Is your logo file print-ready? A six-point check
A logo file going to print has six requirements: it must be vector, type must be converted to outlines, colours must be defined, stray layers removed, a one-colour version must exist, and it must stay legible at small size. Miss any of them and the file comes back, extending the schedule.
The six points
- Is it vector? PDF, AI, SVG or EPS — PNG and JPG cannot produce a plate.
- Is type outlined? If we do not have the font, the text opens in another one.
- Are colours defined? A Pantone reference where possible, otherwise CMYK values.
- Any stray layers? Hidden objects and guides should be cleared out.
- Is there a one-colour version? Multicolour does not work on wood or kraft.
- Does it read small? Fine detail disappears on a handle.
The most common reason files come back
A pixel file. Often the only file a buyer holds is a PNG taken from their website. No plate can be made from it; the logo has to be redrawn as vector, and that is a separate preparatory step.
Why type must be outlined
Text is set in a font. If we do not hold that font, the file opens with a substitute and the brand name comes out wrong. Outlined type is a shape and cannot shift anywhere.
Why the one-colour version is its own file
Reducing a multicolour logo to one colour is not just removing colours; keeping contrast usually means simplifying the drawing. Preparing that in advance produces a better result than doing it at press time.
The small-size test
Scale the logo to two centimetres wide and print it. If it does not read there, it will not read on a handle. That single test regularly saves a proofing round.
Frequently asked
- What if I have no vector file?
- The logo has to be redrawn. For simple marks that is quick; detailed emblems need a designer.
- Which format is safest?
- A PDF saved with type converted to outlines opens reliably in most cases.
Last updated: 2026-09-13