Why source files matter.
The difference between owning your brand and renting it.
Two businesses each paid for a logo. One received a JPEG; the other received a folder with vector files, colour codes and export versions. Five years later, one of them is still paying for that difference.
What a source file is
The source file is the original, editable design, the working document the designer created (AI, PSD, or similar). Everything else, JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, is an export made from it. Exports are for using; the source is for changing, scaling and reproducing.
Why the JPEG is not enough
- It does not scale. A logo exported for a Facebook post turns to blur on a banner. Vector source files scale to any size, business card or billboard, with no quality loss.
- It cannot be edited. Changing a phone number on a flyer means redesigning from scratch if there is no source file.
- It locks you in. Without source files, every future job depends on whoever holds the originals.
What to ask for on every project
Agree on deliverables before work starts. A reasonable package: final exports for every intended use (print-ready PDF, web versions, transparent PNG of the logo), plus your brand colour codes and font names. Whether editable source files are included is a commercial agreement, some studios include them, some price them separately, but it should always be discussed upfront, not discovered later.
Store them properly
Keep one folder, cloud-backed, with your logo files, brand colours, fonts and key artwork. Share it with every new supplier. It is the cheapest insurance your brand can buy.
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