Ok folks here's my problem. First here's the logo I MUST USE AND NOT CHANGE- [IMG]http://www.letterville.com/cgi/album.pl?photo=BullBoard/Germaania_Insurance_Logo.jpg [/IMG] Now I am doing a large sign for the front of their building. The logo, as you can see, was done by a graphic artist and the hand was to be a "protecting" hand. My idea is to make the hand 3D and set it over the logo with a stand from behind covered by shrubs- so it looks like the hand is in mid air. I am going to get them to set up a fountain so the water hits the back of the hand and protects the logo from the water. Except the client does not have water going to where they need it so now there is going to be 2 signs- one in the back of the building where there will be a small park-like area (down the road) and one in the front of their building (now). My problem is coming up with a shape for the sign. Again balance is the word of the day. I have no particular restrictions as to what type of sign I am making. Colours- dark burgundy and gold. The had will be painted one shot gold. But the actual logo is so unbalanced and I am struggling. Anybody got any ideas??? I have considered 3 posts from the back out of aluminum- different heights. I would post all the things I have come up with so far but they are way too numerous. And none are really turning my crank anyway. What I think I would like is a modern asymetrical shape. But when I look at all the things I have done none have that look. Perhaps I have an idea in my head that is not matching my thoughts on the board, and that is what is confusing me. But either way I need some new fresh input.
[ June 25, 2008, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: Deri Russell ]
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
What the.............how come the image is not showing folks?
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why does everything in my life have to be such a ruddy struggle???
[ June 25, 2008, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: Deri Russell ]
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
here ya go!
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Thank you Karyn. What was I doing wrong?
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i think there was a extra space somewhere....
not sure what i would do....can you do the hand in the background suspended in mid air(lol)and then just do a rectangle sign in front. then maybe you can hide some of the support for the hand? this isn't my strong point either....not much for the construction end of things.
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
How about the hand "palm up", like a helping hand, instead of something "covering-up?"
I like what you have going there.
Peace, Bob
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
I think the hand needs to be bigger, as it wouldn't technically protect much at that size. The sign shape would probably work best as on oval, because it would somewhat follow the curve of the hand. Then I think I would put the hand in its own oval panel, above the first (bigger) one. Either that or do it 3D like Karyn suggested, maybe mounted on a clear lucite piece. (but I don't know how to fabricate that) Just don't do it on a spring! Somehow assymetric on a "stable" type business like insurance doesn't sit well to me. Love.....Jill
Posted by Joe Crumley (Member # 2307) on :
Hello Deri,
Bob has an excellent point.
Also If this were mine to do I'd frame the logo in an oval or some attractive shape with some kind of textured background.
This could be an ever so fun project since there is a historical feeling with insurance.
Joe
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
I'd be nice to do palm up Bob, I agree. But that is the logo and cannot be changed. What is bothering me the most is the lines of wording all justified to the Right, and then to top it off the stupid Maple Leaf sticking out even farther. Every time I make a shape the Leaf sticks out. And the shapes I like seem to get smaller at the bottom- I'm thinking this is one leaf that could fall as far as I'm concerned. I have tried putting the "Helping hand " line on a second sign. That does help. But again now the Leaf sticks out to the Right even worse.
Posted by Pete Payne (Member # 344) on :
hey deri, how bout some photos of the site, i did some etching for a glass co. there but have never seen the location, do you have to use all the copy shown?
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Deri I noticed the leaf too, and it bugged me at first. But it also balances out the G in the top line. Love....Jill
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Yes Karyn I have several sketches here with a rectangle- actually a slanted rectangle, with the 3 posts behind. But I would like to see a little more style. It's kinda boring.
Jill I agree the hand should be bigger- but I can't change the logo. I like the oval idea, have been trying it, but the leaf! The Stupid leaf!
Yes Joe, great idea, textured background is a great idea. Never thought about that.
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Hey Pete- oh so you did the glass on the door? If you want me to take you some pics of the glass I will. I will post pics of the entire thing on site when I get my design down. I don't need to use the helping hand byline, but to me the byline ties it all together. So I would like to use it but possibly on a separate board.
Posted by Michael Clanton (Member # 2419) on :
You might want to see what the usage specs for the logo are- there are generally specs on how much border space is required around the logo to prevent crowding, the image you have looks like it does not have that built in, which is why the leaf is bugging you. with more border white space around the logo, it shouldn't be that noticeable. it may also specify what type of background shape is allowed.
Sorry I just reread the original post- which is about 3d ing the logo- so ignore my response. "that's all I have to say about that"-F.Gump
[ June 25, 2008, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: Michael Clanton ]
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
You're already getting good advice on the treatment of this, so I'll just address the reason the picture didn't show up.
You have a space between the end of the file name and the html tag [img].
Logo.jpg [/IMG]
There should be no spaces between the tags. When you copy the name from the website supporter section and paste it into your message, there's a space at the end. Be sure to delete that space when you type in your tag.
[img] File_name_without_any_spaces_at_either_end.jpg [/img] Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Hi Derri. Here's a thought from "outside the box" for you to consider:
Instead of thinking of this as strictly a "sign" per se, think of it as designing a waterfall type of fountain. On an inclined sheet of clear plexi ( about 3/4" thick ) the dimensional letters could be mounted. At the top leading edge of the plexi, the water distribution tube could be located, so that the water flows down and cascades over the letters, and into a bottom catch tray. This waterfall could be built so that it's parallel to the front of the building, but facing the street. The folks who design water gardens would probably be able to supply the necessary pumps and tubing to accomplish this, and it would be something unique.
