How to Change the Logo on a phpBB Forum (Updated for SVG Compatibility)

Updating the logo on your phpBB forum is an important step to personalize your site. This guide will explain how to change the logo on a phpBB forum with your custom image, considering the latest default prosilver theme uses an SVG format for the main logo. While PNG and JPEG formats may still be used in other styles, working with SVG is now the recommended approach for prosilver.

Refresh Your Bulletin Board: Why Change The Logo on a phpBB Forum?

Your phpBB forum’s logo is its visual identity. Changing it can significantly impact user perception. A new logo can strengthen your brand, making your forum instantly recognizable and helping it align with your specific theme or community focus. It can also modernize an outdated look, making your forum appear fresh and professional.

Furthermore, a customized logo fosters a sense of belonging and ownership for your members, making the forum feel more unique and inviting.

Five Easy Steps to Change the Logo on a phpBB Forum

The information below shows how easy it is to replace the default logo on a phpBB forum with your custom design. Of course, we do this so that it represents our board much better than the original does. So, follow the five easy steps below and customize your board today.

Step 1: Prepare Your Logo File

You should find that the default size for the logo is 149px x 52px, however, there is scope to resize it. Initially, we recommend using these dimensions first, then backing up your forum. Do this before any tweaking.

1. Create Your Logo: Design your logo using a vector-based design tool (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or Figma). This ensures scalability and compatibility with SVG requirements. Save the file as an SVG. Ensure the file is optimized for web use to reduce loading times. You can use online tools like SVGOMG to optimize it. Recommended dimensions:
   • Width: 300px to 600px (scaled proportionally). Height: 50px to 150px.
   Tip: If you only have PNG or JPEG files, convert them to SVG using tools like Convertio or an image editor that supports vectorization.
2. Backup the Default Logo
   • Locate the default logo file (logo.svg) in the prosilver theme directory. Make a copy for backup purposes.

Step 2: Upload Your SVG Logo

1. Access Your Web Host
   • Use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or your hosting control panel’s File Manager to access your phpBB installation.
2. Navigate to the Logo Directory
   • Go to the folder:/styles/prosilver/theme/images/
3. Upload the New Logo
   • Replace the existing logo.svg file with your new file. Ensure the new logo file is named logo.svg to avoid additional steps.

Step 3: Update Theme Files (Optional)

If you want to use a file format other than SVG or customize the logo further, follow these steps:

• Edit the Theme’s CSS File
  • Navigate to:/styles/prosilver/theme/stylesheet.css
  • Locate the logo selector. It typically looks like this:

.site_logo {
    background-image: url('./images/logo.svg');
}

• Change the Logo Path
  • If using a PNG or JPEG file, update the path to point to your file. For example:

.site_logo {
    background-image: url('./images/bb_archive_logo.png');
}

• Save the Changes
  • Upload the modified CSS file back to your server if edited locally.

Step 4: Clear the Cache

1. Log in to the Admin Control Panel (ACP)
   • Go to your forum’s Admin Control Panel.
   • Navigate to the “General” tab.
2. Purge the Cache
   • Under “Purge the cache,” click the button to clear the forum’s cached files. This ensures your new logo appears immediately, of course.

Step 5: Verify Your Logo

1. Check the Forum Frontend
   • Visit your forum to ensure the new logo appears as expected.
2. Adjust Size and Position (if needed)
   • If the logo looks misaligned or incorrectly sized, tweak the width, height, or background-size properties in the CSS file. Example:

.site_logo {
    background-size: contain;
    width: 300px;
    height: auto;
}

Considerations for Other Styles

If you’re using a theme other than prosilver, it might still rely on PNG or JPEG formats for the logo. Follow these steps instead:

1. Prepare your logo as a PNG or JPEG file with appropriate dimensions.**
2. Replace the default logo in the corresponding theme’s images directory.
3. Update the theme’s CSS file if needed, as outlined above.

**Once you download a new theme or style, find out the dimensions of its default logo and replace with one of similar format and size. Of course, this should ensure that you are good to go immediately. However, you can adjust the size and format later. Just ensure that you purge the cache, check that it looks good and have a backup plan, if you make a mistake.

Additional Tips When You Change the Logo on a phpBB Forum

• Mobile Optimization: Ensure the logo displays well on mobile devices. Add media queries to adjust size for smaller screens:

@media (max-width: 768px) {
    .site_logo {
        width: 150px;
    }
}

• Testing: Check the updated logo across multiple browsers and devices.
• Backup Regularly: Always back up your theme files before making changes.

In Conclusion: Change the Logo on a phpBB Forum

By following these updated steps, you can successfully customize the logo for your forum while keeping up with phpBB’s latest developments.

Finally, if you have problems with changing the default logo on your phpBB forums, start a thread in our help forum. There, you will find other members willing to help, not only on this subject, but on many others.