Putting your company logo on a stubby holder sounds simple enough.

Send over the logo, print it on the front, job done.

In reality, the logo file, colours, print area and overall layout can make a big difference to how professional the finished product looks.

A clean vector logo can print beautifully. A tiny screenshot pulled from a website usually won’t.

So if you’re ordering custom stubby holders for a business, club or corporate event, it’s worth getting the artwork right before production starts.

This guide covers the main things to know.

Start With the Best Logo File You Have

The quality of the final print starts with the quality of the artwork.

For business logos, the best files are usually vector formats such as:

• AI
• EPS
• SVG
• print-quality PDF

Vector files are useful because they can be resized without becoming blurry or pixelated.

If you don’t have a vector file, a high-resolution PNG can also work well, especially if the background is transparent.

What we’d avoid, where possible, are things like:

• screenshots
• logos copied from a website
• tiny JPEG files
• images saved from social media
• photos of a printed logo

If the logo looks blurry when you zoom in, it will usually still look blurry once printed.

What If You Only Have a PNG or JPEG?

That doesn’t automatically mean the artwork can’t be used.

A large, clear PNG can often print perfectly well.

The main thing is resolution.

If the image is already large and sharp, there may not be a problem.

The trouble starts when a logo is only a few hundred pixels wide and then needs to be enlarged to fill a large print area.

If you’re unsure, send the best version you have and ask whether it’s suitable for printing.

In some cases, the logo may need to be redrawn as a vector before production.

Transparent Backgrounds Make Life Easier

For logos, a transparent background is usually preferable.

It gives the designer more flexibility when placing the logo onto coloured artwork.

For example, a white logo on a transparent background can be placed cleanly onto black, navy or another brand colour.

If the logo file has a white box around it, that box may end up being visible unless the artwork is cleaned up first.

PNG files can support transparency.

JPEG files cannot.

How Big Should the Logo Be?

Bigger is not always better.

The logo needs to be large enough to recognise easily, but not so large that it feels squeezed into the print area.

A simple logo can usually be printed larger.

A wide logo with a long company name may need a bit more space around it.

When deciding on the size, think about:

• logo shape
• amount of text
• holder dimensions
• whether there is artwork on both sides
• whether other information needs to be included

In most cases, the best design leaves a bit of breathing room around the logo rather than pushing it right to the edges.

Keep Small Text to a Minimum

This is one of the most common artwork issues.

What looks readable on a large computer screen can become tiny once printed onto a stubby holder.

Small text can be particularly difficult if you’re trying to include:

• phone numbers
• long URLs
• addresses
• legal text
• multiple sponsor names

If the information isn’t essential, leave it off.

A clean logo and short message will usually look better than trying to fit an entire business card onto the holder.

What Else Can You Add Besides the Logo?

A branded stubby holder doesn’t need to be just a logo on a plain background.

Depending on the campaign, you might also add:

• business slogan
• website
• QR code
• event name
• event date
• social handle
• campaign message
• sponsor logos
• team name

The key is balance.

If everything is fighting for attention, the design starts to look messy.

For most business orders, one clear logo and one secondary message is enough.

Are QR Codes a Good Idea?

They can be.

A QR code is useful if there’s somewhere worthwhile to send people.

That could be:

• your booking page
• a competition entry
• your Instagram profile
• a landing page
• a menu
• a review page
• a special offer

The main thing is making sure it actually scans.

Don’t make it too small, and don’t place it over a busy background.

There should be enough contrast and enough clear space around the code.

Always test the QR code from the artwork proof before approving production.

What Colour Mode Should Your Artwork Use?

If your business has strict brand colours, colour setup matters.

Screens usually display colour in RGB.

Printing normally works differently.

For print artwork, suppliers often work with CMYK values, and some businesses also use Pantone references for brand consistency.

If you have formal brand guidelines, send them through.

That might include:

• CMYK values
• Pantone numbers
• approved logo versions
• preferred background colours

This gives the supplier a much better reference than simply saying “make it the same blue as our website”.

Will the Printed Colour Match My Screen Exactly?

Not always.

Screens are backlit, while printed products reflect light.

Different monitors also display colours differently.

That means a blue on your laptop may not look exactly the same once printed on neoprene.

For most small business orders, a close brand match is usually fine.

For larger corporate campaigns, strict colour consistency may matter more.

If colour is critical, mention that before production.

Front and Back: Should They Be the Same?

They don’t have to be.

A simple business design could use the same logo on both sides.

