When you’re preparing artwork for printing—whether it’s a banner, T-shirt, pen, or business card—you’ll often hear about file formats like PNG, JPEG, and SVG. They all display images, but not all file types are created equal, especially when it comes to promotional items.
At Waikato Printing Company, we often help customers understand why their logo looks great on screen but doesn’t reproduce well on a pen, mug, or flag. The secret is in the file format. Let’s break it down.
JPEG – Great for Photos, Not for Logos
JPEGs (or JPGs) are the most common image type online. They’re perfect for photographs because they can compress big image files into smaller ones without much noticeable loss in quality.
But here’s the catch:
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JPEGs use pixels (tiny coloured squares), so when you enlarge them, they lose quality and look blurry.
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They don’t support transparent backgrounds. Your logo may end up with a white box around it.
This makes JPEGs unsuitable for most promotional printing, especially when scaling is required.
PNG – Sharper, But Still Limited
PNGs are another pixel-based format, like JPEGs, but they support transparent backgrounds and sharper detail.
That’s why they’re great for websites, digital graphics, or small print jobs like documents.
The problem is, like JPEGs, PNGs are still made of pixels. When you try to blow them up for a T-shirt, flag, or banner, they’ll become pixelated and blurry.
SVG – The Gold Standard for Print
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) works differently. Instead of pixels, SVGs use mathematical shapes and lines. That means:
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Scalable: You can print your logo the size of a postage stamp or a billboard, and it will stay sharp.
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Editable: Colours can easily be adjusted without loss of quality.
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Print-ready: Most promotional products require a vector file (SVG, AI, or EPS) to ensure clean, crisp reproduction.
This is why SVG is essential for promotional items. Whether it’s a pen, a uniform embroidery, or a full-sized outdoor banner, SVG files guarantee your brand looks professional every time.
Why We Recommend SVG for Your Logo
At Waikato Printing Company, we always encourage customers to keep an SVG (or other vector format) master copy of their logo. Think of it as your “digital original.” From there, we can create JPEGs or PNGs for online use, but for print—especially promo items—vector is a must.
If you only have a JPEG or PNG of your logo, don’t worry—we can often redraw it into vector format so it’s future-proof for all your printing needs.
✅ Key takeaway:
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JPEG = Photos (not for scaling)
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PNG = Digital graphics (limited for print)
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SVG = Logos & promo items (best for any size)
Need help getting your logo into SVG format? Get in touch with our team today and we’ll make sure your brand is ready for anything—from business cards to billboards.
