Vector Logos: Overview and How to Create It

Vector graphics are widely used in the printing industry and in web design, allowing for the production of a high-quality image of any size, whether it’s a colored logo or a large-scale advertising banner for a billboard. In this article, we’ll educate you about the fundamentals of vector graphics.

1. What are vector graphics?
2. Raster vs. vector
3. Why vector logos?
4. Vector formats
5. Vector logo designs
6. Simple and fast way to create vector logos

What are vector graphics?

Along with raster, three-dimensional, and fractal formats, vector is one of the most common ways to create modern graphics. Its main elements are various geometric shapes, including lines, curves, points, circles, etc.

Unlike raster logos, which are made up of pixels, vector images consist of control points and curves linking them. All parameters (size, location, color, etc.) can be automatically calculated by a graphics editor using certain mathematical formulae (sinusoidal, parabolic, or hyperbolic function). This makes the designer’s work much easier. All the designer must do is properly arrange the points and link them with curves.
With that said, vector graphics are considered a graphic visualization of mathematical objects.

Raster vs. vector

Unlike a raster image, a vector image is not made up of pixels, which gives it several advantages. The smallest elements of vector graphics are reference points lined up using straight and curved lines to shape a certain object. To create an image, the designer simply surrounds it with a sufficient number of points, then draws vector lines between them to define the contour.

This can easily be done with the Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw image editors.

Why vector logos?

As already stated, vector graphics are indispensable when it comes to designing logos, icons, and emblems. Vector graphics allow for easy-to-edit logos, as well as high-quality printed products (business cards, booklets, catalogs, leaflets, calendars, etc.). The popularity of the vector format is explained by the number of advantages it offers:

—Vector image (or any part of it) can easily be edited. To do this, the image is split into the simplest geometric shapes that can be tweaked without loss of quality.
— Vector logos and other graphic images are perfectly scalable, i.e., they retain their quality during editing (drawing, rotation, compression, etc.).
— Vector images occupy very little disk space.
— Modern graphic editors are skilled at combining graphic elements and text, which is particularly important when designing vector logos or printed materials.

Furthermore, vector images can perfectly adapt to the resolution of your screen or printing device to ensure the highest quality of the end product.

Vector formats

Today, vector images are available in more than 10 formats. Originally developed for the purposes of popular image editors, such formats have both pros and cons in terms of logo creation. Following are the most popular vector formats.

PDF is a popular format developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated to display printed materials (vector logos), presentations, and documents. It’s particularly handy for saving files that contain both graphics and text. A PDF logo has a built-in set of fonts. Plus, PostScript tools allow for the adding of links, animations, and sounds to your logo file. Graphic elements in PDF take up little space and are correctly displayed across different devices and systems. Furthermore, the PDF format enables a wide array of printing options.

SVG is designed for two-dimensional vector graphics and is usually for web pages. Based on XML, this format can feature images, text, and animation. SVG files open in both image and text editors. In SVG, graphic elements are perfectly scalable and retain their high quality even during editing. This format is ideal for creating web-based illustrations and editing files.

Developed by the Adobe Company, EPS is compatible with all popular editors (Illustrator, Photoshop, CorelDraw, GIMP, etc.). It supports a wide range of tools for editing and processing vector logos and other images without a loss of quality. EPS files are widely used in the professional printing industry.

AI is a less popular format developed specifically for Adobe Illustrator. Although it has some limitations, it’s compatible with all major image editors. Stable and reliable, the AI format provides decent image quality even when the image is scaled.

The CDR format was developed exclusively for Corel Draw files and is not compatible with other image editing software. Keep in mind that CDR files created in the latest Corel Draw versions cannot be opened in older versions of the program. The best thing about the CDR format is that it preserves the special effects and parameters of the objects.

Of all the formats listed, SVG and PDF are best suited for standard images and printed graphics such as logos. Created in advanced online services, SVG and PDF files can be used for a variety of purposes (website design, printing, etc.).

Vector logo designs

Check out some stunning ZenBusiness-generated logos that our users have designed. With ZenBusiness, you can save and download your designs in SVG and PDF, among other popular formats.

Simple and fast way to create vector logos

If you need a vector logo, you can either design it yourself using an image editing program or commission a professional designer. If you choose the first option, you’ll need a special skillset and a bit of imagination. If you’ve opted for a designer, prepare to dig deep into your pocket, as designers’ services are not cheap. However, ZenBusiness Logo Generator offers a much more convenient and simple solution.

Register with ZenBusiness to get access to a wide range of effective tools that will help you create smart corporate designs. After payment, you can download your newly created logo in one of the popular formats (PDF or SVG), directly to your computer. Alternatively, you can save a small-size emblem free of charge.
Ready to get started? Hit the “Create” button and design an amazing vector logo in just a few minutes!