But using the two sides differently can make the artwork more useful.

For example:

Front Company logo

Back Website or QR code

Or:

Front Event branding

Back Sponsor logos

Or:

Front Business logo

Back Short slogan

This often works better than trying to fit everything onto one side.

Multiple Sponsor Logos Need More Planning

Sporting clubs, charity events and community functions often need several logos on one holder.

That’s possible, but the more logos you add, the smaller each one becomes.

If there are several sponsors, it’s worth deciding which ones need the most prominence.

A simple hierarchy works better than making all six logos the same size.

For example:

• main event logo
• major sponsor
• supporting sponsors

If there are too many, a second side can help.

3mm vs 5mm: Does It Affect the Artwork?

The print design can usually work on either, but the overall feel is different.

A 3mm foldable holder is lighter and often used for larger promotional runs.

A 5mm holder feels thicker and more structured.

From an artwork point of view, the main thing is using the correct template for the exact product.

Don’t assume artwork prepared for one holder will fit another perfectly.

The dimensions and print areas can change.

What Should You Check on the Artwork Proof?

This is probably the most important step before production.

Don’t just look at whether the design “looks good”.

Check the details.

Pay attention to:

• logo spelling
• website
• phone number
• event date
• QR code
• colours
• logo placement
• front and back artwork
• sponsor names

If 200 holders are printed with the wrong date, it’s much harder to fix than a digital proof.

Take a minute and check everything properly.

What If You Don’t Have Finished Artwork?

That’s normal.

A lot of businesses only have:

• a logo
• brand colours
• a rough idea
• some wording

You don’t necessarily need to create the full design yourself.

A supplier can usually use those pieces to build a simple print layout.

The clearer your instructions are, the easier that process becomes.

Something like:

“Black holder, white logo on the front, QR code on the back, clean corporate style”

is much more useful than:

“Make it look good.”

Should You Use a Full-Colour Background?

You can.

Full-colour sublimation makes it possible to print much more than a basic logo.

That could include:

• gradients
• patterns
• photography
• brand illustrations
• campaign artwork

But business designs don’t need to be complicated.

A simple brand colour with a strong logo often looks more professional than an overly busy full-colour design.

Use the extra design freedom when it actually helps the brand.

Common Logo Artwork Mistakes

A few problems come up regularly.

Using a screenshot

It may look fine on a phone but become blurry when enlarged.

Too much text

The holder ends up looking crowded.

Logo too close to the edge

Important details can feel cramped or sit too close to seams.

Poor colour contrast

A dark logo on a dark background can disappear.

Tiny QR code

It looks fine in the design file but doesn’t scan properly.

Not checking the proof

Small mistakes get missed because the buyer only looks at the overall design.

Most of these are easy to avoid before printing.

A Simple Artwork Process for Businesses

For most company logo orders, the process is straightforward.

First, send your logo in the best format you have.

Then provide any brand colours, wording, QR codes or other elements you want included.

The supplier prepares the artwork and sends a proof.

You check the layout, spelling, colours and details.

Once the artwork is approved, production begins.

The important part is not rushing the proof.

Our Take

For company logo stubby holders, simple artwork usually works best.

A sharp logo, strong brand colours and one clear message will often look more professional than trying to fill every centimetre of the holder.

If you’re ordering for a business, we’d focus on three things:

good artwork, clear branding and a careful proof check.

Get those right and the print process becomes much easier.

You don’t need to be a graphic designer.

You just need to send the best logo file you have and be clear about what the holder is supposed to achieve.

FAQ

What is the best logo file for custom stubby holders?

Vector files such as AI, EPS, SVG and high-quality PDF are ideal because they can be resized without losing sharpness.

Can I use a PNG logo?

Yes. A high-resolution PNG can work well, especially if it has a transparent background.

Can I use a JPEG?

Yes, if it is large and high quality. Small or heavily compressed JPEGs may become blurry when printed.

Can you print a QR code on a stubby holder?

Yes. Make sure the code is large enough, has good contrast and is tested before artwork approval.

Can the front and back have different designs?

Yes. Using different artwork on each side can be useful for combining a logo with a QR code, website or sponsor details.

Can I print multiple sponsor logos?

Yes, although the more logos you add, the smaller each one may need to be.

Do I need finished artwork before ordering?

No. In many cases, a logo, colour direction and some wording are enough to start the design process.

Will printed colours match my screen exactly?

Not always. Screen and print colours can differ, so brand colour references such as CMYK or Pantone values can help.