Your brand’s logo is more than just an image. However, the image is what most people see first and identify with. It should be pristine and crystal clear. This may mean that you have to switch to the vector logo format. So, what is a vector logo anyway and why is it even a topic of discussion in the first place?
This article will give you a detailed insight into vector logos. You will get to know exactly what vector logos are, why their usage is soaring, and when to use vector graphics.
What is a Vector Logo?
You can think of a vector logo as a much better version of raster logos. Raster logos utilize pixels to form images. Vector logo design, on the other hand, utilizes geometrical factors based on mathematical expressions to form images and colors. The result is a difference in flexibility and scalability, and these two factors can have a considerable impact on your marketing campaigns’ performance.
Why the Fuss around Vector Logos?
Vector graphics have become a common topic of discussion in marketing circles. This is partly because most marketers now prefer working with vector files over conventional raster files. It is all about convenience for marketers. For businesses, however, it is about improving one’s image and boosting their competitive positions.
As mentioned earlier, a vector logo has better flexibility and scalability factors compared to raster logos. Both of these factors come in handy when it comes to image quality and resizing. Raster files are composed of pixels which are essentially small dots arranged just right to bring out an image. These dots tend to disperse from each other when the image is resized, thus resulting in blurring. The image may also seem crude when minimized to small sizes. This is not the case with vector files.
As mentioned earlier, vector files are built on mathematical principles. This means that they are flexible and can be resized to any size – regardless of how large or small – without losing their original outline. This means that they do not blur as is the case with raster logos.
Benefits to Your Business
Now that you know what is a vector logo you are probably wondering what it has to offer your business. The details above are the technical aspects of why you need a vector logo. However, the business-related benefits are much more attractive albeit somewhat limited. They include:
- Greater Flexibility in Marketing
For most companies, good marketing campaigns are the drive behind a majority of their sales. Your logo is the face of your marketing campaign and as such should be presentable. A vector logo ensures this with its flexibility and scalability properties.
A vector logo can be scaled to virtually any size – it can be as small as a business card or as big as a billboard and still maintain its perfect outline. The flexibility comes in handy when it comes to marketing as the logo can quickly be deployed and used at any time. This, in turn, strengthens the company’s competitiveness.
- Better Image
A vector logo gives you the opportunity to do away with any defects in your current logo’s image and refine it. The mathematical principles used to offer greater control over shapes, colors, and so much more. A better-looking logo can help revive your company’s image and nurture confidence in the market. Again, this would help strengthen your company’s competitiveness.
Types of Vector Files
Considering the rising popularity of vector files – not to mention the benefits they have to offer – it is necessary to switch from your current raster logo files. There are two ways to do this. However, it would help to learn about each vector logo file type to help with your design later on and give you a better understanding of what is a vector logo.
There are three types of vector logo files:
- Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG)
The term scalable vector graphic is fast becoming common among web developers and SEO professionals. This popularity has arisen out of the growing use of mobile devices to access the internet. As the W3C vector graphic standard, SVG is preferable for its ability to scale images on browsers to any size to fit any screen resolution without compromising on quality.
- Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)
SVG may be growing in popularity, but Encapsulated PostScript is currently the most widely used vector file format. This is partly because it is widely supported on many vector graphics programs. It is also just as scalable and flexible as the SVG format. In fact, most marketers and graphic designers recommend always having a default EPS vector file format for your logo.
- Adobe Illustrator (AI)
The Adobe Illustrator vector logo file format is an upgraded version of the EPS file format. However, it is not as popular as the latter in spite of its extra features. To this end, graphic designers also recommend having an alternative EPS file format for your AI files.
Saving Logos as Vector Files
Now, to the matter at hand: how to save a logo as a vector file. As mentioned earlier, there are two ways of saving a vector logo. However, one way – unsurprisingly the easier way – has a less pleasing outcome compared to the alternative.
The recommended way to do it is to design an exact replica of your current logo from scratch using a vector graphics program. This will ensure that all your bases are covered and prevent any mishaps in the future. Besides, it is not that hard and the results are worth every penny.
The alternative is taking a JPEG format of your current logo and transforming it into a vector file. The process is fairly simple and quick but it takes several procedures:
- Begin by opening Illustrator.
- Next, switch your interface to the Tracing page.
- Next, upload your JPEG format to your artboard working area.
- Select the image and check the “preview” option.
- Proceed by adjusting the settings in the Tracing working area you had opened before.
- You can then click “Trace” then “Expand” and finally save your file.
It is important to note that there are only two available file formats for this procedure: SVG and PDF. This comes with some limitations, hence the professional advice to develop a vector logo from scratch.
Conclusion
Now that you know what is a vector logo and the benefits it has to offer, it is time to upgrade from your current raster logo. It will help make your logo more flexible and scalable for better marketing purposes!
Author Bio
Ananthakrishnan is a Digital Marketing guy for Greedeals.com. He has a keen interest in SEO and Web Design. When he is not working you can find him at his house, playing video games.
Editorial Staff at WP Daily Coupons is a team of WordPress experts led by Peter Nilsson.