Can you design a logo or graphics for my business?

The short version

• Logo and graphic design isn’t on E-3’s list of services, so ask us before you plan around it.
• If you’re having a logo made elsewhere, ask the designer for an SVG file and high-resolution PNGs.
• Own the original files. Keep them somewhere your business controls.
• Next step: Ask a person what you need.

How do I get started?

1. Tell us what you need. A new logo, a refresh of an old one, a banner for your home page, or graphics for social media. Say what it’s for and when you need it.
2. Send what you already have. Your current logo files, any brand colors, and photos you’d like to use. Large files are best shared by a Google Drive or Dropbox link, not attached to an email.
3. Wait for a reply before you plan around it. Replies usually come within one business day.
4. For website graphics, tell us where they go. A person at E-3 adds the image or banner to the page you name. Bigger changes are tested on a staging copy first.

Why does this matter?

Your logo appears on every page, in Google results, and on your invoices and van. A blurry or stretched logo makes a business look careless. Good files used well cost very little extra effort, and they make the whole site look more professional.

What files should I get from a logo designer?

Ask for these, and keep them yourself:

• SVG. A vector file that stays sharp at any size. It suits websites well. MDN’s image format guide recommends SVG for graphics that must look right at different sizes, because it scales smoothly.
• PNG with a transparent background, in a large size, for places that don’t take SVG.
• A version for dark backgrounds, often white or light.
• A square version or icon, for social media profiles and the small icon in a browser tab.
• The original design file, such as an Adobe Illustrator file, so changes can be made later.
• Your brand colors written as codes, so they match everywhere.

What are the common mistakes and edge cases?

• Only having a small JPG. Blown up for a website header, it looks fuzzy. Ask whoever made the logo for the original file.
• Words baked into images. A banner with text inside the picture can’t be read by screen readers or search engines, and it’s hard to read on phones. W3C’s guidance on images of text recommends real text where you can. Logos are the exception, and still need alt text with the business name.
• Using images you found online. Most images on Google are someone else’s property. Use your own photos, licensed stock, or images made for you. Our answer on stock or real photos helps.
• Losing the files. If a past designer kept them, ask for them now, while you can.

What if this didn’t work?

• Your logo looks blurry on the site. Send us the largest or vector version you have. If there isn’t one, it may need to be redrawn.
• The colors look different on screen and in print. Screens and printers show color differently. A designer can give you separate color codes for each.
• Nobody has the original files. A designer can recreate the logo from a clear image. Treat that as a new project and get the files this time.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

That depends on who does the work and how much is involved. E-3 doesn’t list prices on this site.

How does E-3 handle this?

A person at E-3 makes banner and image swaps, and website care includes daily backups, so an earlier version can be restored if needed. See change a photo or banner on your site.

For a new logo or other design work, ask us first. Call 814-399-4655 or email support@e3help.me with what you need. If it’s part of a bigger project, see can you redesign my website.

Related questions

• How do I change a photo or banner on my site?
• Can you add social media links or feeds to my site?
• How to write alt text
• Image sizes for your website