You’ve worked with a Branding Agency to design your logo and have receive your digital files, you may be wondering – what do I do with these? Why are there so many different formats? What’s a vector file?
When it comes to logos, having the right file to use for a specific purpose — from a business card to a Facebook cover photo to your website — is important to make sure you’re using the right file for the marketing project at hand. This maintains your professional image and ensures the integrity of your logo and brand.
The most common logo file formats are:
• Eps
• JPEG
• png
A file can be identified by its extension: logo.png, logo.eps, and so on. Here’s a guide to exactly what each of these file formats is, what to use them for, and how to open them.
EPS files are a graphic format for vector-based images in Adobe Illustrator. They’re used for printing and editing purposes and are commonly referred to as “working files” or “master files.”
Where to use your EPS files:
• Print materials (business cards, posters, brochures, and more)
• Stickers and labels
• Clothing and wallpaper…or if you need to send your logo to a designer to make changes.
How to open eps. files:
You won’t be able to open your eps files without Illustrator or Photoshop but don’t delete them. If you share the thumbnail with a Printer or Graphic Designer, they’ll be able to open it.
PNG files can be used for almost any digital purpose. They’re also useful if you need digital images with a transparent background, such as logos to put on coloured backgrounds or on top of other images. This file type is not recommended for print as it will pixelate.
Where to use your png files:
• Websites and blogs
• Presentations
• Digital Letterheads on Word or Google docs
• Social media profile and cover photos
• Canva Brand Kit
How to open png. files:
You can open PNG files on computers, mobile devices, and tablets, because it’s an
accessible, easy-to-read file format. Most browsers also let you view a PNG without downloading the file.
JPEG’s can also be used for digital purposes, at very high resolution, they can be used for printing but it is still recommended to use your eps. file for printing. Unlike png files, jpegs have a solid background on them.
Where to use your JPEG files:
• Website
• Documents and presentations
• Social Media
How to open JPEG files:
You can open JPEG files on computers, mobile devices, and tablets, because it’s an
accessible, easy-to-read file format. Most browsers also let you view a JPEGS without downloading the file.
PDF files are another file format developed by Adobe. They’re commonly used for document purposes, but can also be used to share images, including logos.
Where to use your PDF files:
• Print materials
• File sharing – Easy to read
• Documentation design
How to open PDF files:
As a PDF is an easy-to-read file format, you can download and open PDFs on computers, mobile devices, and tablets. Most browsers allow you to preview the PDF file without opening it in an additional program after download. The ideal program to open a PDF is Adobe Acrobat Reader which is free to download and comes with most computers.
