Contents
  1. Before you start
  2. Step-by-step instructions
  3. Check the output
  4. Common problems and next steps

Before you start

Set up a clean comparison before opening the first image. Put the old and new NBC marks side by side at the same display size. Keep the source files separate from any edited copies. Work from official material or clearly dated captures when possible, because low-quality uploads can make a subtle change look larger than it is.

Do not rely on a screenshot embedded in a video call or presentation. Compression can shift reds and make fine outlines look heavier. If you need a closer look, download or save the image at the highest resolution available in the tool you are already using.

Step-by-step instructions

Compare the primary shape first. Place the 2026 version next to the previous one and check whether the number of feather segments, the stem, or the outer silhouette changed. Keep your eyes moving between the same part of each mark instead of trying to absorb both as a whole.

Look at color separately from shape. Overlay a neutral gray or white sample behind each logo and check whether the red shifts toward orange, pink, or a deeper crimson. If you have a color picker available, sample the same relative position in both files and note whether the values differ.

Test background behavior deliberately. View each version on a light surface and a dark surface. A gradient that looks smooth on white can expose banding or a harsh edge on black. Keep the surrounding brightness similar so the comparison is about the mark, not the device screen.

Check typography only if the version includes lettering. Compare the spacing, weight, and alignment between the two files at the same pixel height. Small differences can be difficult to see when one copy is scaled a few percent larger than the other.

If you are preparing the logo for a thumbnail, icon, or broadcast-style graphic, export both versions through the same capture or conversion settings. Different tools can introduce their own sharpening or color handling, so keep the processing path identical.

Check the output

Zoom out until the logo is about the size of a small app icon. Confirmed changes should still be visible at that size. If the difference disappears, the revision may be minor or limited to fine detail that will not read in many placements.

View the image at 100% scale when checking edges and gradients. Do not judge smoothness while zoomed far in, because normal display scaling may already show a softer result than the source file contains.

Treat official announcements or verified branding pages as the safest evidence for what changed. A fan-made reconstruction can accidentally add details that were never part of the 2026 version.

Common problems and next steps

If the colors look different in two apps, confirm that both are using the same image and display settings before assuming the logo itself changed. A difference caused by night mode, screen calibration, or a color profile will follow every image you open.

If the outline appears rough only in one file, check the file type and resolution. A JPEG captured from a screen can add artifacts around the feathers even when the official vector file would stay clean.

If the 2026 mark is placed on a transparent or dark background in one source and a light background in another, compare only the logo region. A darker surrounding area can make the same red look more intense.

For a reversible visual check, keep one untouched copy of each version and make changes only to duplicates. That way you can return to the original files if a test export alters the color or sharpness.