It can be found on websites, business cards, email signatures, social media, product packaging and more. But what file format should you save your logo to make sure it looks sharp, appears quickly, and is flexible across different platforms?
Splitting the three most used logo file types — SVG, PNG, and JPG — we’ll help you determine which one is most suited to your brand’s identity.
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) – The Web Designer’s Friend
SVG is a vector-based graphic file type, meaning it uses math to draw shapes instead of pixels. That makes it resolution-independent.
Pros:
- Infinite scalability: Looks sharp at any size — from favicons to billboards.
- Light: Faster loading, small files.
- Editable: Customizable / Animatable with CSS and SVG.
- Transparency: Supports transparent backgrounds.
Cons:
- Poor for photos: Ideal for line art and illustrations.
- Not great older-software support: Not all programs handle SVG well.
Best For:
- Websites and apps
- Responsive designs
- Print at any scale
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) – It's All Clear to You
PNG is a bitmap image format that supports the alpha channel and uses lossless compression.
Pros:
- Transparency support: Ideal for logos that need to be placed on different backgrounds.
- Sharp focus: Remains clear in filmstrips.
- Lossless: No loss in quality upon re-saving or over time.
Cons:
- File sizes are bigger compared to SVG or JPG.
- Not resizable without losing data (pixelated once enlarged).
Best For:
- Social media profiles and posts
- PowerPoint presentations
- Web logos when SVG isn’t supported
JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) – Best for Photos, Not Logos
JPG is a raster format, designed primarily to compress photographic images.
Pros:
- Tiny file sizes: Great for fast uploading.
- Widely supported: Opens everywhere.
Cons:
- No transparency: Unsuitable for logos that need overlays.
- Lossy compression: Quality decreases with each save.
- Pixelation: Scales poorly.
Best For:
- Not commonly used in logos
- Web banners
- Mockups (only when SVG/PNG aren’t available)
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | SVG | PNG | JPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalability | ✅ Infinite | ❌ Limited | ❌ Limited |
| Transparency | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| File Size | ✅ Small | ❌ Larger | ✅ Small |
| Lossy VS Quality on Save | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Best For | Web/dev/print | Digital use | Rare logo use |
Final Verdict: Which Format Should You Choose?
- ✅ Use SVG for web, print, and when resizing is needed. It has a slick and professional feel and is the most versatile logo file format.
- ✅ Use PNG for documents, social media, and apps without SVG support.
- ❌ Avoid JPG for logos unless no other option is available. It lacks transparency and stability.
Pro Tip
Always request a master SVG file of your logo from your designer. From there, you can export high-resolution PNG/JPG files as necessary, and they will retain their clarity.
Visit www.fileconvertz.com for all your file conversions.