One of the most common frustrations after a logo project isn't about the design itself — it's discovering, months later, that the only file you have is a low-resolution PNG that looks blurry blown up on a banner. Here's what you actually need, and why.

Vector vs. raster, in plain terms

Raster files (JPEG, PNG) are made of a fixed grid of pixels — enlarge them past their original size and they get blurry. Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) are built from mathematical paths instead of pixels, so they scale to any size — a business card or a billboard — without losing quality. Every professional logo project should end with a vector master file, even if you never open it yourself.

The files you should receive

  • AI or EPS — the vector master file, editable in design software. This is your source of truth; keep it safe.
  • SVG — a web-friendly vector format for your website, scalable and lightweight.
  • PDF — vector-based and universally openable, good for sending to printers.
  • PNG (transparent background) — raster, for everyday digital use like email signatures and presentations.
  • JPEG — raster, useful only where transparency isn't needed; not ideal as your primary logo file.

RGB vs. CMYK

RGB is how color is built from light on a screen; CMYK is how it's built from ink on paper. The same color code often looks noticeably different across the two, which is why a proper delivery includes color values for both — so your brand blue looks the same on your website and on a printed brochure, rather than shifting between them.

Clear space, padding and minimum size

A logo needs breathing room around it to read cleanly — this is usually defined as "clear space" in a brand guide, often measured relative to the logo's own height. It also has a minimum size below which detail starts to disappear. Both should be documented so anyone using the logo later — an employee, a print shop, an ad agency — applies it correctly without guessing.

Tools, briefly

Professional designers typically work in Adobe Illustrator (industry standard for vector logo work) or increasingly Figma and Affinity Designer. Canva is fine for assembling simple graphics from an existing logo, but it isn't built for constructing a logo from scratch with the precision a professional file requires.

The short version

You need a vector master file (AI/EPS), a web-ready vector (SVG), a universal print format (PDF), and transparent PNGs for everyday use — not just a JPEG. If a "finished" logo project only hands you a JPEG, ask for the rest; you're entitled to it.