Now, the task of finding the optimal logo size shouldn’t be just about its general look. While you in the midst of developing it, discard any small detail and embrace simplicity. Not to say the design shouldn’t be clever — it MUST be. But every detail should be prominent enough to:
- be perceptible;
- not get warped and disproportionate в when the required dimensions of different platforms are applied.
Check those famous Media/TV logos, for instance: some of them are do include quite a bit of detailing but you will also be able to easily see those nuances from miles away.
The bottom line here: your logo and the idea behind it must look equally discernable on your Instagram page, business card, or billboard. You name it.
Know Your Format: What Do Different Ones Mean
Being aware of what the two main graphic format types — raster (bitmap) and vector — do is crucial. It’s a key to understanding how resolution works and how it will perform with your logo.
Raster (bitmap) formats
If you study these files closely, you’ll see that they are made of little square pieces akin to mosaic. They are called pixels and the image is made of them. The higher the number of pixels/inch it is, the larger the file and the resolution. When you ask your software to resize a bitmap file, it deletes a certain amount of pixels, which lowers the resolution.
Raster graphics are realistic, perfect for complex visual effects/filters, and are overall more popular.
Raster | Print-friendly | Transparent Background Support |
.JPG | No | No |
.PNG | No | Yes |
.GIF | No | Yes |
.PSD | Yes | Yes |
Vector formats
Vector images are formed from different lines and geometric shapes, the size of which is (automatically) determined by mathematical equations. They always retain excellent quality when scaling and editing. The image size on itself has no effect on the file size, so the latter isn’t usually large.
Vectors are perfect for putting logos on smaller items like stationery. It’s better to use bitmap versions for your web presence, however. But all logos MUST be made in a vector format first. After all, they, too, can be high quality when handled by professionals (such as for printing.)
Vectors | Print-friendly | Transparent Background Support |
.Ai | Yes | Yes |
Yes | No | |
.EPS | Yes | Yes |
.CDR | Yes | Yes |
.SVG | No | Yes |
You can easily rasterize a file or vice versa, vectorize it in pro software like Photoshop or CorelDraw. But if you aren’t quite aware of how to use them, or what format to pick, let the professional studios handle the business for you.
Your go-to pack should include at least:
– .Ai – to change the logo very composition;
– .EPS and .PDF – for print;
– .PNG (including the transparent background version) – for websites/social media/messengers.
Dimension Guide For Different Platforms
The following information will be presented in pixels (px) since it’s the surest way to navigate through the setting and achieve the right results
Websites
This depends on your homepage layout, which means you need to check the FAQ section first to get the idea. Then, follow the steps:
- Decide where you want to place the logo: the center or corners of the header, navigation bar, bottom of the page as well, etc. Determine how much vertical and horizontal space you have in the chosen area.
- Don’t forget that the logo will affect the dimensions of other graphic elements around it. Do a trial run or several:
– Start with the smallest PNG logo (sized 100px — 1200px high.) Go as big as you need to but don’t overdo it, or your page will take ages to load.
– Check the preview for any distortions. Play with the logo’s height and width.
– Once you’re satisfied, proceed with rescaling the vector and saving a final raster version. This is how you’ll get your perfect logo size paired with high quality of color and resolution.
Social Media Platforms
Keep in mind that:
— the advised dimensions for each of those sites are ever-changing: don’t forget to check their FAQ for the latest info;
— most of them automatically present the profile pictures as circle-shaped.
Profile picture | Header/cover photo | Post | |
110 x 110 px | N/a | 1080 x 1080 px | |
160 х 160 px | 1640 x 624 px | 1200 x 628 px (ad) | |
YouTube | 800 x 800 px | 2560 x 1440 px | 1280 x 720 px (video thumbnail) |
400 x 400 px | 2560 x 1440 px | 1280 x 720 px | |
400 x 400 px | 1584 x 396 px | 1200 x 1200 px | |
Twitch | 256 x 256 px | 1200 x 380 px | 1920 x 1080 px (offline banner) |
TikTok | 200 x 200 px |
Messengers
Profile picture | |
500 × 500 px | |
Gmail | 180 х 180 px |
Telegram | 512 × 512 px |
Working File | |
Standard Business Cards | 1038 x 696 px |
Billboards | 1:10 ratio (depending on the billboard type) |
T-shirts | 2000 x 2000 px |
A great way to learn is to get inspiration from the mistakes or the success of others. Pick a logo from our collection, and do some research — check how the respective brands apply it on their websites, social media, merch, etc.
What About Ultimate Resolution?
We’ve already talked about pixels and how they affect the quality of a raster file. So when you check the dimensions of your logo file, pay attention to its resolution, which is scaled in ppi (Pixels Per Inch, sometimes referred to as dpi — Dots Per Inch, which is technically incorrect but wat too common leave out of this article.)
So, do we have a perfect resolution? Yes. The optimal one 300-350 ppi. You can try and go with 180-200 ppi for printing but not lower — or your logo will come out as a blurry mess.