’s much more to learn about SVG files than you may know.

In this blog, we’ll cover some basics of SVG files and see how they’re the best image format options as compare to others.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is the most popular and user-friendly file format to use. Unlike other file formats, such as JPEGs, SVG files are based on mathematical formulas and store images as points and lines on a grid. This makes them ideal for screen printing, logos and complex online graphics, as they can be resized without losing quality.

Not only are SVGs great for resizing, but they are also written in XML code. Search engines like Google can read the text information stored in an SVG graphic, potentially helping your website move up in search rankings. You can identify an SVG file by looking for the .svg extension.

Now let’s see How to Make an SVG File in 7 Simple Steps.

If you want to create SVGs from scratch, don't worry about knowing XML or programming. You can draw your vectors using one of the programs listed above and then export them in an SVG format. These instructions are specifically for Adobe Illustrator.

Here are the steps to get started:

Create a design to turn into an SVG file. Ensure the imagery is smooth and has distinctly indicated corners or curves so the transition from non-SVG to SVG is clean.

Select Image Trace over the design in the Illustrator artboard. Then, navigate to Advanced Options in the drop-down menu. Adjust the settings as necessary, as every design is unique. It's also best to lower the number of paths to further smooth the borders of the design. When you're done, select Outline View to see the design's edges and the number of nodes present.

Convert your design into a vector image. Click "Expand," and your identified design will become a vector image for screen printing.

After converting the design into a vector image, it’s time to resize the image because the smaller the file is, the better it can be used for screen printing, making it more accessible and easy to use.

After the resizing, now edit and refine your design. Remove all the unnecessary nodes with Adobe’s simple or smooth tool and simply the paths of your image without any adverse effect.

You can use the magic wand tool to separate your new design from the other ones on the artboard because designers usually create more than one design in a single artboard.

Now export your design file as an SVG image by following this command.

First, select the design, and now click on file> Export > Export as SVG (*.SVG).

If you want to use your design online, then copy & paste your XML code.

Now click on See code from the options, then save it to create your screen printing product.

The main difference between an online software converted SVG file and an Illustrator converted SVG file lies in the tools and capabilities of the respective software.

Illustrator is a professional vector graphics editor developed by Adobe, known for its accuracy and precision in handling SVG files. When Illustrator converts an SVG file, it tends to maintain the original design, structure, and attributes more faithfully compared to online software, which may have limitations in accurately interpreting and converting complex SVG elements.

Illustrator offers a wide range of advanced features and capabilities specifically tailored for working with vector graphics. It supports various SVG-specific features, such as gradients, filters, clipping paths, and masking, and provides extensive control over these elements. Online software, on the other hand, may not support all these features or offer the same level of flexibility and control.

Illustrator provides powerful editing tools that allow you to modify and manipulate SVG files extensively. You can edit individual paths, adjust colors, apply effects, rearrange elements, and more. While some online software might offer basic editing capabilities, they may not match the comprehensive editing options available in Illustrator.

Illustrator offers options for optimizing SVG file sizes, allowing you to reduce the file size while preserving visual quality. Online software may not provide the same level of control over file size optimization, resulting in larger file sizes that could affect website performance or loading times.

Illustrator is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which means it seamlessly integrates with other Adobe applications like Photoshop, InDesign, and After Effects. This integration enables a smooth workflow when working with SVG files across multiple design projects. Online software may not have such integrations, limiting its compatibility with other design tools.

Although you must need to know that the capabilities and limitations of such software and application can vary depending on the provider and version. However, as a general rule, Illustrator tends to offer more advanced features, better accuracy, and greater control when converting and working with SVG files.

SVGs and other vector graphics are fundamentally different in comparison to raster graphics because raster relies on pixels such as jpegs or png files. The four significant benefits of using SVG files are as follows.

Unlike raster images, SVG files are infinitely scalable and can appear blurry or grainy if not appropriately sized. You can enlarge SVG files for screen printing and resize them as often as possible without losing clarity. To illustrate this point, a comparison image shows a zoomed-in SVG file, which appears clear, and a zoomed-in JPG file, which looks blurry and pixelated.

Not only can SVG files be resized multiple times during the editing stage without losing clarity, but it's relatively simple to produce responsive SVG files that look good on any screen printing method, even if the image will be zoomed into any scale. The versatility of SVG files makes them an excellent choice for any screen printing method. Also, these SVG files can be used for fonts because of their unique color scheme and gradients.

SVG files have the potential to be much smaller than PNGs or JPGs of the particular image of the designs, and it depends on the number of paths and complexity of graphics. Vecta.io reports that SVG files can be between 60 and 80% smaller than PNGs, making them an ideal choice for printing and improving the user experience (UX)—additionally, faster page speeds benefit website SEO.

Regarding accessibility and inclusivity, SVG files have many advantages over raster files. In an SVG file, designers can include structured data that describes the visual elements in a graphic. This information can aid people who use assistive technology better understand the image's contents.

In contrast, raster files rely solely on metadata (such as alt text) to convey the graphic's contents to screen readers and assistive devices. Additionally, SVG files are scalable, which benefits both creators and users. People with low vision can zoom in on SVG files without blurting the image. Feel free to try this out on the SVG file below.

Regarding large-scale screen printing, we suggest using SVG over other options. This is because SVG allows for easy color changes and layer adjustments even after creating the design. Additionally, the quality of an SVG image remains consistent regardless of scaling, and it supports an unlimited amount of colors for screen printing. Furthermore, SVG files are great for creating transparent images that can be easily adjusted in size and modified frequently for screen printing purposes.

Choosing a method for making SVG files is totally depends on what you have at hand, and if you're an expert printing or a DIY enthusiast, you must have knowledge of vector files such as scalable vector graphics (SVG) or others. Moreover, always use high-quality vector-converted files for printing to get your desired results.