HrvatskiStep 1
Start from the vector
Open the SVG or PDF logo, not a screenshot or a PNG.
Brand OS Portal
White and black logo versions: why you need both and when to use each.
A white logo works on dark backgrounds. A black logo works where colour is not allowed. Keep both.
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A white logo version is for dark backgrounds, photos and video endings. A black logo version is for places where colour is not available or not allowed, like forms, stamps, newspaper ads and some print jobs.
Both are one-colour versions of your logo. Make them from the real logo, not by changing the colour on a screenshot. Keep them as vector files, name them clearly and put them where the team can find them.
By Vedran Obradović · Updated 7 November 2026
When to use the white logo and when the black one.
Look at the background. It decides.
| Situation | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dark slide or dark website section | White logo | Strong contrast on dark |
| Photo with a dark area | White logo | Place it in the calm dark area |
| End of a video | White logo on dark | Clean and easy to read |
| Black and white print | Black logo | Colour is not available |
| Stamp, form, receipt | Black logo | One ink |
| Embroidery or engraving | One-colour version | Simple shapes work well with one thread or one cut |
| Light background, colour allowed | Full colour logo | It is your main version |
For photos, read logo on dark and photo backgrounds. For the full set, see logo variations every company needs.
How a one-colour logo should be made.
A one-colour version is not a recolour. It needs a quick check.
Step 2
Make every part one colour
Fill all shapes with pure white or pure black. Remove gradients and shadows.
Step 3
Fix touching shapes
When colours merge into one, parts can blur together. Add small gaps where needed.
Step 4
Test it small
Shrink it to the smallest size you allow. Can you still read it?
Step 5
Save and name it
For example: company-logo-horizontal-white.svg and company-logo-horizontal-black.svg.
If your designer does not give you one-colour versions, ask. It belongs in the logo set. See logo files: what you need.
Free tool
Check the space around your logo.
One-colour logos need the same room as the colour one. Add your logo, pick a rule and download a guide. The file stays on your device.
Ask for the missing versions.
Send this to the designer who made your logo.
Request for one-colour logo versions
Hi [Name], Could you send me one-colour versions of the [Company] logo? What I need: - White version of horizontal, stacked and icon (for dark backgrounds) - Black version of horizontal, stacked and icon (for black and white print) - Formats: SVG and PDF (vector), plus PNG with a clear background - A short note on the smallest size each version can be used Please name the files so they are easy to find, for example [company]-logo-horizontal-white.svg Thanks, [Your name]
No designer on call? A new logo set is a small job. See logo design, or write a brief with the logo design brief template.
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Why people still grab the wrong logo.
The files are there. The right one is hard to pick.
Someone needs a logo for a dark slide. They open the folder. They see five files and pick the one named "logo_final". It is the colour one. It looks wrong.
In a Brand OS Portal, Logo Studio asks two things: the background and the size. It hands back the right logo. Colour, light, dark, white and black are all there. Sizes cover tab icon, profile, slide and big sign.
That is one less thing for you to answer in chat. Read how to share the set in how to share logo files.
Check your white and black logos.
Tick each line. Your ticks stay on this device.
0 of 8 done
Your logo also needs a lockup for a tagline or product line. Read how to make a logo lockup.
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Pick a background. Get the right logo.
This is a real tool from a real Brand OS Portal, on the MTG brand. Pick a background and a size. A logo that breaks the rules fixes itself.
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Straight answers.
Why do I need a white and black version of my logo?
White works on dark backgrounds and photos. Black works where colour is not available, like forms, stamps and black and white print.
Can I just change the colour of my logo to white?
For a quick use, yes, if you start from the vector file. For a proper version, check touching shapes, gradients and small sizes.
What file format should a one-colour logo be?
Vector (SVG or PDF) for print and scaling, and PNG with a clear background for slides and documents.
Is a white logo the same as a light logo?
Close. A light version can be a pale tint of your colour. A white version is pure white. Both are for dark backgrounds.
Where should I keep logo versions?
In one place the whole team can reach, with clear names. In a Brand OS Portal, Logo Studio hands over the right one for each background and size.
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