How to Test Your Logo Before and After a Redesign

Before you start

Prepare the logo files you want to compare. PNG with transparency is the most predictable format for mockup and contrast checks. SVG is useful when you need to resize without losing sharpness, but treat an SVG from an unfamiliar source as untrusted and avoid files that contain scripts or external resources.

If you are using a browser-based logo lab, the test can run locally on your device. Check the tool's interface language before uploading: local processing will usually say that files are selected from your device and handled in the browser. Do not send a logo file to a server unless the tool clearly states that upload is part of its workflow.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Open the redesigned logo in a mockup preview

Select the new PNG or SVG file and place it on a light background first. Move through the available scenes, such as a business card, a sign, and a screen. Check whether the logo stays legible when the scene is resized or when the logo is scaled down by the tool.

2. Repeat the same scenes with the previous logo

Load the old version using the same settings. Keep the position and scale as close as possible. This gives you a controlled comparison instead of judging the new mark from memory.

3. Compare the two versions side by side

Use a before-and-after slider if the tool provides one. Drag slowly across a few areas: the symbol, the wordmark, and the boundary between the logo and the background. Pay attention to details that may not be visible in a static preview, such as thin strokes disappearing on a dark sign.

4. Check color contrast on the new palette

Extract the dominant colors from the redesigned logo and test the main background and text pairs in a contrast checker. Small icons and thin text need more contrast than large headings. If the tool reports a ratio, compare it with common accessibility targets rather than assuming the colors pass because they look distinct on your screen.

5. Test the logo at smaller sizes

Resize the new version to the smallest common use case, such as a favicon or a small profile image. Check whether the symbol remains recognizable and whether the spacing stays balanced. Export the sizes you need and review the resulting files rather than relying only on the preview.

Check the output

A useful test confirms three things: the new logo works in the same scenes as the old one, the contrast is acceptable for the intended background, and the exported file sizes look correct after resizing. If you are testing an SVG, open the saved file and confirm it renders as a clean vector image rather than an embedded raster disguised as SVG.

Common problems and next steps

One frequent issue is a logo that looks good on white but disappears on a dark sign. Add the dark scene to every comparison. Another issue is a wordmark that becomes unreadable at favicon size; if the full name no longer works, compare a shortened or symbol-only variant at that scale.

Do not expect a browser test to prove how a logo will perform in print. Screen mockups help you catch immediate layout and contrast problems, but actual print materials require the same review in the intended print color space and physical size.