Making it Better

[meason webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

If anyone has the time, I need ideas for making this logo better. I created the "blanket" image that replaces the top part of the r in Reynolds in Freehand. I then exported to Photoshop where I added the rest of lower text for the R and the rest of the company name and tagline.

All ideas are appreciated.

[meason webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Sorry, couldn't get the edit to post correctly. The sample is at: [url]www.sojournersstudio.com/temp/logos.htm[/url]

[Tom Unger]

meason;
Your html is pointing to an image stored on your own HD (you need to
correct the link and/or upload the image for others to see it). -Tom Unger

[meason webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Sorry Tom,

It is fixed now.

[Tom Unger]

meason;
I'm not sure whether you have specific issues with this, or just seek
general ideas. The anti-aliasing of the small text makes it look a bit
blurry in your example, but I'm not sure if that matters to you. Logo's
need to be designed for many uses, and at screen resolution small details
can be problematic, but it won't be an issue with vector text in print. I am
curious as to why you are doing some of the logo in Photoshop instead of
Freehand and if you are still keeping the text vector.
On the general design-I would experiment with making the blanket/symbol
a more pronounced aspect of the design. -Tom Unger

[Danny Whitehead]

First things I'd suggest:

1. Do the whole thing in Freehand. Until you need to create a rasterised
version for web use etc, you are better off work entirely with vectors.

2. Neither combination of typefaces work together very well. You're
probably better off using either the same face and weight for both
'Reynolds' and 'Company', or using a lighter weight of the same face for
'Company'.

3. You're missing an 'l' in 'Blankets'.

--


Danny

[darrel]

> All ideas are appreciated.

The mark is akward. It's an interesting idea, but forcing it into a
letterform is a bit of a stretch.

Try just using a spiral mark, and setting the name completely and
separately.

The typefaces need some work. I'd stay away from copperplate.

-Darrel

[meason webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Thanks everyone for the input. I will do the logo in Freehand so that it can be used both for print and the web and I will try a font other than copperplate.

One last question and then I will let everyone get back to work.

How do you decide which font is best for a project without busting the bank?

I've been to several font web sites but at 40 bucks a pop, on some websites, I hate to pick a font that either doesn't work for the project or the client hates. I have downloaded several free fonts (unless of course you use them commercially then it is a nominal fee and that's fair), but they will not work for this project.


Thanks for your time, all help is appreciated.

[darrel]

> How do you decide which font is best for a project without busting the
bank?

>
> I've been to several font web sites but at 40 bucks a pop, on some

websites, I hate to pick a font that either doesn't work for the project or
the client hates.

Many of the nicer foundries allow you to typeset the face online. That
allows you to use a low-resolution image for mock-up and, if you decide to
go with it, you can then purchase it.

An example is at myfonts.com:

[url]http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/bitstream/ambiance-bt/regular/testdrive.html[/url]

> I have downloaded several free fonts

Of all the free fonts out there, there are maybe just a handful that are of
the quality for doing professional typesetting with. Purchasing a font for
$40 is pretty cheap if you think about it. A LOT of work goes into creating
a nice typeface. And, once you buy it, it's in your aresenal for future
work.

-Darrel

[Bill Schuhle]

As I wrote in another forum recently, if you're on a Mac, buy Nova
Development's least expensive clip art collection for about $100 at
[url]www.novadevelopment.com[/url]. The collection includes 1,500 commercial quality
fonts. For the PC, I purchased the CorelGALLERY clip art collection for
about $40 at Office Depot. It includes a similar number of high-quality
TrueType fonts (no PS). Both collections consist of fonts licensed from the
likes of Bitstream, AGFA, URW, and ITC, so you don't get any junk.

Bill Schuhle

[Danny Whitehead]

darrel wrote:

> The mark is akward. It's an interesting idea, but forcing it into a
> letterform is a bit of a stretch.

I'm not sure - I think the idea could work, if integrated into the name
more effectively. Maybe you could try a script face and a rounder, more
flowing spiral?


--


Danny

[darrel]

> Development's least expensive clip art collection for about $100 at

> [url]www.novadevelopment.com[/url]. The collection includes 1,500 commercial quality
> fonts.

There's no way those can be called 'commercial quality' at 7 cents a font.

Remember, quality...NOT quantity is what's important for good typesetting.
;o)

> It includes a similar number of high-quality
> TrueType fonts (no PS). Both collections consist of fonts licensed from

the

> likes of Bitstream, AGFA, URW, and ITC, so you don't get any junk.

I think the Corel Package is a bit more reputable. If you are upgrading any
of your Adobe products, the new Adobe Suite CS comes with some incredibly
high quality faces. That might be worth a look too.

-Darrel

[Bill Schuhle]

> There's no way those can be called 'commercial quality' at 7 cents a font.

Are you saying that Bitstream, URW, etc., create and put their name on
non-commercial quality fonts? Like some of theirs are good and some are
crap? I seriously doubt it. I suspect it's just a volume license agreement
with lots of units sold that make for low per-font prices. Have you ever
used any of these fonts? I've used them for years and have never had a
problem with quality in *any* regard.

Bill Schuhle

[algraph webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

I agree with Danny about the typefaces. The spiral is fine but the typeface should reflect the feeling of the graphic. I have no problem reading it but the weight of the typeface you use could be the same weight of your blanket. You could try Avant Garde Med., Futura or Kabel because they are nice round typefaces. Keep the tail of the "R" the way it is and it could work as a mark all by itself and then try one of those Sans Serifs above.

[Danny Whitehead]

darrel wrote:

> There's no way those can be called 'commercial quality' at 7 cents a font.

I think it's mainly the URW stuff that used to come bundled with
Freehand and others, that comes with the Nova collections. While they
include many knock-offs like Nimbus Sans, Giltus etc (like Bitstream's
'Swiss' and 'Humanist 521' etc), which for some reason have smaller
glyphs than the originals, the fonts generally seem to be of a
'commercial quality'.




--


Danny