Why ownership matters before any redraw
When a client sends us a logo, sketch, sticker scan or old PDF, we first look at one question: do you own it or do you have permission to use it? That is not just a formality. It affects whether the artwork can be redrawn, traced, cleaned up or developed into new vector files for proper business use.
In South Africa, many businesses in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria and Bloemfontein work with artwork passed around over the years. A file might come from a former designer, a printer, a sign writer or even a social media post. If the business does not own the rights, we have to stop and ask for proof of permission before we proceed.
Bitmap tracing is not the same as a proper redraw
A blurry image can often be traced, but tracing and hand redraw are not the same thing. Bitmap tracing follows the pixels in a low quality image and tries to rebuild the outline. A hand redraw starts again from the shape and structure, then matches the lines, spacing and proportions with care.
For a simple mark, tracing may be enough. For a worn logo, a mascot, a badge or a packaging illustration, hand redraw usually gives a cleaner result. It is also better when the original file is tiny, skewed or saved from a phone screen shot. Sometimes the old artwork is full of compression noise, uneven curves and odd corners, so tracing alone will not fix it properly.
- Bitmap tracing suits basic logos with clear edges.
- Hand redraw is better for damaged, low resolution or outdated artwork.
- Illustration work often needs a fresh build rather than a quick trace.
- Vector formats such as SVG, EPS, PDF and AI make artwork easier to print and scale.
What you should be able to prove before sending artwork
If you are sending artwork for redraw, it helps to have clear proof that you own it or have permission to use it. That could be a signed handover from the previous designer, an agreement with the original artist, or internal records showing the business commissioned the artwork in the first place.
We are not asking for paperwork to be difficult. We need it because a client may want the artwork for a menu, a vehicle sign, a label or a large shopfront and those uses can touch different rights. One missing permission can hold up the whole job, especially if the file is used across branches or franchise locations.
- Keep the original brief, invoice or commissioning note if you have it.
- Save any written permission from the artist or agency.
- Check whether the artwork was bought outright or licensed for limited use.
- Confirm that any fonts, images or textures inside the file are also cleared for use.
Common situations that cause trouble later
Many problems come from files that seem harmless at first. A logo copied from an old brochure, a mascot lifted from a supplier flyer, or a map illustration cut from a PDF can all carry rights issues. Even if the business paid for printing before, that does not always mean it owns the source artwork.
Another common case is when someone asks for a redraw of a logo made by a cousin or freelance artist years ago. If nobody can say who created it, or whether the business bought the rights, the work becomes risky to use for rebranding, packaging or export documentation. The same applies to social graphics and event art where a photo, font or pattern was borrowed without permission. It can look fine on a screen but still be unsafe for wider use.
A local example from a Cape Town business
Say a small cafe in Observatory brings in a scan of a hand painted logo that was used on cups and menus for years. The scan is blurry, the lettering is uneven and the image has faded at the edges. Before we redraw it, the owner needs to confirm that the original sign painter created it for the business, or that the business bought the rights to the design.
If that is in place, the artwork can be rebuilt into clean vector files for menus, window vinyl, sticker sheets and packaging. If not, the safer route is to commission a new logo or illustration based on fresh direction from the owner. That avoids disputes later, and it gives the business a file it can use across Cape Town and beyond without worrying about permission problems.
What a clean handover looks like for vector files
Once the rights are clear, the next step is to prepare the file for real use. Vector artwork should be organised so it can move between printers, sign makers and designers without losing quality. That usually means tidy line work, named layers and export files in the formats clients actually need.
In practice, businesses usually ask for artwork that can be used on letterheads, labels, social graphics, packaging and large format print. A proper redraw should support that from the start, with sensible file setup and no hidden clutter.
- SVG for web and digital use.
- EPS for print and production workflows.
- PDF for sharing proof files and print handover.
- AI for editable source files where required.
We work from our Observatory, Cape Town base with businesses across South Africa, including Stellenbosch, Paarl and Port Elizabeth, and the same rule applies everywhere: clear rights first, then clean artwork.
The simple rule to follow before you brief a redraw
If you own the artwork, or you have written permission to use it, send it through with the background details. If you do not, ask the original creator for clearance first or commission a fresh illustration. That one step keeps the project clean and lets the redraw move forward without uncertainty.
For businesses that need custom brand icons, mascot illustration, packaging illustration, map illustration, menu illustration, sticker illustration, pattern illustration, infographic illustration, badge illustration, line illustration, scene illustration or social graphics, rights clarity matters from day one. It is the difference between a file that works for one job and a file that can be used properly across the business.
