Vector logo – which logo files should a business have and what are they for?
A vector logo is a file made up of mathematically defined lines and curves, not pixels. This means your logo will look crisp whether it’s an app icon, a business card, or a banner several meters wide.
We explain the difference between vector and raster, what formats like SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, PNG, and JPG are for, how to check if your logo is truly vector, and what file set your company should receive after a project.
A vector file is a logo you can scale up to billboard size and still not see a single pixel.
Key takeaways
Vector logo in a nutshell
Logos are saved in two types of files. Vector files describe shapes using points, lines, and curves, so the software recalculates them every time you scale up. Raster files, or bitmaps, are made up of a fixed grid of pixels, so they lose sharpness when enlarged.
Vector
SVG, PDF, EPS, and AI. Scales without losing quality, lightweight, and allows you to change colors. Needed for print, wraps, engraving, and embroidery.
Raster
PNG and JPG. Has a fixed number of pixels, so it’s suitable for use at a specific size: on social media, in documents, or presentations.
File set
A company needs both types: vectors as master files and ready-to-use PNG and JPG files exported from them for everyday use.
The most important rule:
- You can always export a PNG or JPG from a vector, but not the other way around.
- changing the file extension won’t turn a bitmap into a vector,
- a logo without a vector file needs to be redrawn before it can be used for large-format printing.
When you order a logo from a designer, the vector file should be the foundation of the entire project—not an afterthought you have to chase down after delivery.
The difference
Vector vs. raster logos – what’s the difference?
A vector logo file is like a set of instructions: draw a curve from this point to that one and fill it with this color. The software renders this description at any scale, so the same file works for a tiny stamp or a giant truck tarp. You can also change shapes and colors without losing quality, making it easy to prepare black, white, or single-color versions.
A raster file stores the image as a mosaic of pixels. A logo in PNG format at 500 pixels wide looks great in an email header, but when printed on a roll-up banner, the edges are jagged because the printer has to invent missing pixels. For print, the standard is usually 300 dpi at the final size, so a logo 10 centimeters wide requires a bitmap about 1,200 pixels wide.
When is a raster file perfectly sufficient?
A PNG or JPG file is the right choice when:
- you know the final size, such as a profile photo or a graphic for a post,
- you’re inserting the logo into a document, presentation, or email signature,
- the website or software doesn’t accept vector files,
- you’re sending someone a preview of the logo for approval.
Formats
Logo file formats: SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, PNG, and JPG
The file extension gives you a clue about the format, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. PDF or EPS files can contain either vectors or embedded images, so it’s important to know what each format is for.
| Format | Type | What it’s used for |
|---|---|---|
| SVG | vector | Logo for websites. Crisp on every screen, lightweight, and supported by all modern browsers. |
| usually vector | A universal format you can open on any computer. Most often required by print shops, as long as the logo is saved as a vector. | |
| EPS | usually vector | An older print format. Still sometimes required by advertising and promotional product manufacturers, though PDF is increasingly replacing it. |
| AI | source file | Adobe Illustrator file. Contains layers and allows you to edit the logo, so it’s worth having even if you can’t open it yourself. |
| PNG | bitmap | Transparent background. For social media, documents, presentations, and email signatures, exported in several sizes. |
| JPG | bitmap | No transparency, always on a background and with lossy compression. For previews and places that don’t accept PNG, but not for print. |
A source file—AI or an editable PDF or SVG—is your insurance for the future: without it, any change to the logo, even a minor one, means starting from scratch. For print files, text should be converted to outlines, meaning shapes that don’t require the font to be installed. This ensures your logo looks the same on every computer.
Colors
Colors in logo files: RGB, HEX, CMYK, and Pantone
The same logo needs several color formats because screens and printers create color differently. A monitor emits light by mixing red, green, and blue. A printer applies inks to paper, which absorb parts of the light.
RGB and HEX
Screen colors. RGB represents color using three numbers, while HEX is the same color formatted for websites, e.g., #1E3A8A. Used for SVG, PNG, and on your website.
CMYK
Four printing inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. For flyers, business cards, catalogs, and most digital and offset printing.
Pantone
Special colors mixed from ready-made inks according to a color chart. Used when your brand color needs to look identical on every print run, package, and fabric.
It’s a good idea to keep all your color codes in one place, such as in your logo guidelines or brand book, so your printer, developer, and social media manager all use the same values. We explain how to choose a palette for your brand in our article on brand colors and typography.
Applications
Which logo file for print, web, and social media?
The simplest rule: send a vector file for physical production, and ready-to-use files in the target size for screens. The details depend on the medium.
Logo for print and production
Printers usually ask for a PDF with your logo in CMYK and all text converted to outlines. For large formats, vehicle wraps, storefronts, vinyl lettering, or laser engraving, a vector file is essential, as the machine follows the lines of the logo. Embroidery shops create their own machine files, but they’ll work faster and more accurately from a vector than from a logo photo.
Logo for your website
SVG works best on websites: it stays sharp on high-resolution screens and is usually smaller in size than PNG. By default, WordPress doesn’t allow SVG uploads to the media library because SVGs can contain code. You’ll need a plugin to check and sanitize these files, or someone to add the logo directly in the theme. The icon (favicon) for browser tabs is also prepared from the symbol. Google requires a square favicon and recommends a size larger than 48 × 48 pixels for search results.
Social media, email, and documents
For profile pictures, graphics, and email signatures, use PNG. Some email clients, including Gmail apps, don’t display SVG images correctly, so a signature with an SVG logo might not show up at all for some recipients. For Word and PowerPoint, it’s easiest to insert a high-resolution PNG. Newer versions of Office also support SVG, but not everyone uses them.
