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My Logo Vs. Your Opinion: Part II

G

gbminncok

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 19, 2006
6
0
Galway, Ireland
Hi I have created a logo for my website: firebird

The logo i wanted to create had to leave a lasting effect on the user so they would remember it. Here it is:


fblogo.jpg


I had the idea of a bird flying out of the sun...

anyway I'm a novice at designing as you can see. I used photoshop to create this. What do ye think? How can I improve on this? What application should I use to create a logo (windows user)? Is it clear enough? Thanks in advance for any help.
Gary
 
Don't mean to be nasty, but it looks like a Squirrel holding a shotgun.

Keep it simple. Bold, plain shapes. Bold, easy to see colours. :)
 
squirrel

yeah ur right it does look like a squirrel holding a shotgun. is there a tutorial or something like that for creating logos?
Gary


btw: by bold do you mean make the outline more bold, i could also put the colors all in red?
 
yeah, it's hard to tell what it is...

are you drawing it from scratch? perhaps you could find some images of the various symbols you want to use and at least use them as a template of what you want to go for...

as for tutorials, i think that years of studying design and drawing etc are perhaps the only tutorials. you could certainly hire a graphic designer, assuming you have a nice chunk of change to drop on it. it's not about the application you use, generally, but knowing how to use it as a tool to express something.


as for specifics on the logo you posted:

the sun flares (the yellow arrows)... don't strike me as sun related. they just look like little markings. i'm having a hard time seeing the bird at all. i think a simpler, more stencil like appearance might work better (like josh said. bold plain shapes that are easily discernible.)
 
bold

Yeah I hear what you're saying is there any particular tool in photoshop or illustrator i should be using to make this logo better and more professional looking?
:)
 
gbminncok said:
Yeah I hear what you're saying is there any particular tool in photoshop or illustrator i should be using to make this logo better and more professional looking?
:)
Click to expand...

Anti-aliasing for one (to smooth out all those jagged, diagonal lines).
 
I agree with the above responses about Illustrator. It is provided by Adobe (Adobe.com). I believe you can download a trial and try it out for yourself.

That tool alone will make pretty much anything you create look professional.

It's like trying to paint with an eraser without Illustrator or a similar vector graphic program.

The jagged edges, as I'm sure you are aware of now, are caused by aliasing. Illustrator natively applies anti-aliasing to whatever vectors (lines) you create, so everything is smoothe instead of jagged.
 
chrismccorkle said:
That tool alone will make pretty much anything you create look professional.
Click to expand...

Briefly, I just want to take issue with that statement. It most certainly will not. That's like saying that owning a chisel will make you a talented sculptor...
 
Blue Velvet said:
Briefly, I just want to take issue with that statement. It most certainly will not. That's like saying that owning a chisel will make you a talented sculptor...
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. Like most things-practice would be the best 'tool'.
 
As for the tool. Like mentioned above Illustrator is the way to go.

Quick comments on the logo itself and logos in general. I'm a firm believer that any logo should look good in black and white. Solid black. No grey scaling. It's about designing for the lowest common denominator and more often than you can imagine a logo needs to be represented in black. Even when that is not the prefered application.

Basically what i'm saying is you've got your idea. A good first draft. I'd go back and start from scratch with Illustrator.

Try to tighten up the actual illustration. As others have said it looks squirly. And like i mentioned hold off on the colour at first. This will allow you to concentrate more on the actual design and layout.
 
Blue Velvet said:
Briefly, I just want to take issue with that statement. It most certainly will not. That's like saying that owning a chisel will make you a talented sculptor...
Click to expand...

I own a chisel... and my mommy thinks i'm talented.
:D
 
Have a look at this quick one ive done for you.



As many will see it borrows heavily from the Pontiac Firebird but i think its the direction you need to go in. Feel free to use it if you want butif Pontiac bust down your door youve never heard of me. :D
 
i.Feature said:
As for the tool. Like mentioned above Illustrator is the way to go.

