Creating a Logo?

[edawn]

I'd like to create a text based logo in photoshop and just wondered if anyone else has done this or if anyone can point me towards some ideas to get my creative juices flowing.* I'm about to get some greeting cards printed (using my own pictures), and I'd like to include a logo on the back.* I'm thinking I'd like to incorporate my initials somehow. I've done some preliminary "sketches" but I know I can do better. Any ideas or tips for me?* Thanks!* *

Elaine

[ellette]

Well, one of the biggest things is to make sure it can be shrunk down to fit nicely on a business card and still be recognizeable. Too often people get really detailed logos and then when they try to stick them on a business card they get very muddy. My dad used to run a printing business out of our garage (back when there was no digital anything...you haven't lived till you smell fresh ink and press wash in the morning ) and would often have to tell people that they needed to tone it down or it would be pointless for him to print something.

Why don't you post some of your preliminary ideas. Also, let us know what the mood you are going for is and what sort of market you will be wanting to be in (ie., are you mostly going to do baby announcements or are you going to try to do any and all kind of cards and do you think you'll branch out into something other than cards). Then we could all post our own ideas for you and you can do what you want with them. I need a bit more information though before I start making logos (just recently made one for a cat rescue group though mostly what I've done for rescue groups is much more detailed like designs for t-shirts).

Sara

[Jetsprinter]

Elaine, I recently went through the same process and had a heck of a job to come up with some ideas. I agree with Sara but also feel it could be a good idea for some of the PhotoCamel community to post their logos so you can draw from those ideas also. Below are two variations of my own logo.

[CyberPet]

Elaine, I made an easy one that will work at any size (on a sign, a business card, as a watermark, etc) with just two different fonts. Here's how I use it in photo's that are proofed online:



I am going to order a rubber stamp with this logo and have it stamped behind photos.

[edawn]

Originally Posted by Jetsprinter

Elaine, I recently went through the same process and had a heck of a job to come up with some ideas. I agree with Sara but also feel it could be a good idea for some of the PhotoCamel community to post their logos so you can draw from those ideas also. Below are two variations of my own logo.

Yes, I would love to see more of other people's logos! Thanks for sharing yours.


Elaine

[edawn]

Originally Posted by ellette

Well, one of the biggest things is to make sure it can be shrunk down to fit nicely on a business card and still be recognizeable.* Too often people get really detailed logos and then when they try to stick them on a business card they get very muddy.* My dad used to run a printing business out of our garage (back when there was no digital anything...you haven't lived till you smell fresh ink and press wash in the morning* ) and would often have to tell people that they needed to tone it down or it would be pointless for him to print something.

Why don't you post some of your preliminary ideas.* Also, let us know what the mood you are going for is and what sort of market you will be wanting to be in (ie., are you mostly going to do baby announcements or are you going to try to do any and all kind of cards and do you think you'll branch out into something other than cards).* Then we could all post our own ideas for you and you can do what you want with them.* I need a bit more information though before I start making logos (just recently made one for a cat rescue group though mostly what I've done for rescue groups is much more detailed like designs for t-shirts).*

Sara

Good point about the size. I had thought of that too, as I don't want something big to begin with, so it does need to be uncluttered and clear. I'd like something that could be used on all sorts of cards, and preferrably something that could cross over onto other things (quilt labels, for one example). Something classic with no hard edges. I really like the script on Petra's logo.
I'm not ready to share anything yet, and I don't necessarily want someone to work on one for me, because I do want it to be my own. But I'd love to see things that other people have done. So, can you share anything of yours??

Thanks!

Elaine

[edawn]

Originally Posted by CyberPet

Elaine, I made an easy one that will work at any size (on a sign, a business card, as a watermark, etc) with just two different fonts. Here's how I use it in photo's that are proofed online:

I am going to order a rubber stamp with this logo and have it stamped behind photos.

Petra,

Thanks for sharing this!* I have long admired the script used in your watermarks.* Getting a rubber stamp made is exactly one of the things I'd like to do with mine as well.* I think I need to download some more fonts onto my computer now.

Thanks again!

Elaine

[edawn]

Oh! I just had a thought! I just ordered the new Graphire 4 - 4"x5" from B&H. (I posted this in the "Wake up to Wacom Tablets" thread...but I'll repeat myself here. It's $99 and it's bundled with Photoshop Elements 3.0, among other things, and since I already have PE3, I'm going to sell it to my in-laws for $50, and I'll get the tablet and the other programs for $49 - plus $6 shipping). Anyway, using the Graphire, I could probably come up with a logo based on my own handwriting, right? That might be cool. Any reason I shouldn't do this??

Elaine