So, you've finally found the perfect logo designer for your business. You're excited to get started and can't wait to see what they come up with. Here are the files types, formats, and variations that you should ask your logo designer to deliver after they designed you a stellar logo.
There are five common file types that you can request your designer. They are .PNG .JPG .PDF .AI .EPS .SVG. This is an extensive range and in my opinion, you don't need all of these file types! It just makes everything more complicated. These file types can be divided into files for digital usage and print purposes.
How you are going to use your logo online. This includes social media images, website favicon, ads, YouTube banners, and more. There are two different file types you need for digital usage:
This is the preferred file type for digital usage. There are two reasons for this.
First, you can use it as an image on your website or social media pages without having to worry about resolution issues. It is scalable which means that it scales better than other file types so that you will always have a sharp logo!
Second, the file size of an SVG is very low. If you've ever tried to use a jpeg or png on your website, you'll notice how heavy they can be. So heavy that the site will slow down every time it has to load an image for all of its visitors. SVG images are very lightweight and won't impact your website's performance.
The drawback of SVG files is that they aren't supported by every website. That's why you'll need a PNG as a backup.
This is the most common file type requested because it can be used for digital purposes on almost any device or browser. The drawback with the PNG file format is that they aren't as lightweight as SVG, making it harder to serve on your website. Besides that, you can't scale the file as easily as the SVG. It will result in pixelated images.
A big plus of a PNG compared to JPG files is that they have the possibility of a transparent background which allows it to seamlessly overlay it on other images. For example in the menu of a website.
I usually also provide a PNG file with a colored background which is ideal for profile pictures on any social platform.
Assuming you are using your logo on physical materials such as business cards, stickers, or t-shirts, you're going to need a print quality file.
The .eps format is the best option here because it has infinite scaling opportunities which will prevent grainy images. It is widely supported by almost any software, application, or device that supports vector files. This means it can be used for print purposes on anything from a sign to the side of a car!
A PDF would be the second-best option if you're looking for something print quality that is widely supported by different applications and devices (like a .eps). The downside of this file type is that it's not always vector-based. This means that the file isn't always scalable, which could result in pixels being visible due to enlarging or shrinking of the file. But a professional logo designer will always export the logo the pdf as a vector format, so this shouldn't be something to stress about.
A JPG is generally not the best option because of its low resolution and because it's lacking possibility of a transparent background. But sometimes you just need something quick that works. The only reason I would ever recommend this file type is if you are printing on a small or basic item like stickers or business cards.
You don't need AI and EPS files unless you're a designer yourself. As a non-designer, these file types will be very complicated to work with and they are not supported by every application.
Dear Designer,
Before we kick off this logo design project I would like to be clear on which logo files we would like to receive. This is to make sure we both know what to expect at the end of this project.
For digital logo files (designed in RGB format) we need SVG and PNG files. For the PNG format, I would like to receive two different styles. With a colored background (which is ideal for my Social media profiles) and with a transparent background.
For print logo files (designed in CMYK format) we need an EPS, PDF, and JPG format.
Kind regards,
Think about logo variations (with tagline or logo icon) different colors (Inverted, full black, full white), and PMS color spaces. That is for another time. I hope this article will help you as a client or as a designer to better communicate your needs.
Do you have any questions about the logo files you would need or already received for your business? Don't hesitate to contact me! I'm always happy to help.
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