Hope this "off the wall thought " helps stimulate the creative juices.
Posted by Bob Noyes (Member # 8317) on :
Does the leaf has a significant meaning to the logo, or is it just there to "balance things".
Just curious, have a couple ideas but need to know importance of leaf.
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Michael I think you're right. The specs don't have anything in them about the surrounding space, but with doing the hand 3D (which is odd that they are wanting me to do that when they "can't have any changes") However I am going to have trouble putting in the space horizontally without doing it vertically as well. And that would shoot my idea of the hand in mid air down in flames. But you do have the wheels turning here now.
Thanks David, you are right, Kelly IMed me this morning that the space was my problem. I just didn't get a chance to get back to her. I don't know where the space came from. I copy and pasted. Oh well, next time perhaps I will get it right.
Ken, cool idea. But that would rather defeat the purpose of the hand protecting the letters from the water. I will keep that idea in mind however for another project I am involved with. Thank you.
Bob, I don't know whether the leaf has great significance other than being perhaps patriotic. I just wish it would drop off the logo. You got an idea for it?
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Here are 3 of what I have- I don't like any. Can any of these be fixed???
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
[IMG]http://www.letterville.com/cgi/album.pl?photo=BullBoard/Germ ainia_curved_steel.jpg[/IMG]
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
AAAAAAAAAwwwwww geez- that's why I don't even ask questions on here- I get so frustrated and by the time Im done asking I dont even have time to stay and wait for the bloody answers
I give up today- gotta get back to work
I will try again tomorrow if I have time
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Breathe, Deri, breathe...
Maybe they'd let you do something like this. Even if it's a logo, small adjustments like centering the third line might be accepted.
I'm not sure I get your idea, so can't help with construction, but they way I see it in my mind, this is set a few inches in front of a concrete pillar with water running down behind the sign. I believe it would convey the message even if the water does not actually hit the hand.
PS: Why don't you click on my image, and try posting your pics there. It's simple and fast.
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
Hey Deri, First the pictures - when you copy the link, the extra space is always there at the end of the link. I wish I'd thought to see if I could remove it while I was at Steve and Barb's. When you cut and paste the link you need to make sure you don't catch that extra space or else delete it before you post.
I think you are beating yourself up needlessly. Any one of those could work nicely. i like the top one with the angled panels best.
I'll share what came to mind before I looked at them though. Maybe something will strike your fancy.
The leaf.... could it be mounted on a fine wire loop so it actually flutters? That would kind of give it an airy feeling that might dissacociate it a little from the rest of the logo. I'm not sure if that will help your minding it or not. I'm wondering about a granite or stone look to it if you want to use the fountain idea. Sandblasted or routed Corian with resin in the letters comes to mind. The nice thing about that is if the water builds up deposits on it it can have a quick sanding and buffing to remove them. I know deposits would be a major issue with our water here. The other thing that came to mind was layers of glass. There would be a transparency that would work well with the leaf on wire idea. If you are going to use water I'd stay away from steel for sure.
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Wow are the colours different on here than on my screens. Or maybe its just my crappy graphics card on my laptop. Anyway........ Hi Lotti. Yes I know. My stress level has been at a 10 for the last......oh I don't know.....18 years or so I guess. I do breathe occasionally, but only short and to the point I'm afraid. Yes the oval is what Jill suggested too. And I agree I like the shape. But I found myself adding to the bottom and it ended up somehow like a bad Christmas Ornament you get at the dollar store or something. And I am going to ask them if I can centre the "Leaf Line". I think if I can get that I will be a much happier camper about the whole thing. OK I can't even add a water element until I do the first sign. They agreed to it at the back of the property, but have no water access at the front. When I do get water there will be a spray of water going up into the air and landing on the back of the hand. My thoughts are that it could be big enough to have a small wading pool for kids underneath it. But I do not know whether they will have enough room.
But at the front...........I would like to see the hand attched to the 3 posts with bars horizontally. Yes I have to play with positioning. Wow I can't get over the changes in the colours of these jpgs. (BTW Thank you too much Kelly for posting these for me.)Which design should I keep working at folks??? If any. I am not flippin crazy about any of them. If I go with the rectangular one should I be adding a frame and or decorative border??? Or even the oval one, a frame/ border? Or should it be modern looking?
OK I am going to try to post a picture of the building. BRB.
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
I am really starting to dislike this posting pictures stuff
If anybody wants to see the stupid building it is uploaded to the photo album
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
OK maybe it should be a rock sign.
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Kelly
I really would hate seeing the screws and glue to hold those post and signs together!
Remember the Frost/Snow/Wind/and/Spring thaw, will turn them into a pretzel.
Deri you want to use water to flow over the hand or behind it?
This is a year round outside sign? You are looking at nothing but trouble.
Drop the idea of the water.
Are you going to light this sign for night vision.
That will be interesting with electrical current and water flowing '24/7'
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
But when I look at all the things I have done none have that look. Perhaps I have an idea in my head that is not matching my thoughts on the board, and that is what is confusing me. But either way I need some new fresh input.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Off Topic]](graemlins/offtopic.gif)
I am really starting to dislike this posting pictures stuff