Which file types actually reproduce at badge size, how small a logo can go, and the two mistakes behind most proof revisions.
A badge is a two to six square inch canvas. Artwork that looks fine on a website often falls apart at that size. Nearly every proof revision we send comes down to one of two causes: a low-resolution logo, or fine detail that can't survive being shrunk to under an inch.
File formats, best to worst
- Vector (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG): scales to any size with zero quality loss. Always the first choice.
- High-resolution PNG with transparency, 300 DPI or higher at final size.
- High-resolution JPG at 300 DPI: acceptable, but the white box behind the logo has to be dealt with.
- Screenshots, website images, social media exports: usually too low-res to use.
The one-inch test
Scale your logo to one inch wide on screen and zoom to 100 percent. If a tagline, a thin outline or a gradient turns to mush, it'll do the same thing on the badge. The fix is usually a simplified badge version of the mark: drop the tagline, thicken hairlines, and cut any effect that only works at large size.
Color
Full-color printing handles gradients and photographic detail fine, and we match Pantone references at no charge, just send the reference along with the file and we check the proof against it. Laser engraving is single-color: the engraved area exposes the substrate underneath, so a two-color logo has to be converted down to one color before it's engraved.
Contrast beats cleverness
Dark text on a light badge, or light text on a dark badge, reads at distance. Mid-tone text on a mid-tone background doesn't, no matter how well it matches the brand palette. If the brand color sits in the middle range, use it as an accent bar or a solid block behind reversed white text instead.
What to send along with the artwork
- The vector or high-resolution logo file
- Exact spelling and capitalization for every name and title
- Pantone or hex codes if brand colors need to match
- The fastener and size you want, so the proof is built at real dimensions
Every order gets a free digital proof before anything goes into production, so send the best file you have and let the proof sort out the rest.