What files and rights you must get with your logo

You've just paid for a logo design, received the final artwork, and your designer has sent you a folder of files. You open it and see .AI, .PNG, .PDF, .SVG, a couple of font names you've never heard of. But what are these files actually for? More importantly—what happens if your designer disappears, or you need to hand the files to a printer, a web developer, or another designer in two years' time? Without the right files and the legal rights to use them, you could be stuck.

Why the files you receive matter more than the design itself

A logo is not just the image you see on screen. It's a collection of technical formats, each built for a different job. Your designer hands these over because you're paying for the right to own and use the design, not just to look at a picture. If you only get a JPG or a low-resolution PNG, you cannot scale it to billboard size without it becoming blurry. You cannot hand it to a web developer to embed in your site's code without losing quality. You cannot give it to a print shop and expect them to reproduce it on a truck without pixelation.

The files are the actual deliverable. A designer who hands you only a preview image is not handing you ownership—they're handing you a proof. Ownership means you have every format needed to use the logo anywhere, in any size, in any medium, for the life of your business.

The core files you must receive

A complete logo handover includes at minimum a vector file (usually .AI for Adobe Illustrator, or .EPS), an editable source file in the format your designer used, and exports in common formats: high-resolution PNG (with transparent background), PDF, and often SVG for web use. Some designers also supply a CMYK version for print and an RGB version for screen. Ask your designer upfront what formats they'll supply and why. If they hand you only a PNG and say "that's all you need," push back. You need the vector source file so that anyone you hire later can edit, resize or adjust the design without degradation.

Font files matter too. If your logo uses custom typefaces, your designer should either tell you which fonts they used (by name and foundry) so you can buy them yourself, or include the licence allowing you to use them. Without the font licence, you cannot legally use it in your own design files. Ask whether the fonts are paid or free, and if paid, who owns the licence—you or the designer.

Rights, ownership and what "licence" really means

Before you sign off on payment, confirm in writing that you own all files and intellectual property once the final invoice is settled. Some designers retain ownership and give you a licence to use the logo for your own business only; others transfer full ownership. There is no right answer, but you must know which one you've agreed to. If you own it outright, you can hire someone else to modify it, print it on merchandise to sell, or hand it to a new agency without asking permission. If you have a licence, those uses may be restricted.

Also check whether the designer has the right to show your logo in their portfolio or on their website. This is standard practice and good for both of you, but it should be explicit. Some designers ask for a waiting period—say, six months—before they publish it, to give your brand time to launch privately.

If your logo uses stock imagery, ensure the designer has purchased or licensed the right version for your use. A stock image bought under a basic licence might not permit commercial use or modification. You need to know the limits.

When you're comparing designers or getting quotes, ask these questions: