5 Logo File Formats you should have (and Keep)

A quality logo is a valuable business asset, but it’s still surprising how often clients supply us inappropriate and/or unusable files, so here are five logo file formats Howell & Hicks Creative (www.hh-creative.com) say you should have:

.ai (Adobe Illustrator)

The original, editable design file, this vector format can be exported to multiple file types. Best for: everything (provided someone can open/edit it using Adobe Illustrator software). Not all designers will supply this ‘holy grail’ format, but H&H always do.

.eps (Encapsulated PostScript)

This vector format’s versatility means many printers and designers favour and request it.

Best for: print

.svg (Scalable Vector Graphic)

Ideal for 2D graphics like logos, .svg displays vector graphics sharply on every screen or device.

Best for: online

.jpg (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

H&H is often supplied a .jpg as a client’s primary logo file BUT they usually pixelate if scaled up, and their fixed white/coloured backgrounds limit their design flexibility. Imagine your beautiful logo sitting inside an ugly white block over a beautiful image - not very appealing.

Best for: online

.png (Portable Network Graphic)

This flexible format’s transparent background allows placement over colourful backgrounds or images. pngs can lose sharpness when scaled up, but exporting at big sizes prevents this.

Best for: most applications

On every H&H branding project, clients get a ‘master’ folder containing these vital formats. And then they just have to keep them safe and use them consistently everywhere.