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SVG, PNG or JPG? Logo File Formats and Which to Send

6 days ago
2 min read

A printer asks for your logo, and the only copy you can find is a screenshot in an old email. It looks fine on your phone, but that does not make it suitable for a sign. Understanding logo file formats helps you send the right file the first time.

SPB logo examples showing SVG artwork, PNG transparency and a JPG solid background.

Vectors and pixels

Vector artwork describes shapes as paths, so a genuine vector logo scales up or down cleanly. A raster image is a grid of pixels, and a small one enlarged becomes soft and blocky.

One catch: a file type that can hold vector artwork does not always contain it. An SVG or a PDF can contain an embedded raster picture, so the extension alone does not prove the logo is vector. If you are unsure, ask the designer who made it.

What each format is for

SVG often works well for a website logo when your platform supports it. Check with your web professional.

PDF, EPS or source files may be requested by a printer or sign shop. Ask that supplier for its specifications instead of guessing.

PNG supports transparency and suits many digital layouts. Keep enough pixels for the size it will be shown, without making the file needlessly huge.

JPG works for photographs but cannot preserve a transparent background, so it is a poor choice when a logo needs to sit on a colored area.

What does not work

Renaming a JPG to ".svg" does not turn it into a vector. Saving a screenshot as a PDF does not recreate the original paths. Do not stretch a logo, recolor it casually or rebuild the lettering from memory. If a screenshot is all you have, ask your designer for the original package.

A logo handoff checklist

  • Full-color, single-color and reversed (light) versions, only if your designer actually prepared them

  • Each version tested on light and dark backgrounds

  • Master files in one folder, exports in another

  • Filenames that describe color, background and use, such as "logo-full-color-for-light-backgrounds.png"

  • Approved colors and spacing notes saved alongside the files

  • A note on which files are confirmed vector and which are raster

  • The vendor's requirements, in writing, before you send anything

Requirements differ by supplier and by what is being made, so there is no single resolution or color setup to recommend. Ask first.

Keep the package with your other website files

A tidy logo folder is part of ongoing upkeep, like updating contact details or checking forms. A website care plan can cover that kind of routine, and SPB Website Designs can help you sort out what files you have and what is missing.

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