You spent good money on a logo a little while back. You go to chuck it on your website, business card or signage and realise you can count the pixels. Now you’re wondering
“Why does my logo look so bad?”
The short answer? File types.
The longer answer? Let’s dive in.
Raster vs Vector: The Key Difference
The biggest culprit behind blurry logos is using the wrong type of file.
Raster Files Are…
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Commonly JPGs, PNGs or GIFs
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Made up of pixels (tiny squares of colour)
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Prone to ‘stretching’
Essentially, when you take a raster file and scale it up – it’s pixels get ‘stretched’. It’s like buying a shirt that’s two sizes too small and trying to stretch it to fit. The threads don’t let you.
Vector Files Are…
- SVG’s, AI, PDF, EPS
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Made up of fancy math equations, not pixels
- Scale infinitely
Because vector files use some mysterious math equations – rather than just the raw pixels – they’re able to be scaled to your hearts content. No matter how big or small, they stay sharp.
These are also the professional standard for logos. If you’re not using one of these, and you’re logo is looking blurry – this is probably why. Go ask your designer, they should have the vector files handy.
Why Does My Logo Look Fine on My Computer, But Blurry Online?
Good question. This one trips a lot of people up.
When you look at your logo on your local machine, you might be seeing a small version — so the pixelation isn’t obvious.
But when you upload it:
- Your website might automatically resize it poorly.
- You might be using a raster version of your logo.
- Some platforms compress images heavily (hello Facebook).
- You’re not uploading a high enough resolution file for the display size.
The easiest way to check? Download the image back to your computer, then right click and check its properties. Is is the same size and file type as the original?
Other Common Logo Mistakes That Cause Blurriness
Let’s rapid-fire through a few more branding mistakes:
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Using screenshots of your logo instead of actual files.
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Exporting your logo from Canva or Photoshop at low resolution.
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Using low-res social media profile photos instead of the original, properly sized images.
Quick Fix Checklist
If your logo is blurry, here’s what you need to do:
Find the original vector file (SVG, AI, EPS, or PDF vector).
Re-export it in the right format
Avoid re-saving logos inside Canva, Word, or PowerPoint. They often kill the quality.
Check the upload dimensions on your website. Don’t force a tiny image into a giant header slot.
Ask your designer if you’re unsure – a good designer will always provide master files.
TL;DR — The Right File Type Solves 90% of Blurry Logo Problems
Not sure where your logo files are?
If your logo is looking fuzzy and you don’t know where the original files are, don’t stress. This is something we help businesses with all the time – whether that’s recreating logos, fixing file types, or building proper brand asset libraries that make sure your business always looks professional.
