You just received a ZIP folder from your designer. Inside it: AI, EPS, SVG, PDF, PNG, JPG, maybe even a TIFF.
Your printer is asking for one thing. Your web developer wants something else. Your social media manager just wants something that works.
Which file do you actually use? And did you get everything you should have?
This guide answers both questions, no design degree required.
What Logo File Formats Should i Get?
The Short Answer (If You’re In a Rush)
Here is what each file is actually for:
| File Format | Use it for |
|---|---|
| SVG | Your website, anywhere online |
| PNG | Social media, presentations, Word docs |
| Sending to printers, documents | |
| AI or EPS | Giving to other designers, future edits |
| JPG | Email signatures, older software |
Now let’s go through each one properly so you actually understand what you have.
The Two Categories: Vector vs Raster
Before anything else, you need to understand one concept, because it explains why you need multiple file types in the first place.
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) are built from mathematical points and lines. This means they can scale to any size, from a business card to a billboard, without ever going blurry or pixelated. These are your master files. Never delete them.
Raster files (PNG, JPG) are built from pixels, tiny squares of colour. They look sharp at the size they were created, but stretch them too large, and they go blocky and blurry. These are your everyday-use files for screens and documents.
The golden rule: always use a vector file for anything that will be printed or enlarged.
AI (Adobe Illustrator), Your Master File
The AI file is the original source file created in Adobe Illustrator. Think of it as the raw PSD for your logo — every shape, every layer, every font is fully editable.
Use it when:
- Handing your logo to another designer
- Making changes to the logo in future
- Creating new brand assets (letterheads, packaging, signage)
Do not use it for:
- Anything a non-designer needs to open — most people don’t have Illustrator
Important: Always keep your AI file somewhere safe. If you ever lose it and need changes made, your designer will have to rebuild the logo from scratch — which costs money.
EPS, The Universal Vector Format
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is the older, universal version of a vector file. Unlike AI files which require Illustrator, EPS files can be opened by almost any professional design or print software.
Use it when:
- Sending to a sign maker, embroiderer, or print shop
- Working with older design software
- Your printer specifically asks for it
The difference between AI and EPS: AI is more modern and retains more editability. EPS is more compatible with older systems. If in doubt, send EPS to printers and keep AI for your own designer.
SVG, The Web Standard
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic) is the vector format made specifically for the internet. Like AI and EPS, it scales to any size without losing quality. Unlike them, it loads natively in every modern web browser.
Use it when:
- Adding your logo to your website header
- Using your logo in email templates or HTML newsletters
- Any digital application where sharpness at multiple sizes matters
Why it matters for your website: A PNG logo on a high-resolution (Retina) screen can look slightly soft. An SVG always looks razor-sharp because the browser renders it mathematically. If your web developer asks for a vector file, give them the SVG.
PDF, Print Ready
The PDF format is widely misunderstood. When it contains vector data (which a logo PDF should), it is just as scalable and sharp as an AI or EPS file — and nearly every computer in the world can open it.
Use it when:
- Sending your logo to a printer who doesn’t use Illustrator
- Including your logo in a print-ready document (brochure, letterhead)
- Sending to a supplier who needs a professional file but can’t open AI
Watch out for: Some designers export a PDF from a rasterised (pixel-based) version of the logo. This looks like a proper vector PDF but is actually a low-quality file in disguise. Ask your designer to confirm the PDF contains vector data.
PNG, Your Everyday Digital File
PNG (Portable Network Graphic) is the most useful raster format for logos. The key feature is its support for transparent backgrounds — meaning your logo can sit on any coloured background without a white box around it.
Use it when:
- Posting on social media
- Dropping into a Word document, PowerPoint, or Google Slides
- Using in an email signature
- Anywhere you need a simple, universally compatible image file
Always ask for:
- A PNG on a transparent background (not white)
- A light version (for dark backgrounds) and a dark version (for light backgrounds)
- The file should be at least 1000px wide for general use, 2000px+ for larger placements
JPG, Use Sparingly
JPG (or JPEG) compresses image data to reduce file size — and in that compression, it loses quality. Every time you save a JPG, it loses a little more. For a logo, that means softer edges and sometimes visible compression artefacts.
Use it when:
- You need a very small file size (e.g. old email clients that can’t handle PNG)
- The software you’re using doesn’t support PNG
Avoid it when:
- You want a transparent background — JPG doesn’t support transparency
- Print quality matters
- You’re using it anywhere prominent
For most purposes, PNG does everything JPG does but better. Default to PNG for digital use, and only use JPG as a last resort.
What File Package Should You Actually Receive?
When you commission a professional logo design, you should receive all of the following. If your designer only gave you one or two files, go back and ask for the rest.
Complete logo file package:
- ✅ AI file (source file, editable)
- ✅ EPS file (universal vector, for printers)
- ✅ SVG file (for web use)
- ✅ PDF file (print-ready vector)
- ✅ PNG on transparent background — full colour version
- ✅ PNG on transparent background — white version (for dark backgrounds)
- ✅ PNG on transparent background — black version (for single-colour use)
- ✅ JPG — full colour on white background (for legacy use)
If you only received PNGs and JPGs, you were short-changed. You need the vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) to use your logo professionally long-term.
At Design Orbits, every logo package — including our Basic Logo Package starting from £19 — includes all final file formats so you never have to go back to a designer just to get a usable file.
Colour Versions You Should Also Have
While we’re here — file formats aren’t the only thing you need multiple versions of. Your logo should also come in at least three colour variations:
Full colour — your primary logo with all brand colours
White / reversed — a white version for use on dark or coloured backgrounds
Black / single colour — for when colour isn’t possible (fax, embossing, legal documents)
Ask your designer for all three. A professional logo design service provides these as standard.
Common Questions
My designer only gave me a PNG. Is that okay?
For basic use (social media, simple documents) — yes, short term. But you’ll hit problems when a printer asks for a vector file, or when you need to resize the logo for a large banner. Always get the AI or EPS source file as well.
What if I’ve lost my original files?
If you still have the designer’s contact, ask them for the source files — any reputable designer keeps project archives. If you’ve lost touch with them entirely, a designer can often recreate a logo from a high-quality PNG. At Design Orbits we offer logo recreation services for businesses in this situation.
My printer says the PNG I sent is too low resolution — what do I do?
Send them the PDF or EPS vector file instead. Vector files have infinite resolution — they’ll never be “too low” for print.
What is a “transparent background” and how do I check if my PNG has one?
Open the PNG in an image viewer. If the area around your logo shows as white, it doesn’t have a transparent background. If it shows as a grey checkerboard pattern, it does. Always ask for the transparent version.
Summary
You need more than one file format because different situations require different types of files. The quick guide:
- Printers and sign makers → EPS or PDF
- Your website → SVG
- Social media and documents → PNG (transparent background)
- Future designers → AI source file
- Legacy or fallback use → JPG
If you’re commissioning a logo and want to make sure you get every file you need — in every format, for every use — take a look at affordable logo design packages. Every package includes the full file set, unlimited revisions, and complete ownership rights.
Read: How Much Does a Logo Cost in the UK?(2026 Best Value Price Guide)
Design Orbits is a UK and US graphic design agency offering flat-rate logo design, branding, and web design for startups and growing businesses. Logo design from £19.
