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web vs. print logo format

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newman

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Apr 11, 2003, 4:11:59 PM4/11/03
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Hi all,

I asked a question once before and I got tons of answers and learned so
much! Yet, I know so little about graphics that I am overwhelmed!!

I design web sites and am learning graphics....slowly. I just did a logo for
someone and they like it! Yeah! Now they want to know if they can use it for
there business card and printed materials........

What do I need to do to my .gif to make it print ready? Is there some other
file format or some specific thing I need to do? I know there is a color
issue yet what about size.....pixels to inches etc.

I hope this question is appropriate for this group if not send me away to
the right place!

TIA, Liz

Bobby Henderson

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Apr 11, 2003, 4:28:48 PM4/11/03
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"newman" <zen...@bellsouth.net>
wrote in message news:cdFla.58862$u3.4...@fe07.atl2.webusenet.com...

> What do I need to do to my .gif to make it print ready? Is there some
other
> file format or some specific thing I need to do? I know there is a color
> issue yet what about size.....pixels to inches etc.


If your original logo file is a raster image geared for web, then you will
have to do some considerable work rebuilding it in vector form. Place a
copy of the GIF image on one layer in Illustrator, lock that layer, create a
new layer above it and use the GIF as a guide for creating clean, 100%
vector based art.

Logos are best created originally in vector form (and for real logo design
make it work in black and white so it can be printed using a single ink
color). Must print houses insist on EPS or AI based vector art files for
print publishing work. Vector art is resolution independent and can be
scaled to any size without any loss of quality. So thing like dpi ratings,
line screens and such have no impact on vector art since the artwork will
automatically conform to the highest values of the image setter. With
bitmap graphics you do have to worry about line screen ratings and such
since resolution is limited.

Bobby Henderson


steggy

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Apr 11, 2003, 5:05:17 PM4/11/03
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For newman, a little add on (just to clarify):

The problem is that GIF or something like it for the web is
always low resolution. Because the screen does not need
more. Like Bobby said you will get in trouble if you want to
print GIF's in a professional way, and totally in trouble
when you need to enlarge it for printing purposes.

For printing matters: forget about the web, you can always
convert the stuff you make later on for the web, the other
way around is practically impossible, you have to make it
again from scratch.

So make logo's in Illustrator. That asks for some practice
and experience. In some instances Photoshop is possible too,
but I also do not recommend it. It might be cool for the
letterhead and the business card, but when they want a
poster a year later you are in trouble, because enlarging it
will blur it. Making a 2 inch logo in Illustrator gives no
trouble if you enlarge it to 30 inch or whatever.

Illustrator for vectorized work, like logo's and graphs.
Photoshop for rasterized work, like photo's:)
Pagemaker, InDesign or XPress to make your pre-press
complete with text.

If you post a link with your approved logo, people here
might give you an idea what you are up against.

--
steg

newman

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Apr 11, 2003, 5:30:12 PM4/11/03
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steggy - thanks for the suggestion to post my logo. I think I have a long
road ahead!!

My goodness, you people are kind to help me so much!

my link to the logo i need to make for print

http://www.greatharbourproductions.com/reiki/logo.htm

Thanks again, Liz

"steggy" <stegg...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:3E972E0A...@cox.net...

Mrs. Alex

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Apr 11, 2003, 7:31:25 PM4/11/03
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I'm new at Illustrator myself having switched from Draw, but looking at the
logo you created even *I* feel like it would be easy to recreate in vector.
You've got, IMHO, a perfect one to start out with! It's three colours by the
look of it, but could be made to work with two if needed and maybe even one
(not including "white" as a colour). Simple to make the black lettering
violet and if need be the star/sun could be white (not ideal however). From
what I see you can do this logo with the shape tools, text and just a bit of
pen tracing.

Too bad you are in the US, or we could work together on invoices, cheques,
statements, etc. for them. That's what I do. I don't do flat print though
(cards, letterhead, brochures).

Good luck!


"newman" <zen...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
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steggy

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Apr 11, 2003, 8:10:03 PM4/11/03
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newman wrote:
>
> steggy - thanks for the suggestion to post my logo. I think I have a long
> road ahead!!
>
> My goodness, you people are kind to help me so much!
>
> my link to the logo i need to make for print
>
> http://www.greatharbourproductions.com/reiki/logo.htm
>
> Thanks again, Liz
>

Looks very doable Liz.

Like Bobby said. Import it in Illustrator and Lock that
layer, make a new one and start.

