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Save time by using these explanations to request artwork from your clients

Feel free to use these descriptions next time you are requesting artwork. Hopefully they will help you get the files you need and save you time. Please let me know how they work for you. Reach out on Twitter (@sketchbookb) and let me know what you think.

• Request High Quality Images
• Getting Vector Files

When requesting photos from clients, most designers try to explain image size with resolution, file type or file size. This goes completely over the head of most users. Now that most digital cameras — including phone cameras — generate appropriately large images, we can just ask for the original, unedited image. We also need to make sure they understand that they can't just grab the files off of Facebook or Instagram.

Next time you need an image from someone, try this explanation:

In order to make sure your image looks its best, please provide us with the highest quality image you have. This should be the file that comes directly off your camera or phone. Do not edit or crop the image. Images downloaded from Facebook or Instagram will not reproduce well. The file will likely be a JPG or PNG file.

It's challenging to get vector files from clients. The concept is foreign to most users who don't understand the difference between vector and bitmap. I think the best bet is to educate them that a vector file is a special file format and try to steer them to the designer or communications department.

Most of the time, when I need a vector file, it's a logo. So I wrote several versions of my vector explanation. The first version is specifically for logos:

In order to ensure your logo will look great, we require a vector version of your logo. A vector file is a special type of image file typically created with Adobe Illustrator that can scale to various sizes while maintaining quality. A vector logo is typically saved as an EPS file. Note that JPG or PNG files are bitmap files and cannot be vector files. Vector files are typically provided by the designer or company that created your logo.

A second version of this can be used when you are working with a non-designer in a larger company that has a dedicated communications team:

In order to ensure your logo will look great, we require a vector version of your logo. A vector file is a special type of image file typically created with Adobe Illustrator that can scale to various sizes while maintaining quality. A vector logo is typically saved as an EPS file. Note that JPG or PNG files are bitmap files and cannot be vector files. You can typically get a vector version of your logo from your communications department.

Sometimes, I need vector artwork for other projects. So I wrote a third version that is a little more generic.

In order to ensure your artwork will look great, we require a vector version of your design. A vector file is a special type of image file that can scale to various sizes while maintaining quality. Vector artwork is typically saved as an EPS file or a PDF. Note that JPG or PNG files cannot be vector files.