Test
How to check if your logo is vector?
The file extension isn’t enough. Sometimes someone saves a logo photo as a PDF or pastes a bitmap into an SVG file, and the printer only discovers this during production. Checking takes just a few minutes.
Zoom in on the logo
Open the PDF or SVG file and zoom in to 800–1600%. Vector edges stay crisp, while a bitmap will blur or show pixelated steps.
Check the SVG code
Open the SVG file in a text editor. A true vector contains shape descriptions, such as “path” tags. An “image” tag with a long string of characters means a pasted-in image.
Switch to outline view
In a graphics program like Illustrator or free Inkscape, switch to outline view. A vector will show lines and points, while a pasted image will only show a rectangular frame.
Ask the designer
If someone else designed your logo, ask for the source file and print-ready versions. A well-prepared project should include these from the start.
If you don’t have a vector file
Do you only have your logo in JPG? What is logo vectorization?
Vectorization is the process of converting a bitmap into a vector file. While it can be done automatically—for example, using the image trace function in a graphics program or an online tool—the results for logos are rarely satisfactory. Automated tools replicate the blurs and imperfections of a small JPG, resulting in wavy edges, uneven curves, and distorted letter proportions.
For a company logo, manual redrawing is a better approach. A designer recreates the logo by hand based on the best available file, selects or reconstructs the font, and determines the exact colors. This is also the perfect time to prepare any missing versions, such as horizontal, vertical, or icon-only formats.
When is it better to refresh your logo? If your logo has fine details, shadows, and gradients that disappear at small sizes, or if it no longer fits your company’s current image, a 1:1 redraw will only preserve its issues. To learn how to update your logo without losing brand recognition, check out our article on rebranding without losing recognition.
Project acceptance
What logo files should a company receive after a design project?
A well-delivered logo project is an organized folder where you’ll find files for print, web, and social media—no need to ask the designer.
A complete logo file set includes:
- vector files: SVG for web and PDF or EPS for print, with text converted to outlines,
- the source file, such as AI, if the logo will be further developed in the future,
- PNG with transparent background in several sizes and JPG for previews,
- versions: horizontal and vertical, icon-only, full color, black, and white (reverse/negative),
- separate exports with screen (RGB) and print (CMYK) colors,
- favicon and profile image prepared from the icon,
- color codes in HEX, RGB, and CMYK, and Pantone equivalents if you do a lot of printing.
Even our Starter Logo package includes SVG, PDF, PNG, and JPG files, a color palette in HEX, RGB, and CMYK, a favicon, a social media profile image, and instructions on which file to use where. The Mini Branding package adds the AI source file and separate exports for web and print, while Branding Premium also includes the EPS format and Pantone color equivalents. Every package comes with copyright transfer, because having the files alone isn’t enough if your company can’t use them freely. We explain what affects the price in our article how much does a company logo cost, and the difference between a logotype and an icon in our guide logo vs. logotype.
Zaprojektowani • Logo • Files for web and print
Need a logo with a complete file set?
We design logos along with all versions, files for web and print, and clear instructions on which file to send to the printer and which to upload to your website. Logo design starts from PLN 999, and we transfer copyright in every package.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about vector logos and logo files
What is a vector logo?
A vector logo is saved as a set of mathematically defined lines, curves, and fills, rather than a grid of pixels. This means you can scale it up or down without losing quality and easily change its colors.
Which logo formats are vector?
Vector formats include SVG, AI, and EPS, as well as PDF if the logo is saved as vectors and not as an embedded image. PNG, JPG, GIF, and WebP are raster formats made up of pixels.
Is PNG a vector file?
No. PNG is a bitmap with a fixed number of pixels, so it loses sharpness when enlarged. However, it supports transparent backgrounds, making it useful for documents, presentations, and social media—as long as it’s the right size.
Which logo format should I choose for print?
The safest choice is a PDF with the logo in vector format, in CMYK colors, and with text converted to outlines. Some print shops and merchandise producers still request EPS or AI files, and for special colors, Pantone numbers—so it’s always best to check the specific requirements of your printer.
How do I convert a JPG logo to vector?
Automatic tracing in a graphics program or online tool usually results in uneven edges and distorted letters. For logos, it’s better to have a designer manually redraw the mark, recreating the shapes, font, and colors, and preparing any missing versions in the process.
Which logo format is best for a website?
SVG is the best choice because it stays sharp on any screen and is usually lightweight. In WordPress, uploading SVG requires a plugin that checks such files or adding the logo directly in the theme. For email footers and social media, it’s better to use PNG.
What logo files should I receive from my designer?
At a minimum: SVG, PDF, PNG, and JPG in color, black, and white versions, with exports for web and print, plus color codes. For larger projects, also request the source file, EPS, and Pantone equivalents. Equally important is the transfer of copyright for the logo.
Summary
Vector logo – what should you remember?
A vector logo in SVG, PDF, EPS, or AI format is the master file from which all other versions are created. It’s used for print, signage, engraving, and your website, because it never loses quality at any size. PNG and JPG files are ready-made copies for specific uses: social media, documents, and emails.
If you only have a bitmap, don’t just change the file extension or expect an automatic conversion. Ask your designer to redraw the logo or, if your logo is outdated, to refresh it. For a new project, clarify upfront which files, versions, and color formats you’ll receive, and whether copyright will be transferred to you.
