Why do logos need to be vector drawn?

Logos can be created either as pixels (also know as Raster/Bitmap) or vector paths, and at a small size both can look level in quality. But increase the two logos and you will see a big difference.Pixel logos are often created in programmes like Photoshop, maybe as part of an overall website design, making them 72dpi with an RGB colour mode. Vector logos are normally created in Illustrator (part of the same Creative Suite as Photoshop from Adobe) and shapes are drawn using paths which, once connected, fill the area with solid colour rather than dots/pixels.

On screen at 100% actual size you won’t see a lot of difference between pixel or vector logo, but at some point the logo will require scaling up and this is where the pixel logo will lose quality very quickly. The image above shows my logo pasted into a photoshop file twice (once as a vector paste and once as a pixel paste). Scaling them both up to the size you see above shows how the vector logo hasn’t lost any quality at all, whilst the pixel version is very blurry. This only shows approx 400% increase in size, but the vector logo would handle scaling far beyond this. As an example, you could have a business card sized vector logo and scale it up to billboard size advert with no loss of quality. I only drawn logos in Illustrator as a vector logo, even if the job only requires a website quality version. At some point the client may be required to enlarge the logo for a shop sign, pop-up display or POS etc. 

Another common complaint is when a logo is created in RGB (Red, Blue, Green) and uses a very bright colour, which cannot be achieved in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) printing presses, for example, a logo using a bright electric blue would print as a dull blue. This is because RGB is a screen colour process which uses light to mix the colours. CMYK is a printing process and uses inks to mix the colour. If you require a bright colour, you could have a Pantone Spot colour to achieve this. All the logos I create are either CMYK or Pantone (or a mix of the two), never RGB.

For more details about my logo services or other print or web design projects, give me a call on 07545 292 820 or email wayne@flightcreative.co.uk.