Business Owner’s Guide to Logo File Types
Once you’ve selected and approved a final logo design from your agency, you’ll probably receive your artwork in several file formats. It is extremely important to understand these different formats, especially as you begin to use your logo in advertising and other mediums. Designers and agencies have varying policies when it comes to the types of file formats that they supply their clients, and if you’re armed with the right knowledge, you can avoid unnecessary changes and charges. There are two main types of files that you should be given: vector based files and pixel based files. Each format has a number of uses, and knowing which is which can save you a lot of hassle when working with the printers, designers, and media outlets that will reproduce your logo. Vector Files Before you even start working with a designer, be sure that they will send you vector-based files of your logo when it is complete. Vector file formats are the default for almost all design software and they are the number one choice for most print applications. A vector image is simply the raw source of your logo. It is created out of a configuration of outlined shapes, which can be accurately filled in with colors through the Pantone Matching System.  The points on the shapes can be moved around to change the shape of the design. Think of a pegboard that is covered in rubber bands. To change the shape of the design, you simply move a band from one peg to another. This is how vector images work. Vector files can be edited quite easily by designers, and are scalable to any size. They can be printed in grayscale, black and white, spot color, or four-color processing. You can identify vector files by the extensions .EPS, .CDR, .AI, or in the case of flash animation, .SWF. […]