What is a vector logo and why is my designer insisting I have one?

You may think that having the best logo to represent your business is the most important aspect of your branding. Yes, you would be right, but something equally important is making sure you have the right file format of your logo as all the toil and trouble that you went through to get your logo looking pixel-perfect would have been for nothing.

Here I explain what a vector logo is, how they work and the benefits of having your logo in the right formats.

So, what is a vector graphic?

Vector graphics are typically created using software like Adobe Illustrator. The graphics are created using a number of points that are connected via lines and curves that are calculated by mathematical equations (vectors, hence the name). A vector file is extremely flexible, meaning the graphic can be enlarged to the size of a building and not lose any quality or become pixelated in any way.

Vector graphics will often be found in 3 common file types. These are AI, EPS and SVG.

AI: A common format you would see is typically an Adobe Illustrator file, which is a modified EPS file.

EPS: The most popular format is an Encapsulated PostScript that most vector graphic software will recognise making this file type standard practice.

SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics, often overlooked by designers in the past, are now coming into their own as browsers are becoming ever more supportive of this file format as they can support any screen resolution.

Advantages of using vector graphics for your logo (or any graphic):

Scalable: Creating your artwork as a vector allows you to increase and decrease the size as much as you need without losing the quality. If you needed a graphic the size of a postage stamp, but also needed to produce the same graphic as a billboard, a vector would do the job.

Flexible and easy to edit: You have the ability to export various file types from most vector software, for example, EPS, SVG's and PDF's. But also the ability to export raster versions including PNGs, JPEGs, GIFs, PDF and many more. Vector files are easy to edit which is great if various designers are working on a project at different stages.

Super small file sizes: When saved, a raster file contains so much information about each pixel and its placement the file size will be extremely large. Vector files have no need for this type of information therefore the file size is much smaller.

Helpful tool.

If you need any further help with this process, Adobe has released a free-to-use tool within their Adobe Express app called - SVG Converter. The free SVG converter tool from Adobe Express lets you upload any JPG or PNG image and convert it to a vector in seconds. This tool is a perfect way to speed up your workflow and avoid any hassle.

What's next?

Now when your designer mentions a vector logo you'll be in the know and understand the benefits of having your logo as a vector file. Are you looking for a professional, memorable logo that sets you apart from your competition? Take a look at our website to see examples of the logos our designers have worked on and find out how we can turn your doodles into a reality.