Two fundamentally different file formats
JPG and SVG are both widely used image file formats, but they work in a fundamentally different way. JPG is a raster format that stores images as a grid of coloured pixels, while SVG is a vector format that describes shapes using mathematical formulas. This difference has major implications for the quality, scalability and usability of your logo.
JPG versus SVG: the comparison
JPG (raster format)
JPG stores images as a grid of pixels with lossy compression. Quality is lost with every save. Enlarging leads to blurry, grainy images. The file size depends on the resolution: the larger the image, the heavier the file. JPG does not support transparency and cannot be edited at element level.
SVG (vector format)
SVG describes images using mathematical formulas and is therefore infinitely scalable without quality loss. The file size is compact and independent of the display size. SVG supports transparency, is editable with code and can be animated. The format is ideal for logos, icons and illustrations.
When to choose JPG and when SVG?
Use JPG for photos and complex images with many colour nuances and gradients. JPG is optimized for this and produces compact files with good colour reproduction. Choose SVG for logos, icons, illustrations and anything with sharp lines and flat colours. SVG is then smaller, sharper and more flexible. For your logo on your website, SVG is almost always the better choice.
Practical examples
Logo on your website
Use SVG. Your logo stays sharp on every screen and resolution, from smartphone to Retina display. The file is smaller than a high-resolution JPG and scales automatically.
Photo on your website
Use JPG (or WebP). Photos contain millions of colour nuances that are efficiently stored in raster formats. A photo as SVG would produce an enormous and impractical file.
Logo for social media
Use PNG (derived from your SVG). Social media platforms generally do not support SVG. Export your SVG logo as PNG in the required dimensions for a sharp result.
Logo for print
Use AI, EPS or PDF (vector formats). JPG is unsuitable for print due to quality loss when enlarged. SVG can be used for print, but AI or PDF with a CMYK colour profile is better.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a JPG to SVG?
Not by simply changing the file extension. A JPG must be vectorized: the pixel image is converted to vector paths. This can be done automatically (with varying results) or manually (for the best result). Logo in Vector handles this professionally.
Is SVG always better than JPG?
Not always. For photos and complex images, JPG is more efficient. But for logos, icons and illustrations, SVG is almost always the better choice due to its scalability, sharpness and file size.
My logo is only available as a JPG. What now?
Have your logo vectorized so you also have an SVG (and AI) file. Logo in Vector turns your JPG logo into a sharp vector file in all the formats you need. That way you are prepared for every application.
Choose the right format for your logo
JPG and SVG are both useful formats, but for different purposes. For your logo, an SVG file is essential for web use, and a vector file (AI/EPS) for print. Only have a JPG of your logo? Logo in Vector turns it into a professional vector file, so you have all the formats you need.