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What are the Benefits of Vector Logos?

Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen

Vector logos can offer a number of benefits over raster graphics due to their scalability. A single logo in a vector image format can typically be used to create many different branded products, regardless of size or other constraints. Due to the fact that vector images are easily scalable, the same file may be used to create small business cards, large billboards, or anything in between. This can make vector logos both more convenient and a better value than bitmap logos. The main drawback of vectors is that they do not render photorealistic images well, but this is typically not an issue where logo design is concerned.

Bitmaps are made up of small blocks called pixels, while vectors consist of mathematical formulas that describe various primitive geometric figures. The pixels that make up raster graphics like bitmaps can become distorted when the image is scaled up or down. This may manifest as images that appear blocky or blurry, which can appear unprofessional or make a logo difficult to recognize. Due to the way that vector images are rendered from mathematical formulas, vector logos can typically be scaled up or down as necessary without a loss of data or image quality.

Vector logos.
Vector logos.

The way that bitmaps are constructed from pixels can make it easy for them to display a wide variety of subtle color variations, while vectors may work better with simple gradients or solids. If a photorealistic image is desired as part of a logo, it may still be possible to take advantage of the vector image format. Some graphic design software allows for bitmap textures to be applied to vectors, providing the scalability of a vector and the photorealism of a bitmap. This type of process may make it possible to create photorealistic vector logos that can be scaled to different sizes.

It may be necessary to rasterize vector logos into bitmaps before they can be placed placed on a product or document. This rasterization process can turn the vector logo into a bitmap, but the original vector image file may still be used many times in differently sized applications. If a bitmap logo is created directly, a new one will need to be made from scratch each time a product requires a larger image size. With the flexible logo design of vector images, the same file can typically be enlarged without any visible distortion and then rasterized at that bigger size.

Discussion Comments

anon993820

Bitmap is of no use if you want to display on hoarding or billboard, on scaling the images will get distorted.

seag47

@giddion – I would rather use vector art in logos, but sometimes, clients send me bitmap files. I ask them to please send me a jpeg instead if they have it, because I can do a lot more with photographs saved as jpegs.

People need bitmap versions of their logos to put online. If you are going to upload your logo to a website, you need either a bitmap or a jpeg.

In print, vector logos are far superior. Online, however, the smaller the file, the faster it will show up on the website. Big files take so long to load that they might slow everything down on the site.

giddion

I've seen a lot of clip art in bitmap format. Many people choose to use this clip art in their logo design, which limits how big they can print it.

I personally don't understand why anyone would want a bitmap version of their logo. It sounds to me like vector is the way to go. Why do people bother with bitmaps?

JackWhack

I always choose to make a vector logo design when it's left up to me. I am a graphic designer, and as long as clients don't want photos included in their logos, I work with vectors.

I make shapes in the design program and drag them from their corners while holding down the shift key to scale them up or down. The quality never changes.

It's the same way with the text in this program. Once you have it typed, you can pull it and make it as big or as small as you want without sacrificing quality.

lighth0se33

So, this is why bitmap photos can't be scaled up! I worked on the high school yearbook for a couple of years, and I always noticed that any bitmap photos had to be kept at the size they were or scaled down, because they would look horribly blurry if I tried to make them any bigger. I just never knew why until now.

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    • Vector logos.
      By: Maksim Samasiuk
      Vector logos.