Which logo files do you need?

Start with where the logo needs to go

A website header, an email signature and a shop sign have different requirements. Before the designer prepares exports, list the first places the logo will appear and who will use the files. A developer, a colleague updating slides and a sign supplier may each need a different version.

For a compact identity project, that list might be: website, business card, social profile and one-colour printing. Naming the uses is more helpful than requesting every file extension you have heard of.

Vector artwork and everyday image files

Vector artwork describes shapes and paths that can be scaled. SVG is useful for logos on websites and other compatible digital tools. PNG is a pixel-based format that supports transparency; it is useful in documents, presentations and platforms that do not accept SVG. A PNG still needs enough pixels for the size at which it will be displayed. ^1,2

A practical handover might include:

• SVG: a scalable version for the website or a compatible digital workflow.
• PNG: transparent-background exports in the sizes needed for everyday use.
• PDF: logo artwork or production files prepared for the agreed supplier workflow.
• AI or another working format: when editable source files are included in the agreement.
• EPS: when a supplier specifically requires it, rather than as an automatic extra for every project. ^3,4

A PDF can contain vector artwork, images or both. The extension alone does not tell you whether the logo inside is scalable or the file is ready for a particular print process. Ask the designer to check the artwork against the supplier's requirements. ⁴

Why does a logo have a white box around it?

Sometimes the white area belongs to the image, rather than to the page behind it. A JPEG cannot provide a transparent background. A PNG can, but only if it has been exported with transparency; changing the filename will not remove a white background. ²

Try the supplied light and dark versions on the backgrounds where you plan to use them. Check the space around the mark too. A technically transparent file can still have a very large canvas or feel cramped when the artwork nearly touches its edges.

Colour and layout variations

Request the versions the identity needs: the main logo, an alternative arrangement when appropriate, and light, dark or single-colour artwork for the agreed applications. Each version should have a clear filename and a usage example.

Digital and print versions need to be prepared for their output. Share the printer's or sign supplier's specification instead of assuming that a generic export will work everywhere. The guide should identify the colour values and any production constraints; unusual materials or processes may need their own proof.

What about editable files and fonts?

A working file helps a qualified designer make future changes. State whether it is included, which application it requires and which resources remain separate. A logo with its letters converted to shapes and a layout with editable text serve different purposes; agree what the next person needs to change.

Font files are not automatically transferable. For example, Adobe Fonts allows work to be supplied as outlined, rasterised or appropriately embedded artwork, but does not allow the font files to be packaged and shared. A client who needs direct access to edit text may need their own licence. Other font licences have their own terms. ⁵

A handover check you can do in five minutes

1. Open the SVG or vector artwork and confirm the approved logo is present.
2. Place the PNG on both a light and a dark background. Check that the intended transparent version has no unwanted box.
3. Try the logo at the real size of an email signature or profile image; inspect readability and breathing room.
4. Check the filenames and guide: can a colleague identify the correct version without asking the designer?
5. Send the relevant production file to the supplier for a check before ordering print or signage.

For example, a file named brand-logo-horizontal-dark-rgb.png tells you more than logo-final-new-3.png. A small, organised set of usable files is more valuable than an archive full of unexplained duplicates.

Agree the handover before design starts

Include the intended uses, logo variations, export formats, editable files and licensing needs in the brief. Our design brief guide gives you a structure for that first conversation. If you need a new identity or an update to an existing one, we can define the design and handover around the materials you need first.

Technical references

1. Adobe: SVG
2. Adobe: JPEG vs PNG
3. Adobe: Save artwork
4. Adobe: PDF options
5. Adobe Fonts: licensing