Logo Before and After: How to Evaluate a Redesign
Learn a practical method for comparing logo before and after versions, checking readability, color, and file quality without guessing at real measurements.
Before you start
Work with two logo files that are already available on your device: the old version and the proposed replacement. The comparison can be done entirely locally in a browser-based image tool, so there is no need to upload the files to a service. Keep the original files untouched and make comparisons on copies when you plan to crop, resize, or place the logos into mockups.
Step-by-step instructions
- Place the old and new logos side by side at the same display size in a before and after slider or a simple two-panel view.
- Check the mark first, without the wordmark: look at shape clarity, silhouette, and whether the idea still reads when the image is small.
- Compare the color set. Use a palette extractor on each file and note which colors were kept, removed, or shifted.
- Check contrast between the logo colors and the backgrounds where the logo will be used. A contrast checker can confirm whether the pair passes the expected readability threshold.
- Place both versions in the same mockup scene, such as a business card or screen, and compare how the logo behaves in realistic surroundings.
- Review the file formats and sizes. The updated logo may need matching SVG, PNG, WebP, and favicon outputs, but confirm the available exports rather than assuming they exist.
Check the output
A useful before and after comparison should not rely on a first impression alone. Zoom out far enough that the logo appears at a small icon size. If the redesigned mark still keeps its key shape and does not turn into an unclear spot, the change is easier to defend. Check the exported preview for visible jagged edges or unwanted background color. If the available format is raster-only, do not describe it as infinitely scalable; only SVG can reasonably carry that expectation.
Common problems and next steps
A common issue is comparing a small low-resolution before image with a large sharp after image. Resize both to the same pixel dimensions first. Another issue is judging a logo on a white background only. Switch the preview background between light and dark, because a redesign can improve one setting while failing the other. If the new logo has too many fine details, generate a small favicon-sized export and check whether the details remain intelligible. When a comparison feels unclear, write down two or three specific failures instead of a general preference: shape, legibility, or contrast. That gives a repeatable basis for making another revision.