Stationery is often a business's first printed material: business card, letterhead, quotes, invoices, envelopes. It is also where a logo's flaws show up fastest: a blurry file, colours that shift, details lost. A few simple rules avoid most of these disappointments.

The files to give the printer

  • A vector file (vector PDF, or the format the printer asks for): it guarantees a sharp logo at every size. See which file formats to request for a logo.
  • Fonts converted to outlines, to prevent them being replaced.
  • A colour profile suited to print: the printer usually says what they expect (for example CMYK for four-colour printing).
  • The technical margins the printer asks for (bleed, crop marks): they vary by workshop, so ask before finalising.

Where to place the logo

The most common choice is at the top of the document, left or centred, with a comfortable margin around it. What matters is consistency: same position and same relative size from one document to the next, so that card, letterhead, quote and invoice are recognised at once. Always leave clear space around the logo: see what are logo usage guidelines.

The minimum size

A logo perfectly legible on screen can lose its details once printed small, especially fine lines and small text. Print a test at real size and check everything stays legible. If it doesn't, use a simplified version. See a logo that stays legible at small sizes (in French).

Colours and paper

  • Colours differ between screen and print: ask for a proof or a test copy before a large run.
  • The paper changes the result: a tinted or textured paper changes the colour you see.
  • A one-colour version is useful for stamps and for documents sent or printed in black and white. See monochrome logo: why a single colour.

Checklist before printing

  1. The file is vector and the fonts are converted to outlines.
  2. The logo has the same place and relative size on all documents.
  3. A real-size test has been checked.
  4. A proof has approved the colours.
  5. The one-colour version exists for stamps and black and white.

Frequently asked questions about the logo and stationery

What minimum size for a logo on a business card?
There is no universal size: it depends on the logo. The practical rule is to test in real print and check the smallest details stay legible.

Should the logo be printed in colour on invoices?
Not necessarily. Many invoices are sent as PDFs and printed in black and white: plan a version of the logo that stays legible both ways.

More questions about logo design

How Do You Add Your Logo to Your Website?
Favour SVG, with a transparent PNG as backup, a mobile version and a favicon, and add alt text. Read the article →

How Do You Get Your Logo Printed on Clothing or Objects?
Each process has its constraints: start from a vector file and a simplified version, then approve a proof before production. Read the article →

What Are Logo Usage Guidelines?
It is the document that sets the logo's rules of use: versions, clear space, minimum size, colours, backgrounds and no-nos. Read the article →

What Should You Do With Old Materials When You Change Your Logo?
Take stock of your materials, change digital on launch day and print as it's renewed, limiting how long the two logos coexist. Read the article →

What File Formats Should I Request for a Logo So I Can Use It Across Different Materials?
A professional logo should be delivered as a vector file (SVG, PDF, EPS) for print, plus PNG and JPG exports for the web. Read the article →

How Do I Measure the Impact of a New Logo on My Brand's Recognition?
A new logo's impact is measured through recognition, perception and indirect signals, observed over 3 to 6 months. Read the article →

What Are the Key Elements of a Professional, Memorable Logo?
A good logo combines five qualities: simple, memorable, timeless, versatile and relevant to the business. Read the article →

See all questions about logo design →

My take as a designer

Stationery is a logo's real-life test: that's where you see whether it holds up small, in one colour and on real paper. I always recommend printing a test before the big run, even for a simple business card.

A logo is only really approved the day you've held it in your hand, printed.

To sum up

Give the printer a vector file, place the logo consistently with a safety margin and test its minimum size in real print.

Colours differ between screen and paper: ask for a proof before a large run.

Plan a one-colour version for stamps and black and white.