Old JPG on a Memory Stick? Vectorization Studio in Observatory Redraws Faded and Low-Resolution Logos by Hand

The Cape Town studio rebuilds logos from JPGs, scans, sketches and embroidery into clean SVG, EPS and PDF files for signs, vehicles, uniforms and print.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Most small businesses only find out their logo is a problem when a sign maker or embroiderer asks for “the vector”. What they have is a 200 pixel JPG from an old website, a photocopy, or a sketch on the back of an invoice. Vectorization Studio, a hand redraw studio in Observatory, Cape Town, has published its logo redraw services for exactly that moment.

Starting from whatever survives

The studio works from JPG, PNG and flattened PDF logos, scans from paper, faded and worn artwork, pencil sketches and even embroidered references. Redraws are set up for the job they are going to: signage with simpler outlines, vehicle branding where lines and spacing must hold at scale, uniforms and embroidery, rubber stamps, packaging, favicons that still read at tiny sizes, and website and social profile versions. Badge, crest, seal, mascot, monogram, signature and text logos each get their own approach, and one colour versions are drawn for marking and single colour print.

Trace or redraw

The studio is open about when an automatic trace is enough. For a very simple shape it can be, and rough auto-traced artwork can also be cleaned up. For most logos a trace copies the old flaws: crooked curves, soft corners and uneven spacing.

“A trace follows the pixels, mistakes and all. We follow the letterforms,” said the studio’s lead illustrator. “If the C was always a bit lopsided because somebody scanned it squint years ago, we fix the curve rather than preserve it.”

Files a printer can open

Finished artwork is delivered as SVG for web and digital use, EPS for print workflows, vector PDF for sharing and approvals, and editable Illustrator master files where a client needs them. Colour setup, outlines and file structure are checked so the job opens cleanly at a printer in Cape Town or a sign maker in another province. Contour cut paths for decals and stickers, and line art redraws with even stroke weights, are also on the list.

Clients are asked to send only artwork they own or have the right to adapt. Logos can be sent in through the Vectorization Studio website, and the studio works with businesses in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria.

About Vectorization Studio

Vectorization Studio redraws logos by hand and prepares vector artwork and illustration files from Observatory, Cape Town, for businesses across South Africa. It is part of the same South African trade network as am.co.za. Vectorization Studio is operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd, 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.