The first impression won’t always be the best. Chances are your client will want to edit the first draft or even what you think is the perfect final format. To allow the client to make changes, you’ll want to deliver an editable format.
Bonus: export all these logo files in less than 5 min using Logo Package Express
Here are the most commonly used logo file formats and their intended uses:
If you want, you can also categorize logo file formats based on what applications they’re most commonly used in. In this case, you have the following:
The SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file format is a true vector file format. Of course, the attraction of vector images is that you can scale them without losing quality.
This is a format that’s rendered in XML, which means that the end result is a very small file. For all intents and purposes, this should offer better performance and faster load times. The fact that it’s resolution-independent is even better.
Compared to more popular formats such as PNG and JPG, the image quality remains the same regardless of the screen resolution. It’s also important to understand that SVG is an open standard. It can be opened in almost any graphics application.
All in all, SVG is a better true vector format for logos and a host of other graphics. Perhaps most importantly, it’s universally accepted for all web-based projects.
The only real downside of exporting a logo as an SVG file is what happens next. Once that file is opened and editing is attempted, it may not be possible to reverse any changes. It’s not uncommon to have to do post submission work by hand on SVG edits.
In conclusion, while it’s the best format in terms of image quality, it’s not overly recommended for beginner designers.
Although considered by some a dying breed, EPS logo formats are still used these days in printing. It’s an older vector graphics file format that’s spawned newer formats. It’s not under development anymore, hence its limited niched use.
Short for Encapsulated PostScript, it’s a PostScript program (developed by Adobe) that can be saved with a low-resolution preview. The end result is a file that can be previewed in a range of programs.
With any graphics editor that supports EPS, you can manipulate all the composite graphics in an EPS file, retouch them according to instructions, and then export in the same format for use in printing.
One of the great things about the EPS logo file format is that it’s cross-platform compatible. Working between Mac and Windows workstations shouldn’t be an issue.
However, with complex images, it’s not as easy as dragging and dropping everything and hitting save. EPS files rely on mathematical formulas for the rendering of previews. They’re easy to manipulate but will require some time and skill.
Furthermore, you can’t always modify the page layout section (coloration, lines, text, and other details) after the final logo has been delivered.
As mentioned, this is the native file format for Adobe Illustrator, which used EPS natively before Illustrator 9 switched over to AI.
What’s ideal about it is that it’s very easy to use with all Illustrator tools. This means that in terms of editing, creativity, and everything else, AI is much less restrictive.
Although this is not the best format overall, it’s understandably the most popular. For collaboration purposes, sending an AI logo file format may speed up the work.
PDF, JPG, and PNG are universal because any computer can open them. If your client doesn’t have any graphics tools, these may be the formats to use.
Remember JPG is smaller than PNG but has lower quality. Also PNG can be transparent and make text look better.
All are editable and scalable, but they’ll lack the quality of SVG or the editability of AI, EPS, and such.
It’s possible to make a very good impression and give your client all possible options and outcomes. By using something like Logo Package Express, an Adobe Illustrator extension, you can compile an archive that has all the logo file formats, unique folder names, color and transparency options… pretty much everything else your client’s going to need to make changes or use the logo for posting or printing.
