Should a stroke be added to the text in a logo?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
August 7, 2025
2 replies
502 views

Does a stroke NEED to be added to the text in a logo created in Illustrator? In other words, is it best to add a stroke? I'm just learning Illustrator. My colleague, who has virtually no design experience, is modifying a professionally designed logo. He stated that he "added a 0.25 pt stroke weight to the text." I've never heard of this and am wondering if he is confusing converting to outline with adding a stroke to the text. To me, adding a stroke changes the font that was very carefully selected by the brand design firm. Should I suggest that he remove any added strokes from the text? Or is it necessary step to add a stroke to vector art? I always use convert to outline. Thank you.

How-to

Correct answer Monika Gause

When you export files that you are giving to other people in your company or that you are sending to service suppliers, then outline text and strokes, because you never know how people use these files. And which apps they use for it.

M

Michele Weisbart

Inspiring

If there is a professionally designed logo, that is their branding that has been adopted. Brand guidelines should always be followed to preserve brand identity. Unless allowed by the guidelines, no stroke should be allowed. There is no technical reason to add a stroke and in most cases these days, you don't need to convert text as if you are exporting to a pdf, the pdf can handle the text. Has he stated his reasoning for adding the stroke?

D

Debbie Marketing MavenAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thank you for the very clear answer, Michele, "There is no technical reason to add a stroke." I'll need to ask why he added the stroke. My guess is that he is confusing that with convert to outline. The Illustrator file will be exported to an .eps, jpg, .png, etc. in order to create logo files for all applications. I appreciate your and Monika's help, as I'm not versed in the technical aspects, yet in a position to try to steer us in the right direction. Thanks so much!

Monika Gause

Correct answer

Community Expert

When you export files that you are giving to other people in your company or that you are sending to service suppliers, then outline text and strokes, because you never know how people use these files. And which apps they use for it.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Usually this is not the best practice.

WIth a variable font you could increase the font weight by very small amounts.

And even if you see no other option than to make the font thicker, use Offset path instead.

If you use a stroke, it will need to be outlined and then merged with the shape.

D

Debbie Marketing MavenAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thank you, Monika. I don't know what a variable font is, but I think you're saying that a designer would only add a stroke if they wanted the font to be thicker. Am I understanding correctly? In our case, that isn't necessary, as we like the font as is. At the end, I do use convert to outline for the entire logo -- text and design element/graphic. (I'm not familiar with offset path or merge with shape. I'm very much a novice. 🙂 )

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Most likely that is the reason. There can be technical reason for adding a stroke: creating trapping. But in order to do that, you typically need to follow the printer's requirements precisely and not just set it up out of the blue.

Outlining the text in your logo as well as the strokes is best practice.

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