Submitting the wrong artwork file is one of the most common causes of delay in a custom golf ball OEM project. A raster file (PNG, JPG) cannot be used directly for pad printing — it must be redrawn as a vector before production can begin. This guide explains exactly what file formats, color specifications, and print area constraints apply to golf ball pad printing, so you can prepare your artwork correctly before submitting a project brief.
Golf ball logo printing uses a process called pad printing (also known as tampo printing). In pad printing, the logo is etched into a printing plate (cliché), and ink is transferred from the plate to the ball surface via a silicone pad. The etching process requires a vector file — a file format where the logo is defined by mathematical paths rather than pixels.
A raster file (PNG, JPG, BMP) defines an image as a grid of pixels. When a raster file is scaled up for plate etching, the edges become jagged and the fine details of the logo are lost. A vector file (AI, EPS, SVG) scales without quality loss and can be used directly for plate preparation.
| File Format | Type | Suitable for Pad Printing? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .ai (Adobe Illustrator) | Vector | Yes — preferred | Native vector format; best for complex logos |
| .eps (Encapsulated PostScript) | Vector | Yes | Industry standard; compatible with most prepress software |
| .svg (Scalable Vector Graphics) | Vector | Yes | Web-native vector; acceptable if paths are clean |
| .pdf (Portable Document Format) | Can be vector or raster | Only if vector-based | Must contain vector paths, not embedded raster image |
| .png (Portable Network Graphics) | Raster | No — redraw required | Most common submission error; requires vector redraw |
| .jpg / .jpeg | Raster | No — redraw required | Lossy compression; not suitable for plate preparation |
Golf ball pad printing uses spot colors, not CMYK process printing. Each color in the logo is printed as a separate pass. For a logo with two colors, the ball goes through the printing station twice — once for each color. This means that the number of colors in your logo directly affects the printing cost and complexity.
Color specifications should be provided as Pantone (PMS) codes. If you provide a CMYK or RGB color value, the factory will attempt to match it to the nearest available Pantone color, but an exact match cannot be guaranteed. For critical brand colors, always specify the Pantone code.
Gradients and photographic elements cannot be reproduced accurately in pad printing. If your logo contains a gradient, it will need to be simplified to solid colors before it can be used for ball printing. The factory can advise on how to adapt a gradient logo for pad printing during the artwork review stage.
A golf ball has a diameter of 42.67 mm (1.68 inches). The printable area on a standard golf ball is approximately 25–30 mm in diameter, depending on the logo shape and the ball's dimple pattern. Logos that extend into the dimple area may have reduced print quality at the edges.
Fine details — thin lines, small text, tight spacing between elements — may not reproduce well at golf ball scale. As a general rule, any line in the logo that is thinner than 0.3 mm at the final print size may not be visible after printing. The factory's artwork team will review your logo and flag any elements that may not reproduce well.
In addition to the logo, custom golf balls can include a ball number (typically 1–4) and an alignment line (a straight line printed around the equator of the ball to assist with putting alignment). Both elements are specified separately from the main logo and are included in the print specification sheet.
When submitting a project brief for a custom golf ball program, include: (1) your logo in vector format (AI, EPS, or SVG); (2) Pantone color codes for each color in the logo; (3) ball number preference (if applicable); (4) alignment line preference (if applicable); and (5) any specific placement or orientation requirements for the logo on the ball.
If your vector artwork is not yet ready, you can still submit a project brief with a raster file as a reference. The factory will provide a redraw cost and timeline as part of the project summary. Redraw adds time to the project, so preparing vector artwork in advance is recommended.
Share your logo file and tell us your target ball model, quantity, and packaging requirement. We will review the artwork and prepare a project summary including any redraw requirements.