New Internet Explorer Logo: Before-and-After Evaluation
A practical assessment of the new Internet Explorer logo for vector logo work: what changed, which artwork details matter, and how to work with the vector files.
Contents
Essential answer
The question concerns the updated Internet Explorer logo and its vector artwork. This evaluation focuses on the visual comparison between the previous and current marks, the design elements that affect editable vector work, and the practical requirements for using the logo files.
Which logo and direction are being compared
The evaluation covers the flat, simplified Internet Explorer mark associated with Microsoft's later branding updates. The direction is logo vector design, so the assessment weighs shape construction, color fields, negative space, and how the artwork behaves when scaled or prepared for production.
Before-and-after comparison
| Element|Before|After |
| Outer ring|Detailed glossy gradient, beveled edge|Flat blue ring, cleaner silhouette |
| Letter shape|Lowercase 'e' with dimensional shading|Bold lowercase 'e', simplified counters |
| Orbit detail|Curved yellow band with heavy highlight|Two-tone yellow arc with less texture |
| Background|Complex gradient sky or globe treatment|Flat cyan field with stronger contrast |
| Overall style|Dimensional, skeuomorphic|Flat, more geometric and screen-friendly |
Practical implications for vector use
The flat redesign reduces the number of gradient stops, blends, and highlight layers. This generally makes a vector version simpler to inspect and manage because the final mark can be represented with fewer paths and closed shapes. However, flatness alone does not prove that a downloaded file contains true vector paths.
A file extension such as EPS, AI, or SVG does not by itself guarantee editable vector artwork. Some distributed files contain a linked or embedded raster image that only appears to be vector format. The usable check is to open the file in a vector editor and confirm that the letter, ring, and orbit shapes are actual editable paths rather than a placed bitmap or a preview image.
Color and construction notes
The updated mark relies on a limited set of flat color fields, which supports consistent reproduction across small favicon sizes and larger display use. For vector preparation, the key shapes are the outer blue ring, the stylized 'e', and the yellow orbit segment. In the revised version, these areas have stronger separation, which can make isolation and recoloring tasks more direct.
Licensing and modification boundaries
Permission to download the Internet Explorer logo is not the same as permission to modify its artwork, fonts, or trademark elements. Vector editing ability is a technical property of the file. Rights to alter the letterform, adjust colors, or reuse the mark depend on Microsoft's brand and usage rules. These two points should be treated separately when preparing files.
Where the vector file question remains open
The before-and-after review can identify which design elements changed and which details are most likely to matter in vector editing. Without examining the supplied file, it cannot confirm whether a particular download contains native outlines, embedded rasters, or only a raster preview. That verification must come from inspecting the actual artwork in an editor.
For production use, treat the redesigned version as a cleaner basis for flat vector work, but do not assume editability from the file name or extension. Confirm the path structure first, then separate the technical task of vector editing from the licensing questions around the Internet Explorer trademark.