Vectorization & Digitization of City Coats of Arms and Family Crests

For the Reuter City of Stavenhagen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, we took on a very special task: the digitization of the scanned city coat of arms as a vectorized version. The city officials provided us with the coat of arms as a scanned file. Some vector programs, like Adobe Illustrator, allow for the automatic vectorization of pixel-based graphics. However, the professional program reached its limits with this coat of arms. So, our illustrator Alex had to illustrate the original motif by tracing and coloring it piece by piece with paths. It was a thorough job that was worth it. After all, the city coat of arms is now available in various file formats such as AI and EPS and can be easily exported to PNG, JPG, and PDF – thus, the Reuter City is very well equipped for the coming decades.

Advantage of vectorization/digitalization of coats of arms

The special advantage of the vectorized coats of arms we offer is that they

1. true to detail and razor-sharp are
2. relatively small in terms of data volume compared to pixel-based coats of arms
3. infinitely scalable without loss of quality
4. also gradients, shades, background patterns, or other textural effects can be added
5. can make lost details visible again

Thus, the city and family coats of arms that we have digitized look equally good as a small graphic on business cards, as well as on 10 x 10 m large banners, letterhead, flags, or websites – both in print and digital use.

Here it is zoomed in to show that everything remains razor-sharp even in high zoom areas:

For the creation and editing of heraldic coats of arms.

The creation of heraldic coats of arms is a specialized field that deals with the design and drafting of coats of arms. Heraldry is the science of heraldic study and concerns itself with the symbolism, rules, and traditions associated with coats of arms. As an agency, we are not heraldists by trade, but we have become well-acquainted with the subject.

Usually, each city has its own unique coat of arms that represents historical, cultural, and symbolic elements. Elements such as colors, symbols, or other features are used to point to the history, geography, or characteristics of the city. Generally, the coat of arms can convey information about the historical significance of the city, important events, or local peculiarities. Each element in the coat of arms has a symbolic meaning. Colors like red, blue, green, gold, and silver, for example, have specific symbolic connotations. Symbols like lions, eagles, bulls, stars, or weapons can represent certain characteristics or properties. It is important to understand the symbolic meaning of the elements and to use them according to the desired message of the coat of arms.

There are certain conventions that should be followed, such as the arrangement of elements, the use of specific colors, or the consideration of historical traditions. As a heraldic coat of arms agency, it is important to familiarize oneself with heraldic rules in order to create and/or vectorize a correct and acceptable coat of arms.

Do you need a digitization of your coat of arms?

If you would like a vectorization of your coat of arms (club crest, city crest, or family crest) or other heraldic motifs, please feel free to send us the available graphic (as a scan/photo/seal ring/wall plate). We will calculate our time expenditure and gladly prepare an offer for you within a short time.