How to design a logo?

[Jerome]

Hi,

I am trying to make 2 logo's using PS pro, but the results look horrible.

1. When I make a logo with the same backgroundcolor as my homepage the backgroundcolor of the logo seems different, the file is saved as *.jpg

2. Is it better to save as *.jpg or *.gif

Thanks,
Jerome

[Borgtex]

If it's a linear and w/solid colors logo, use gif, if it's a very complex logo with gradients, reflections, shadows, ... use jpg

Save the jpg in more quality if you want better colors or save it as a transparent gif

[Jerome]

Thanks Borgtex,

I never thought designing a simple text logo would be so difficult, it seemed so easy...

That's why there are desk-top publishers, I admire there job!

Jerome

[beetle]

Originally posted by Borgtex
if it's a very complex logo with gradients, reflections, shadowsI disagree, pattern diffused GIFs (64-color) are still a better choice here, in most cases. JPGs should be used for photographs.

[Borgtex]

Originally posted by beetle
I disagree, pattern diffused GIFs (64-color) are still a better choice here, in most cases. JPGs should be used for photographs.

I disagree with your disagree ;). In that situation, you can lose a lot of quality and file often becomes bigger than a jpeg. I'm talking about logos with a flare or with some gradients, for example

[beetle]

Hmmmm, how complicated are we talking here?

http://www.peterbailey.net/test/images/logo_jpg_med.jpg
Format: JPG
Quality: Photoshop medium (30)
Filesize: 3.44Kb

http://www.peterbailey.net/test/images/logo_jpg_high.jpg
Format: JPG
Quality: Photoshop high (60)
Filesize: 5.98Kb

http://www.peterbailey.net/test/images/logo_gif_64_pattern.gif
Format: Gif
Diffusion: Pattern
Colors: 64
Filesize: 3.3Kb

http://www.peterbailey.net/test/images/logo_gif_128_pattern.gif
Format: Gif
Diffusion: Pattern
Colors: 128
Filesize: 4.1Kb

The proof is in the pudding. The medium jpg contends filesize-wise, but suffers from artifacting. I'm not sure how it is for you, but I have to really squint to see a difference between the other three.

I agree and admit that there are exceptions to every rule, I just happen to think in this case the general rule is gifs for most anything but photography.

[swmr]

Most all JPGs look terrible for America Online users (*.art :mad: )...

[neonwhiskey]

here's the trick... put the logo in your page, then if necessary, take a screenshot (in windows press PRTSCN key, top right). Put your screenshot into your graphics program to get a sample of the color thats being shown in the browser. Now adjust the background color of the page to match exactly to the edge color of your logo. Rare problem but sometimes you just can't get an exported logo to look good, except in JPG, which will sometimes alter your bgcolor on export.
jenn

[stylempire]

If you are making a logo with and the only problem is making the BG color the same as your site page, save your logo as .gif, with 100% quality. And use the exact same color code from your site, as the BG color for the image...
As an image is reduced in quality, the colors change!!
simple as that =)

[Borgtex]

HI WORLD: beetle was right and I was wrong

Yeah, it's big, but, after all, he took the trouble to demostrate it

however maybe it's because I was thinking with large logos or with logos over a complex/photographic background


;)

[beetle]

LOL!!

[ionsurge]

Originally posted by swmr
Most all JPGs look terrible for America Online users (*.art :mad: )...


That is only if Image Compression (the default setting) is turned on, that needs to be turned off, and everything will work fine.

[swmr]

Right, but many users may not know this... :eek:

[dysfunctionGazz]

I've had probs with this too, but theres an easy solution.

Changing the background of the whole page to match how the browser displays it will work but only for relatively simple designs.

If using PS6, use the 'export for web' wizard. On the bottom right you will see the color pallette: if you click on the background area of the image, a small box near the bottom will display the hex value for that color. you can then change this precisely to what it should be. Or you can click on any of the different colors and change their hex values to precisely what they should have been.

Hope that makes sense/helps ;)

[X_r]

logo's aint usually raster images...... most succesful logos tend to be built of vectors.

get ya hands on Macromedia Freehand or Adobe Illus.....

Freehand came free with computerarts a few months ago.

ok :)

[ionsurge]

Freehand is good, but best results come with photoshop, twice over anything else.