Why your logo prints blurry, and the 6 files every business should own

A logo that looks sharp on your phone and blurry on a banner is not a printer problem. It is a file problem, and it is fixed once and for all by owning the right set of files.

Raster versus vector

A raster image (JPG, PNG) is a grid of tiny coloured squares. Enlarge it and you are just enlarging the squares, which is what blur is. A vector file (SVG, PDF, EPS, or native CorelDRAW and Illustrator files) stores shapes and curves as maths, so it stays razor-sharp at any size, from a pen to a billboard.

Three things printers care about

• Resolution. Raster images for print usually need about 300 pixels per inch at the final printed size. A screen-sized image will not do.
• Colour mode. Screens use RGB, print uses CMYK. Colours can shift, so ask your printer what they need.
• Bleed and fonts. Many printers need a few millimetres of extra background beyond the trim line, and text converted to outlines so fonts cannot be substituted.

The six files every business should own

1. The vector master (SVG, AI, CDR or EPS)
2. A vector PDF for printers
3. A full-colour PNG with a transparent background
4. A white version for dark backgrounds
5. A one-colour black version for stamps and forms
6. A square icon version for profile pictures and website tabs