Logo Size?

[Slipstream]

Hey everyone,

I'm semi-new to learning graphic design and most of what I know is from what I have taught myself through research and studying and my question is: Is there a standard size when it comes to designing logo's? I've seen 400x400 and 200x200 and a few others when I did a Google search on it but I was just curious if anyone could help out? What do you think is a good size to set your palette at when a logo is in the design stage?

Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Bryan

[PrintDriver]

Sounds like you are using photoshop.
Don't.
Make your logo in a vector program and it doesn't matter what size it is, it will be scaleable.

If you do make it in photoshop, max out your dimensions. You can always go smaller but never bigger.
And don't come to me for a sign because I will charge you to vectorize a photoshop file.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[D-Zine]

ROFL @ PD!!!
But yeah...defiantely what he said. You wanna do your logo in a program like Corel Draw or Illustrator then you can get it as big as you want it and never worry about that pesky pixilation issue..ewwee!!

http://coastalcarousel.com/GDF/metatag3.jpg

Who says doodling isn't constructive?!

[aprilcartergrant]

To directly answer slipstream's question: no, there is not a standard size (or proportions) for a logo. Do whatever looks right, then make sure it has (raster) adequate resolution or (vector) scaleability.

+++ april carter +++

Coming soon: www.sugarsock.com

[Slipstream]

Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it. I kind of figured there wasn't a standard size but needed to be sure.

Thanks again,
Bryan

[PrintDriver]

What most designers don't do is write a Graphic Standards for the logo they create.

Usually this is a pdf file that accompanies logos when sent for production that gives:
PMS color callouts
How the logo should be placed within a sign blank (how much white space all around)
The black and white version
The version that should be used when the background is not white
And in the cases of some big corporates, the different letter stroke widths for different sizes (yes the letterhead logo will have a narrower stroke width than the billboard logo)

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[Slipstream]

It sounds like having a Graphic Standards would be helpful to a client, why do you suppose most designers don't write one? To save time or is it extra work some designers don't like to do?

[PrintDriver]

Hmm... I don't know about helpful to the client but it sure would be helpful to us output guys.
Usually the Standards are part of a corporate identity package, but not always. Some clients don't buy the whole package, either.

Sorry, this just happens to be today's pet peeve. Your post got elected to receive it. Funny how on some days a venting post just pops up...and I just happen to have this logo on my plate...photoshop raster embedded in Illustrator saved as .eps with no callouts. Which is just plain wrong.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[Slipstream]

Don't worry about it, I totally understand. Everyone needs to vent some times:0) I don't mind. I just look at it as a way to learn something I didn't know anything about. I wasn't really sure what the graphic standard was for. Guess I just assumed that it went to someone you did the work for, which I guess it does but not the someone I was thinking.

Everything I have learned about graphic design has been what I have found in some books and on the net till I am able to get some Schooling so you just gave me a new avenue to explore that I didn't know was there.

[morganlh85]

I think many designers don't do those because their clients wouldn't know how to use them anyway. Since most clients (particularly here) are just small businesses and don't know much about print processes, designers just give them maybe a web and print version, a color and black and white, and the client just carries it around on a disk, hands it to the guy at Kinko's and lets him take care of the other specifics. I generally give my clients a web and print version, plus color and grayscale versions in different sizes for them to use on their own, since most of them just get business cards made and paste the logo at the top of their word docs, etc.

[PrintDriver]

They can be very helpful to the client.
Maybe more designers can educate their clients that the pdf would save them ALOT of money if they ever decide to do more than get business cards and type word docs.
But you are right. Most don't even know what to do with their logo files, or they lose em. It's always something. And that's what brings in my paycheck.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[Slipstream]

Hmmn, almost sounds like a moral dilemma. Educate a client or ensure getting paid /emoticons/icon_wink.gif “To be or not to be, which is the better question.” Sorry, got side tracked for a moment.

I don't suppose anyone would know of a good place where I might be able to see an example of a Graphics Standard on the web?

[PrintDriver]

Tough cuz a pdf gives access to the vector format of someone's logo.
If the standards are on a website, usually they are locked behind a password.
Let me see if I can whip up a fake one this weekend. No time today.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[Slipstream]

Hey thanks Print Driver, I'd really appreciate that. /emoticons/specool.gif

[PrintDriver]

This is a simple version thrown together in 15 minutes or so.
A company like Microsoft has literally a 1' thick book on the subject of their logos for all their products.
Some people like to place Photoshop tifs in the pdf to prevent unauthorized ripoffs of the vectorized logo. This can cause problems when the client loses the vector files but has the pdf with lo-res tifs. No good. I believe this file will still open in Illustrator but it was created in Illy CS.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[Slipstream]

Thanks again PrintDriver, it really brings into perspective what you were saying.

[hurleyking3]

Does anyone know the site to go to to upload a sig?