Logo Source Files: AI, EPS, SVG, CDR and What Printers Want

Logo source files are the editable vector masters of your logo, usually saved as AI, EPS, SVG or CDR. Your printer keeps asking for them because the PNG or JPG you sent is made of pixels, and pixels cannot be enlarged, recoloured or prepared for press without visible damage.

If you have ever been told "we need the vector" and had no idea what to attach, this article is for you. We will explain what each format is, which supplier wants which, and what you should have in your folder before the next print order.

What logo source files are

A logo can be stored in two fundamentally different ways. Raster files, such as PNG and JPG, are made of pixels. According to Adobe, raster images are resolution-dependent, so enlarging them causes pixelation, while vector images are resolution-independent and stay sharp at any size.

A vector file stores your logo as shapes and curves described by mathematics. That is why the same file can be printed on a pen or on a trade-show wall. Adobe recommends saving vectors as SVG or EPS for print and scalable graphics.

"Source file" is the working-file version of this idea. It is the master from which every other version is made: the website logo, the one-colour stamp, the embroidery version, the file for a printer. If the master is lost, every future variation has to be rebuilt from a picture, and that costs time and usually accuracy.

For a wider view of which format suits which job, see our earlier guide on which logo file you actually use, and when. This article focuses on the source files themselves and on the printer's side of the conversation.

The four formats side by side

A few details matter in practice.

AI is the format your designer most likely worked in. It keeps layers, colour swatches and live text, which makes it the best file for later edits.

EPS has a long history. The Library of Congress notes that Adobe developed it in the late 1980s to place illustrations into documents for printing. Adobe itself now says the format, commonly used in the past, isn't suitable for modern workflows. Printers still ask for it because their older software and habits expect it, so it stays in the folder.

SVG is an open standard. The Library of Congress describes it as an open standard from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It is the right choice for your website, and it also scales for print.

CDR belongs to CorelDRAW. Picajet points out that there is no publicly published specification, which is why CDR interoperability is inconsistent across other software. The same source adds that open-source import support in Inkscape and LibreOffice caps out at older CDR versions. Cleanor notes that CorelDRAW is popular in printing, signage, embroidery and apparel shops. If your supplier is one of those, a native CDR file spares everyone a conversion.

Why your printer keeps asking

When a printer writes back "please send a vector," one of these usually happened.

1. You sent a PNG or JPG. It looks fine on screen, but it has a fixed number of pixels. Stretched to a banner or a vehicle wrap, it blurs. The printer cannot fix this without redrawing the logo.
2. The logo is in RGB. Screens use RGB, and presses do not. The University of Nebraska printing service puts it bluntly: RGB should never be used for printing. A source file lets the printer convert colours properly.
3. Your brand colour was never defined for print. Printing Partners explains that some vibrant or brand-specific colours cannot be matched exactly in CMYK. If your logo has one signature colour, the printer needs its Pantone reference as well as its CMYK build.
4. The file is a PDF that only contains a picture. It opens in a PDF viewer, but zooming in reveals pixels. A real vector PDF stays crisp at 800 percent.
5. Fonts are missing. If the logo text was never converted to outlines, the printer's computer substitutes another typeface. In our experience this is the most common cause of a logo that arrives "slightly wrong."
6. There is only one version. Printers often need a one-colour, a black and a white version. A single full-colour file forces them to guess.

None of these is your fault. They are the result of a logo being delivered as one image instead of as a small set of files.

What a complete logo folder contains

Ask your designer for this before you pay the final invoice, not after the first print job fails.

• Vector masters in AI, EPS and SVG, plus CDR if your suppliers use Corel
• Full-colour, one-colour black and one-colour white versions
• Colour values: HEX and RGB for screens, CMYK for print, and a Pantone reference where relevant
• Text converted to outlines in the print files, with the font names noted separately
• PNG with transparent background and a JPG for quick everyday use
• A short note on minimum size and clear space

The last point belongs in a brand style guide, even a one-page one. Printers follow written rules far more consistently than verbal ones.

Check also who owns what you receive. A supplier can hand over perfect files and still keep the rights. Our article on logo licences explains what to ask for.

How to store and send your files

Keep one folder named something obvious, such as "Logo_Master_2026", in a shared drive that more than one person can reach. Inside, separate subfolders for vector, print and web prevent the wrong file being attached under deadline.

When you send artwork to a printer, send the vector version they asked for and a PNG preview. The preview lets them confirm they are looking at the right design. If they request a format you do not have, ask your designer to export it instead of converting it yourself with a free online tool. Automatic conversions often distort curves or drop colour definitions.

What this costs at MalbarDesign

Our Logo package costs €430, fixed and final, as we are not a VAT payer. It includes 4 concepts, up to 4 revision rounds, vector files in SVG, AI, EPS and CDR, JPG and PNG versions, and 12 months of free edits. That means a changed phone number or a one-colour variant does not turn into a new invoice during the first year.

Smaller options exist. Logo Start is €310 with 2 concepts and 2 revision rounds. Logo Refresh is €175 for one concept, suited to an existing logo that needs cleaning up. The full list is on our pricing page, and the process is described on the logo design page.

Delivery takes within 5 business days, or 24 hours for an express order at double the price. Logo payment is 100 percent upfront. If none of the first logo concepts works for you, we refund the full amount within 5 business days.

Check your own files first

Open your logo folder now and look for three things: a vector file, a one-colour version and a colour specification. If any is missing, the next printer request will turn into a delay.

If you are unsure what you have, we run a free 5-point brand check. Send your details through the contact page and you receive a one-page PDF within 48 hours on business days. There is no sales call. It tells you which files are missing and what to fix first.