Understand the logo files in a design handover
Know what SVG, PNG, JPEG and source files are for, organise useful variants and ask the right questions before using a logo in print.
A good logo handover tells you which file to use, where to use it and which one to edit. A folder containing twenty files called “final” leaves the important decisions to the next person who needs an invoice or a website header.
Use this guide to inspect a delivery. The precise print specification belongs to the production supplier; there is no single file that is automatically correct for every printer, sign or garment.
Understand the two main types of artwork
Vector artwork describes shapes rather than fixing the whole picture to a grid of pixels. Raster artwork stores pixels at a particular size. This distinction matters when an image is enlarged, exported or edited.
The W3C SVG specification describes SVG as a format that can contain vector and raster elements. An .svg extension therefore does not prove that every part of the file is scalable vector artwork. Ask what it actually contains.
| File | Useful role | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| SVG | A logo or diagram displayed on the web at different sizes | Does it depend on an external font, linked image or other file? |
| PNG | A raster export, including a version with transparency | What are its pixel dimensions and intended background? |
| JPEG | A raster image with an opaque background, often appropriate for photographs | Is the background intentional, and is this an export rather than the master? |
| An exchange or print delivery when the supplier accepts the supplied specification | Are colour settings, fonts, page size and any required bleed correct for this job? | |
| Native design source | Continued editing in the agreed design application | Which application/version and supporting files are needed? |
MDN's format guide documents PNG transparency and lossless compression, JPEG's lossy compression and the use of SVG for scalable artwork. Those properties explain the options; they do not determine your printer's requirements.
Ask for purposeful variants
Start with the contexts in your logo brief. A dark mark for light backgrounds and a light mark for dark backgrounds may solve most everyday uses. A single-colour version can help with an office print or a limited-colour production process. A compact version should be a deliberate design, not a cropped fragment of the main wordmark.
Label variants by their purpose. “White” identifies a colour; “light mark for dark backgrounds” also tells an administrator when to use it. Keep a small preview sheet beside the files so someone can choose without opening them all.
Do not stretch a logo to fill a box. Preserve its proportions and adjust the box or choose an approved alternative. If a descriptor disappears at the intended size, request a version that does not depend on that descriptor.
Example handover inventory
The filenames below illustrate a proposed delivery for fictional Alder & Grain. They are an inventory model, not a claim that every listed format is available to download from this site.
| Folder and filename | Intended use | Handover note |
|---|---|---|
01-source/ag-wordmark-v1.design |
The designer's editable master | Replace the illustrative extension with the actual agreed source format. |
02-web/ag-wordmark-dark-v1.svg |
Light website background | Record any font dependency and test the actual browser rendering. |
02-web/ag-wordmark-light-v1.svg |
Dark website background | Do not place on a light photograph without checking readability. |
03-documents/ag-wordmark-dark-1200px-v1.png |
Office documents that need a raster image | “1200px” is an example export width, not a print-resolution guarantee. |
04-print/ag-wordmark-one-colour-v1.pdf |
Supplier discussion and proofing | Release only after that supplier confirms the specification. |
05-guidance/ag-usage-notes-v1.pdf |
Daily selection and placement | Include variant previews, colour information and the inventory. |
Use a separate archive for superseded versions. Keep the current approved set easy to identify, with a short change log. Avoid renaming an exported PNG as SVG or PDF: a filename change does not change the artwork inside it.
Screen settings and print settings are different decisions
Record the screen colours and any agreed print references separately. A hexadecimal screen colour is useful for a website; it does not promise an identical result on coated paper, uncoated card and fabric. Ask the printer what they need and approve a suitable proof where the output matters.
For a raster image, tell the supplier the intended physical size as well as the pixel dimensions. Avoid a blanket “300 dpi means it is ready” judgement. The artwork, output size and production process must be considered together.
Editable files and permissions
Check that the delivery includes what was agreed, not simply what your computer can preview. A flattened export may look correct but be unsuitable for editing a name or layout. A native source may open but still rely on a font or linked picture you have not received.
Record font names, image sources, any permitted uses and the person responsible for unresolved questions. Do not assume that a font installed on one device may be packaged and redistributed. Ask for the relevant licence information or an alternative that fits the agreed use.
Check the delivery before filing it away
- Open each agreed format in the intended application or hand it to the relevant supplier.
- Compare the name, proportions and colours across versions.
- Place the web version on both intended backgrounds.
- Print a sample of the everyday document at its actual size.
- Confirm which file is the master and which versions are approved exports.
- Record missing files or decisions in the brand asset checklist.
Keep the inventory with the simple style guide. The files supply the material; the guide explains how your team should use it.
The source notes
Sources and further reading
- W3C: Scalable Vector Graphics specification Checked 4 November 2026
- MDN: image file types and formats Checked 4 November 2026