Font selection fail

[Hermes Monster]

Hi!

I need some advice on a good guide to selecting a font to go with logos or illustrations pleeease I've become quite proficient in illustrator and even made some money, but more often than not I pick a naff font which doesn't do my image any favours.

I have a good selection on my mac, but I'm looking for somewhere or someone that can provide a useful guide...or is it just personal taste? I need to get away from Myriad Pro (I blame apple for that)

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[aarond12]

Since no examples were given, I have to say: USE COMIC SANS FOR EVERYTHING.

Seriously, each document/logo/presentation needs deep consideration of the audience, corporate branding, etc., to choose a font. This usually isn't a "throw a dart and choose a font" type of thing...

 

[THX1139]

Look for the easy button under the type menu. Seriously, selecting the correct type to go with a mark, or use as a particular style is specific to what you are trying to say. Your question implies that you don't know what you are doing. Why don't you prove me wrong and post some examples of your work that includes type you think works... and type that doesn't.

 

[Hermes Monster]

Not sure the sarcastic comments and put downs were required, I thought I made it quite clear I didn't know what I was doing, hence asking for advice. To reiterate my question and perhaps make it more clear - I was hoping someone might know of a online resource or book which would give guidance on what type of font works well in certain circumstances. Such a thing might not exist as it's such a broad area and very specific to each illustration or logo, but in the interests of self improvement I thought I would ask.

I'll try and upload some examples when I'm at my computer

 

[derickm]

so you need a typeface?

http://inspirationlab.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/infographiclarge_v2.png

from this guy http://julianhansen.com/

 

[MisterMe]

Hi!

I need some advice on a good guide to selecting a font to go with logos or illustrations pleeease ...

derickm's link in Post No. 5 is a gross simplification of the steps required to select the typeface(s) used in a logo. You don't give a hint what the logo is for. It could be a product, business, school, church, service, anything .... Whatever it is, its logo says everything about it in a glance. Not only does the logo for a funeral home require different typefaces than a burger joint, but also a five-year-old burger joint requires different typefaces than a 60 year-old burger joint. Many concerns use original custom typefaces in their logos. Think Coca Cola, General Electric, Ford, Burger King.

Only persons who are personally familiar with what the logo will be used for have a clue about the proper typefaces(s) to be used in it.

 

[Hermes Monster]

Thanks gents, the flowchart is a nice start i guess It's the kind of thing that I was looking for, although very simplified, basically some thing that guides you in a way I.e. Logo is trying to emote felling x, try using font y - or something like that

 

[Jim Campbell]

Cheeses. The flow chart is humour, guys. Like all good observational humour, it works because there's a significant element of truth to it, but it's humour nonetheless.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[CW Jones]

It sounds funny... but I actually have this poster hanging right by my big (4x8) drawing desk and use it all the time.

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Periodic-Table-of-Typefaces/193759

I am not saying to buy it form this place, I dont work for or represent them, just showing the table thats all.

Doesn't of course tell you which ones are good BUT it lays out the "best" or most well known to pick from, which is why I use it very often when I am trying to get a certain feel. Picking a typeface for me is always by feel. Put one up there and see if it looks right and what your first impression is of the typeface. I have done projects that take 80+ hours and finished happy with the design and still not happy with the typeface (assuming I used one.) There really is no guide, yes there are them online but I would never use a guild like that to tell me which type to use, thats all part of design.