posted
I did this earlier this year and was never quite satisfied with the way it turned out. It's on a trailer for Curtis Racing. One of the sponsors is Curtis Excavating. They had a "logo" made up years ago and wanted it as is; the same color, everything. Anyway after I did it, it just doesn't POP. Any ideas as to what I could add to help make it pop off the side? Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks. [IMG] [IMG][/IMG]
-------------------- AML Graphics Rogers City, MI. Posts: 99 | From: Rogers City, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2008
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They want it the same....!?!? Then it is YOUR job to talk them out of it and tell them WHY! That logo is a start but if you have the inclination and the time, redesign it to something that look better. Don't GIVE it to them, charge them if they want to use it, but try to show them that it can be improved. Like Michael said, make "Curtis" bigger, try to straighten the whole thing out so that it doesn't look like it's falling over a cliff to the right, don't have two ribbons (one or the other, not both) I can see LOTS of improvements that wouldn't take hours to do and would make a world of difference. SHOW them and they will probably go with it.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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The gray color is the first thing I noticed that is working against the "pop". With millions of color possibilities, it's hard to understand why they want to keep it.
In the photo you have the Curtis logo much smaller than the surrounding logos, so that is going to contribute as well.
The design itself has the problem of every text element being roughly the same size type. "Curtis" should be largest. "Excavating Inc." should take second billing, and "Rogers City, MI" smaller still. This design has the order totally opposite.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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Thanks for all the quick replies guys. The problem is, though, they want the design that's already on the trailer. They just want it enhanced to bring it out more. I was thinking of just doing an outline around it in another darker color. And maybe overlaying some highlights on the inside of the sign. Although I haven't quite figured out what yet.
-------------------- AML Graphics Rogers City, MI. Posts: 99 | From: Rogers City, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2008
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They will NEVER understand untill you just do a better layout and show it to them side by side. Make it the same size. Only show it to the person making the decisions or you just waste your time. Don't give them a copy.
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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If you are stuck with leaving the colors as they are...you are stuck. An outline in a darker color is only going to make the outline stand out. Their logo, besides being poorly done, suffers from CONTRAST! Mike Jackson did an excellent article on contrast in this months SignCraft. I did one in the previous issue regarding contrast and outlines. Light gray on white is never going to be easily readable no matter what is done to it. Swap the gray and black around and it will read fine.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If they like there logo they probably don't want it changed, and if that is all you are doing for them, just enlarge it to fit the area.
Otherwise unless someone is paying you to make changes time and material spent is all on you.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1697 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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its a racing trailer, they want it the same. make it BIGGER and be done with it. Dont waste anytime trying to come up with new and exciting colors
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
posted
Well this is what I came up with to make it more readable. I don't want to spend too much time on it as the original is what they wanted. Thanks for the help and ideas. [IMG][/IMG]
-------------------- AML Graphics Rogers City, MI. Posts: 99 | From: Rogers City, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2008
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Give it the "squint test"...squint and look at it. The phone numbers and the town name now merge into one big blob. That is worse! Now you have Dk. grey outlined with black which only makes it harder to read. You need contrast, CONTRAST! Black on white. Read those articles that were suggested above or get the book by Mike Stevens, "Mastering Layout". You asked, people tried to help and you either weren't listening or you didn't get it and you made it worse...sorry. There are things you could do that can "fix" this logo, but I'd think at this point I would just take it, make it darker grey (CONTRAST) and make it bigger like someone suggested and move on. "It's a race trailer" pretty much says it all.
[ October 10, 2008, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Jane, I get it. I was listening. I've got the book. But they don't want me to remove the logo that's on the trailer. They want that design, I don't like it, but that's the logo they've had for years and they want to stay with it. If it can be done they just asked me to try and fix it by adding something to "bring it out more". I told them it wouldn't be good with silver on white. But again that's their "logo".
-------------------- AML Graphics Rogers City, MI. Posts: 99 | From: Rogers City, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2008
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Maybe use white reflective for the white in the main areas?
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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As you've added red to your new layout, what about yellow instead of white in the open areas. Dark grey on yellow may make the letters etc jump out more ??
-------------------- Anne McDonald 17 Karnak Crescent Russley Christchurch 8042 New Zealand
"I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure" Posts: 877 | From: Christchurch | Registered: Sep 2006
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There is an easy fix to this. Just print it all in black and white and add the silver as an outline. In my version (not exact but I am lazy) I made the second banner grey to tone it down so that their name stands out. The problem with their alleged "logo" is that NOTHING stands out due to it all having the same weight. The thing which sticks out most is the city in the banner. Maybe they are proud of their hometown? Adding red only throws mud into the puddle. I'm afraid yellow would do the same thing, and I think they want to keep it as close to their dubious original as possible. Black and white is about as punchy as you can get. Love....Jill Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Hey thanks for all your replies guys. That's why this is the best online community for sign makers and their studies. And I think Jill hit it right on the head. Thanks Jill I'll try to work some of that in when they drop off the trailer. Thanks again to everybody.
[ October 11, 2008, 10:10 AM: Message edited by: Larry Budnick ]
-------------------- AML Graphics Rogers City, MI. Posts: 99 | From: Rogers City, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2008
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when they say, leave it like it is.. they mean,, i don't wanna spend money on a design,,,
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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