1. Make the large star, you can make it from scratch (using
the star tool), or use the pentool to draw the whole thing again
2. When finished: choose the scale tool, click on the center
of the star and try out 90% or such+ copy. Try out the
percentages so the shape of the inner star looks good. Both
stars no stroke. Color them if you wish.
3. Draw the circle that I see behind it and put it behind
it. Color it.
4. Copy the circle and paste in front.
4. Choose the Path Type tool (fly out of the text tool)
click on top of the circle and type "SUNLOTUS". Center the
text. The color will be gone for this top circle.
5. Choose the scale tool and scale and copy the circle with
text like 80% or whatever you need.
6. Replace "SUNLOTUS" on that last smaller circle with: "REIKI".
7. Use spacing on both text lines like you want to have it.
8. Redraw the leaf shape, with the pentool. Zoom in. Now
that is the tough thing for unexperienced users, because of
the curves. Do it, the only way to get the Pen Tool doing
what you want is trying it out. To make a curve: click
somewhere, click somewhere else hold the mouse and drag
diagonallyand play till the curve looks right, no way to
explain it. Try it out. If you want it to be symetric (not
the case right now) draw half of it and copy-mirror it so
the left side mirrors the right side.
9. The small waiver thingy you need to redraw too. Zoom in.
10. Color everything the way you like it and make sure
everything is in the right order, from bottom to top. Make
sure strokes are there where you want them, no strokes where
you do not want them.

It looks like a three color logo. The yellowish, the
blueish, and the black. Make sure the customer is up for
that money. Making the text blueish (I am sorry having a
hard time seeing the colors right) saves on printing, plus a
film and a plate.

Good luck and show the result!!!

--
steg

steggy

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Apr 11, 2003, 8:17:17 PM4/11/03
to
"Mrs. Alex" wrote:
>
> I'm new at Illustrator myself having switched from Draw, but looking at the
> logo you created even *I* feel like it would be easy to recreate in vector.
> You've got, IMHO, a perfect one to start out with! It's three colours by the
> look of it, but could be made to work with two if needed and maybe even one
> (not including "white" as a colour). Simple to make the black lettering
> violet and if need be the star/sun could be white (not ideal however). From
> what I see you can do this logo with the shape tools, text and just a bit of
> pen tracing.
>
> Too bad you are in the US, or we could work together on invoices, cheques,
> statements, etc. for them. That's what I do. I don't do flat print though
> (cards, letterhead, brochures).
>
> Good luck!


VIOLET! That's it:)) sorry Alex, did not see your post earlier.

And huh what's up. Living in the US and you in the UK (I
presume) does not make any difference in this day and age
does it??

Let's start hahahahahaha

--
steg

newman

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Apr 11, 2003, 9:41:51 PM4/11/03
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You guys are phenomenal. I feel like I hit the jackpot. I will let you know
how I do. Still a little overwhelmed as I am new at all of this but i seem
to have a sense of it because people are liking my work. THANK YOU ALL!!!


"steggy" <stegg...@cox.net> wrote in message

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Mrs. Alex

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Apr 11, 2003, 9:58:39 PM4/11/03
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Actually, I'm in Canada (no! don't shoot me! I absolutely *HATE* Chretien!),
but for me to ship products out of the country doesn't pay. My profit comes
from the printed product, not the design work.

"steggy" <stegg...@cox.net> wrote in message
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steggy

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Apr 12, 2003, 12:26:54 AM4/12/03
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Ahh!

Ok got ya:)

Now why would I shoot you, I hate Bush, and both countries
are supposed to be free:)

steg

Mrs. Alex

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Apr 12, 2003, 7:40:23 PM4/12/03
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Y'know, it's gotten to the point now where I'm scared to tell people I'm
from Canada. I'm so ashamed of our govt. I think the reason the UN and
Canada wouldn't go into Iraq is because the UN is made up of mostly
dictatorships and Canada is striving to be one. Man, I wish somebody in this
country would have the guts to give up his life to take out Cretin. He's on
such a power trip it absolutely disgusts me! Ah, but I'll drop this thread
now because I can too easily get carried away on this stuff.

"steggy" <stegg...@cox.net> wrote in message

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H

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Apr 13, 2003, 2:31:29 PM4/13/03
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Not to keep this going any longer, but I am also from Canada, though I don't
feel there is any need to be ashamed about it(or our gov't's position on
Iraq). By the way, it seems like the percentage of dictatorships in the
'coalition of the willing' is much higher than in the UN.

"Mrs. Alex" <mebe...@on.aibn.com> wrote in message
news:Ht1ma.8097$oJ2.1...@news20.bellglobal.com...

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