Logo File Formats You Should Receive
When your logo is delivered you should receive vector files (AI, EPS, SVG and PDF) for scaling and print, raster files (PNG with a transparent background, and JPG) for everyday digital use, full-colour, one-colour, black and reversed versions of each, plus your colour codes, font details and a short usage guide. If you only received a JPG or a PNG, you do not have a usable logo yet.
Vector files: the ones that matter most
Vector files are built from mathematical shapes rather than pixels, so they scale to any size, from a browser tab icon to a billboard, without losing quality. Printers, sign makers and embroiderers will ask for them.
| Format | What it is for |
|---|---|
| AI | The Adobe Illustrator master file your designer edits |
| EPS | An older universal vector format that many printers and sign makers still request |
| SVG | The vector format for websites and apps, sharp at every screen size |
| A vector file almost anyone can open, useful for printers and quick sharing |
Raster files: for everyday digital use
Raster files are made of pixels. They are convenient, but they lose quality when enlarged.
| File | What it is for |
|---|---|
| PNG | Transparent background, for websites, presentations and documents |
| JPG | No transparency, for email signatures and places that do not accept PNG |
| Favicon | The small square icon in browser tabs, plus larger sizes for app icons |
| Social avatars | Square or circular versions sized for profile pictures |
The versions you need of each
- Full colour for normal use
- One colour for printing, embroidery and engraving
- Black and white, or reversed, for light and dark backgrounds
- Horizontal and stacked layouts for wide and narrow spaces
- An icon or monogram for small spaces such as favicons and avatars
Colour codes for every medium
- HEX and RGB for screens
- CMYK for standard printing
- Pantone (PMS) for exact colour matching in professional print and signage
Without these, the same blue can look noticeably different on your website, your business cards and your storefront.
Everything else you should get
- The names of your brand fonts, and confirmation that they are licensed for print, web and app use
- A usage guide covering clear space, minimum size and what not to do with the logo
- A written statement that ownership transfers to you, explained in who owns the copyright to your logo
How to check what you received
- Open the SVG or PDF and zoom in as far as you can. The edges should stay perfectly sharp.
- Place the PNG on a dark background. There should be no white box around it.
- Check that the one-colour and reversed versions exist, not only the full-colour logo.
- Confirm the files are organised into folders by format and colour, with clear names.
Common questions
My designer only sent a PNG. What should I do?
Ask for the vector source files. If the logo was created as a pixel image in the first place, it will need redrawing as vector artwork before it can be used professionally.
Do I need the AI file if I do not use Illustrator?
Yes. You may never open it, but the next designer or printer you work with will need it.
Where should I keep the files?
In cloud storage owned by the business, not only in one person’s email, so they survive staff changes.
What we hand over
Our logo design work ends with the full set above, organised and named, with usage rules and the ownership transfer in writing. For how the deliverables affect price, see our logo cost guide.