Quick comments on the logo itself and logos in general. I'm a firm believer that any logo should look good in black and white. Solid black. No grey scaling. It's about designing for the lowest common denominator and more often than you can imagine a logo needs to be represented in black. Even when that is not the prefered application.

Basically what i'm saying is you've got your idea. A good first draft. I'd go back and start from scratch with Illustrator.

Try to tighten up the actual illustration. As others have said it looks squirly. And like i mentioned hold off on the colour at first. This will allow you to concentrate more on the actual design and layout.
Click to expand...

I agree 99%. But If the logo is only going to be used on the web you can get away with crappy effects i.e. drop shadows and 3d stuff. That being said I frakin hate ***** like that and try and steer well away from added eye candy crap. When designing my logos I design them in pure black and white then add colour when i am close to finishing. That way i know it will work in almost any scenario i.e. photocopies, newspapers, websites and stationery etc. Also 2 colours max is my limit although i may 3 colours in special cases. Check out my website http://www.stuartluff.co.uk to see some of my stuff (if you want). :D

The one i posted above - which is done VERY quickly in freehand (and while slightly pissed) - is pretty much testament to my approach mentioned above but the logo savy amongst you will notice that it will not work in B/W coz there is now white keyline around the bird. Thats because i couldnt be arsed to put one on and as mentioned, im slightly pissed. Oh and its not great to start with!

BURP!
 
Blue Velvet said:
Briefly, I just want to take issue with that statement. It most certainly will not. That's like saying that owning a chisel will make you a talented sculptor...
Click to expand...

Disagreed. You are making me sound like I had said "pretty much all you need is a mouse."

Also, logo design 9 times out of 10 is an additive art, unlike sculpting, which is subtractive.

Anti-aliasing is a de facto design industry standard.

Do you remember the first time you used Illustrator?
 
thanks

Thanks Stu, thats a cool logo, and the pontiac firebird was the idea i had in the first place. Something like that would work maybe I could fill more of the sun with the bird or oput something else up there what do you think?
Gary
 
gbminncok said:
Thanks Stu, thats a cool logo, and the pontiac firebird was the idea i had in the first place. Something like that would work maybe I could fill more of the sun with the bird or oput something else up there what do you think?
Gary
Click to expand...

This is done while sober and with a bit more time :D Its ok. Not up to my usual pro standards but hey im not getting paid ;) If you like it feel free to use it. I have the vector file if you want it but you will need either Freehand or Illustrator to edit it.



It does look like the bird is on fire though! :D
 
kool

thanks Stu thats excellent. Could you send me the vector so I can edit it? I'd pay ya but i've no money but you need anything to do with php or mysql then im ur man:)
Gary
 
gbminncok said:
thanks Stu thats excellent. Could you send me the vector so I can edit it? I'd pay ya but i've no money but you need anything to do with php or mysql then im ur man:)
Gary
Click to expand...

Ive PM'd you
 
chrismccorkle said:
Disagreed. You are making me sound like I had said "pretty much all you need is a mouse."

Also, logo design 9 times out of 10 is an additive art, unlike sculpting, which is subtractive.

Anti-aliasing is a de facto design industry standard.

Do you remember the first time you used Illustrator?
Click to expand...

I think you missed her point entirely. Illustrator is a tool, with which anybody can create the most godawful of things. Skill and talent are still quite necessary to create 'professional looking' things as you say.

Does Illustrator build a better squirrel with a shotgun? :eek:
 
gbminncok said:
hi i've tweaked the colors to suit my website what do ye think?
Gary

logobird.gif
Click to expand...

It looks like you scaled it vertically, not good. It looks squished. The gradient you used isn't straight horizontally and it isn't smooth enough in my opinion. I would drag it out more.

Also, what is the origin of the name "the-firebird.com"? No offense, but it isn't catch enough for a dating site.
 
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