I wanted to create a quick blog post to share when I have to explain why the lowres image file sent is unable to be easily made into a vinyl decal and why I charge a design fee to convert the lowres image into a vector file. 

• A bitmap image is like a photo made up of tiny dots of color (called pixels). Each dot has a fixed color, and together they create the image. But if you try to zoom in or enlarge the image, it can look blurry or "blocky" because you're just stretching those dots.
• A vector image, on the other hand, is more like a blueprint. It uses instructions (math formulas) to tell the computer how to draw the shapes, lines, and colors. Because of this, you can zoom in or make it as large as you want, and it will always look sharp and clear.

In summary:

• Bitmap = great for detailed photos, but loses quality if enlarged. Fine for print, but vinyl cutters need vector to read. 
• Vector = perfect for logos or designs because it stays sharp at any size. Vinyl Cutter Programs use this format to read. 

Sometimes I am able to do what is called an 'image trace' in Adobe Illustrator which is only a couple clicks. But if the image is too low resolution, the image trace spits out an image that has wavy lines and will look terrible when cut. In which case I charge to clean up the image.