Need advice on how to modify a logo

fairyjo · 02-14-2008, 02:30 PM

Hi,

I have to create a website for my mother's choir and they absolutely want to use the attached logo. They just chose it one month ago from a CD of free images. In my opinion it doesn't have good proportions and I don't really like it but they are insisting on this one.

Could you please give me some advice on how I could modify it to make it look much better while still being the same logo so that they like it?

Thanks a lot in advance for your help, sincerely,
Joanie

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-14-2008, 07:34 PM

It might help to know exactly what it is they like about that logo first so you can focus on incorporating those details into a new variation.

fairyjo · 02-15-2008, 02:26 AM

They like the color, the fact that it looks like a music note and they like the treble clef. But mostly I think there wasn't a lot of choice on the free images CD and they just picked one. I am sure they will be happy with a nice variation. Most of the committee members are not on internet and the website is my mum's idea, but they have absolutely no idea of what a logo should look like.
Any idea?

TroyM · 02-15-2008, 07:18 AM

Create it from scratch and play with it..come up with 3-4 different options to show them..

Scuba Steve · 02-15-2008, 09:24 AM

It wouldn't be too hard to recreate in photoshop...I would create it from scratch and give in some modern class. I'm currently hook on web 2.0y soft gradients and glosses, personally.

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-15-2008, 12:59 PM

The treble clef and music note are ye old standby concepts for any music related logo or graphic. It's a good place to start, but thats about it.

Currently it does look very dated with a slight deco feel. It could probably stand to be streamlined a little.

What kind of style does the choire represent? Are they part of a church or some other such organization? Maybe you can incorporate some of those elements into it.

fairyjo · 02-16-2008, 02:11 AM

Thanks for your answers, unfortunately I'm really no good at creating a logo from scratch.

This is a village mixed choir, they are not part of the church but they do sing at church for Christmas as there is no church choir in the village. The members' average age might be around 45-50.

If I take it in Photoshop, how do I arrange it so that the pixels don't show and how do I make it more consistent? I'm really counting on some advice from you, hope you can give me your thoughts on what should be done to make this look better. Thank you.

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-16-2008, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairyjo

...hope you can give me your thoughts on what should be done to make this look better. Thank you.

Well that's going to be subjective really and that's ultimately going to be based on the execution of the final design.

The key here is to take some time to define the parameters. Once you've done that, it's time to be creative and just let your mind wander. Sketch and try new things. Pass them on to your client and see what strikes a cord. (no pun intended)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairyjo

If I take it in Photoshop, how do I arrange it so that the pixels don't show and how do I make it more consistent?

Well if you mean, taking that original image and fixing it? Because it really is quite horribly pixelated and the lines aren't very smooth at all, even at low res, then you can't really.

I tried a Live Trace in Illustrator but even that had only marginal success.

The only option I see is building it from scratch. If you're using Photoshop, the Pen tool will be your best bet.

However, if you're going to rebuild it from scratch then there's no point in copying it, you might as well do something... similar... but of your own design. Unless of course your just set on using this concept 'as is'.

I think if you can, at the very least, duplicate the current concept with the pen tool, you'll be on your way with more room to play in terms of shape, color and effects.

fairyjo · 02-26-2008, 11:19 AM

Thank you very much for your comments and sorry I haven't been able to come to the forum lately.
Today I've tried to make 2 new versions with the exact same idea just modifying different images I found on internet. This is nothing fancy, as I said previously I'm no good at creating from scratch, but I did those:
http://www.choeurmixte.ch/design/clef4.gif
http://www.choeurmixte.ch/design/clef5.gif
What do you think?
Thanks for letting me know...

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-26-2008, 11:34 AM

Heya.

Well the first one is scary.

With the second one, that looks like the original, you should bezier the points so you can take advantage of curves. It's a great start though. You used the pen tool, yes?

fairyjo · 02-26-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

..., you should bezier the points so you can take advantage of curves. It's a great start though. You used the pen tool, yes?

Yes, you guessed right, I used the pen... but I have no idea how to bezier the points

Any good tutorial you know?

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-26-2008, 11:59 AM

When you click to make a point, drag the mouse a little, it will drag out two handles opposite eachother. Then just continue on making your outline, each time you click to add a point, drag a little. If you dont drag, it will make a basic point.

When you're ready to start tweaking, you can grab the handle and move it about to lengthen or shorten the bezier. By holding the ALT key when moving a handle, it will break the two handles and you can then move them independently. Once broken, you dont need to hold down the ALT key, however, if you want broken handles to move together, hold down the ALT key again and they will.

That should get you on the right track.

EDIT****

Oh and if you hold CTRL-ALT on an existing basic point then drag, it will creat handles too. Also, if you hold CTRL-ALT on a bezier point, it will delete the handles.

pinkfluffybunny · 02-26-2008, 01:12 PM

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-26-2008, 04:47 PM

Be nice, now. *cough cough*

pinkfluffybunny · 02-27-2008, 09:39 AM

Church choir?

hey what do ya want for free - clean edges, nicer cross and clean up - I don't think so

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-27-2008, 09:42 AM

That seems a little aggressive to me.

pinkfluffybunny · 02-27-2008, 09:49 AM

3ncryptabl3_lick,

Really I think i "nailed" it

I got out of the logo business after my last pro job. Designed it, showed it. 81 modifications later they went back to the orginal - never did a pro logo again - never will.

I think they even asked the janitor's opinion -

They all like swooshes - put a swoosh in it and it's sold - lol

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-27-2008, 09:55 AM

Designing logo's is as much about creativity as salesmanship.

You not only have to be able to create but rationalize the creation. It has to be with intent because if you can't defend it, how can you convince a client it’s for them?

If a client starts asking janitors, then you haven’t defended your design and convinced the client that the choices you made were made for a reason and not arbitrary.