Creating an impactful and compelling company logo is imperative in making your brand stand out. Your logo is the “face” of your brand, which should be on all your branding and marketing collaterals. Plastering your logo throughout your online and offline materials is crucial for brand recognition. This is why a high-quality logo is essential to depict professional and stellar branding. Choosing a vector instead of a raster logo ensures your company logo is created for scalability. But what is a vector logo, and how does it differ from raster logos? And how do you create a vector logo in Illustrator? Read on to find out.
What is a vector logo?
A vector logo, or scalable vector graphics or SVG, consists of lines, points, shapes, and curves. Graphic designers create vector logos by connecting anchored dots until they get the desired shape or form. These dots are sealed and finished with curves and lines, depending on how you want the logo to look.
Vector logos are more flexible because they are based on mathematical equations instead of pixels. Since your company logo is printed and used in digital channels, a vector logo is better than a raster logo.
Vector logo vs. raster logo
Image: Renderforest
Vector and raster logos are two primary types of digital images, each with distinct characteristics with different uses. Understanding the differences between them is crucial for effective design and usage.
Composition
Vector graphics are made up of lines, curves, points, and shapes based on mathematical equations. Each element is defined by its geometrical properties. Meanwhile, raster graphics, also known as bitmap graphics, are composed of a grid of pixels, where each pixel contains information about color and intensity.
Vector logos are resolution-independent and can be scaled infinitely without losing quality or sharpness. This is because mathematical formulas, not pixels, define them. On the other hand, raster logos have a fixed resolution determined by the number of pixels, and resizing them can result in a loss of quality or pixelation, especially when enlarging.
Size
Vector images are generally smaller than raster files, as they only store mathematical instructions to render the image. In contrast, raster images tend to be larger, especially at higher resolutions, as they store data for each pixel.
Format
Common vector logo formats are:
Common raster logo formats are:
Uses
Vector images are ideal for logos, icons, illustrations, infographics, typography, and any design where scalability and flexibility are essential. Conversely, editing raster images can be more challenging and lead to a loss in quality, especially if resizing or making significant changes. Raster images are best suited for photographs, detailed graphics, digital paintings, and any design where fine detail is essential.
Reasons why brands choose vector logos
Many designers prefer to work with vector graphics for these reasons:
- Scalable: One of the reasons why professional graphic designers go for vector graphics is due to scalability. You can zoom in on a vector logo by thousands, which will maintain good quality.
- Editable: Working with raster images is more challenging as they’re harder to edit. Meanwhile, vector images give designers freedom in changing texts, removing and adding elements, editing shapes, etc.
- Easy to export: Vector logos are easier to export with the formats they use. Conversely, a raster logo format may lead to errors when exported to vectors.
How to create a vector logo in Illustrator
Here’s a rundown on creating a vector logo in Adobe Illustrator:
1. Conceptualize and research
Research the brand’s story, values, goals, mission, and target audience. Clearly understand the brand’s unique value proposition and what makes it stand out in the industry. Research competitors and identify visual elements that reflect the brand’s identity.
2. Sketch and brainstorm
Next, sit down with your team to brainstorm ideas and sketch rough drafts. Consider the brand’s message and industry relevance. Ensure you’re gathering as many ideas for logos. There are no wild and crazy ideas here. The more ideas, the better.
3. Open Adobe Illustrator
Open and create a new document once you’ve signed up for an Adobe Illustrator account. Choose or set dimensions for your vector logo.
4. Create basic outlines and shapes
Use the shape tools to create your logo’s basic outline and shape. Choose from circles, rectangles, squares, or triangles to build the foundation. A circle represents unity, femininity, and friendship, while a triangle gives a more masculine vibe. Meanwhile, the square symbolizes professionalism, efficiency, and strength.
Refine the shapes and add details to achieve the desired look. Use Illustrator’s Pen tool to draw more intricate shapes and refine your logo’s outline.
5. Add color and gradients
Add your chosen color palettes and add gradients to add depth and to the logo.
6. Select fonts and write copy
Next is to choose the most appropriate font for your logo typography. Ensure that the selected font complements the logo design elements as well. The typography must also convey the proper tone and identity of the brand. When writing the copy, give your logo design room to breathe. Ensure you’re not compressing all design elements in a small area, as reading or comprehending the design would be difficult.
7. Fine-tune the logo
Check what needs to be polished, such as balance, symmetry, and alignment of all design elements. Resize the logo differently to see how it looks on business cards, websites, or billboards.
8. Save the logo
Once you’re 100 percent happy, save the logo in your chosen format, including the source file in AI.
