All the essential logo file formats you need for your brand

Have you ever found yourself in a pickle when your web developer is asking for your logo as an SVG, yet your content creators need a PNG, but the only logo you can find on your desktop is a measly compressed JPG? And what seemed like a simple request has become an epic puzzle of entwined pixelated logos?

We’re here to help you solve this riddle of the logo file formats - we’re going to explain the essential logo file formats you need in your toolkit so that your logo is always looking fresh, professional and consistent. Let’s go!

Vector File Formats

Logos that use Vector-based file formats allow for scalability without compromising on quality. These formats use wizardry (mathematical calculations) to define shapes, lines, and colours, resulting in smooth and crisp graphics that you can zoom into forever.

AI 

• Adobe Illustrator

• Vector File Format

• Ideal for Editing

AI files are created using Adobe Illustrator. These files preserve all design elements, making it easy to modify and scale your logo without loss of quality. Designers will love you for sending this file over to them.

EPS

• Encapsulated PostScript

• Vector File Format

• Ideal for Editing, Transparency, Printing*

EPS files are widely supported and can be used in various design applications for print. They are versatile and maintain high-quality resolution.

*work that will be printed needs to be in a CMYK colour space

SVG

• Scalable Vector Graphics

• Vector File Format

• Ideal for Editing, Transparency, Digital*

SVG files are XML-based vector image formats that are increasingly popular for digital applications. They offer crisp graphics and scalability while maintaining a small file size. Your Web developer will be quietly impressed if you can supply this file format over to them.

*work that is digital needs to be in an RGB colour space

PDF 

• Portable Document Format

• Vector File Format

• Ideal for Editing, Transparency, Printing*

PDF files are versatile and widely supported. Designers can open these up in Illustrator and convert them to the file format they need. 

*work that will be printed needs to be in a CMYK colour space

Raster File Formats

Logos that use raster file formats are composed of pixels and are better suited for intricate details and photo-like images. Beware though, these are not as scalable as vector formats, and are often compressed to be used in digital media and web applications. Always save a raster file format larger that you think you will need it to avoid pixelation.

JPEG 

• Joint Photographic Experts Group

• Raster File Format

• Ideal for Digital*

JPEG files are highly compressed and widely supported, making them suitable for web-based applications. However, due to compression, they may lose some quality over time, so it's recommended to keep a high-resolution version as well.

*work that is digital needs to be in an RGB colour space

PNG 

• Portable Network Graphics

• Raster File Format

• Ideal for Transparency, Digital*

PNG files support transparency, making them ideal for web and digital applications. They provide a better quality-to-file-size ratio compared to JPEGs and are commonly used for logos displayed on websites or social media platforms.

*work that is digital needs to be in an RGB colour space

PSD

• Photoshop Document

• Raster File Format

• Ideal for Editing

PSD files are created and edited using Adobe Photoshop. They preserve multiple layers, allowing for easy editing and manipulation. While not used for final logo delivery, they can sometimes be useful during the design process.

Which file format do you need?

RGB or CMYK?

You may have noticed that we have mentioned the colour spaces: RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black/Key). If your logo has colour variants it is important that you use these colour spaces correctly to avoid colour inconsistency. If you don't, you could end up with a logo with a CYMK colour space being displayed on an RGB screen display, which will leave your brand and day a little bit duller than it should have been. 

A general rule for digital work is that you need to save your logo as an RGB, whereas for print work it needs to be a CMYK. This is because the colour in your ink is different to the colour emitted by your screen. 

In some cases you can have file formats in both colour spaces, so it’s good practice to add the colour space you’ve saved the logo with in the title of the file so that you don’t get mixed up. Here is an idea of where to use which colourspace for each logo file:

If you're not sure what colourspace your logo is, open it up in Photoshop or Illustrator. The file name at the top of the window usually states the colourspace in brackets. Watch this video on how to change an image from CMYK to RGB.

What the Pantone?

Some Printers may use a Pantone colour space to ensure consistency across printing products. Pantone is a colour matching system, with a book which allows you to see an exact colour match of how the ink would look on paper. If you're dealing with the printers online you won't be able to see this colour reference in-person, but luckily you can use Adobe Illustrator to find your nearest colour match.

Learn about choosing colour for your brand here.

Make your life easier

If in doubt, remember to keep copies of high-resolution versions of your logo - it’s easy to compress a high-res logo, but impossible to make a high-res version from a compressed JPG. 

You will receive all of these file formats in your design package supplied by the creative agency you are working with. We recommend adding all of these file formats mentioned above to a shared drive, such as Google Drive. Once you’ve got these all uploaded in one place, you won’t have to worry about what file logo your designer needs, just send them a link, and get on with your day!

Happy logo sharing!