Logo advice

[macky]

Hello

I'm new to SL, I'd like to commission a logo and I have a few questions if you don't mind.

1) I'm used to dealing in PSD's for when I do my own things, is this a sensible format for requesting a logo or should I ask for a vector style, or am I likely to get both anyway? I want to make sure I ask for the right thing in the brief.

2) What info do you find useful in the brief when designing a logo?

3) I see a lot of complaints about low logo/project prices, how much is a reasonable price for a website header logo? Can I ask this or is this like asking a slick car dealer how much he wants for a car?! ;)

I'm a zero feedback webmaster (with 2 projects in escrow) but I have read being a zero feedback person is not very desirable - any suggestions of how to attract sensible bids?

Thanks for the input. :cool:

[digitalnature]

1) if its just used for the web, PSD is fine. ask for vector formats if you need it for print too. also raster formats can usually have more complex graphics than vectors

2) what does your company do, target age, maybe a link to your site, anything that helps...

3) 100000000000000,99 $ :)

[Varelse]

1) It's always a good idea to have vector logo design. Vector can be easily rasterized, the other wau can be sometimes costly. There are SO many projects on SL posted just because the webmaster has only the raster logo...
Vector is perfect not only for print - but also for Flash for example.
If you know Photoshop - you can ask for vector logo in PSD format - made from shapes and resolution independent effects (no bevels for example) and gradients.

2) Something about your company + the type of the logo (logotype, iconical, illustrational) + the style (funny, serious, modern, old-fashioned)...

3) By setting the budget range, you automatically put your project into one of the categories.
Either you seek for experienced logo designer (I know a few on SL), or you prefer to try with the low-feedback designers. Of course you can find a good one there (just starting on SL for example), but the risk is much higher than in case of reasonable budget & established provider.

[macky]

OK thank you both for your responses!

One last thing though, if i wanted to use the logo for a building too (in the future) do I need to request anything special for working in acrylic etc?

Should I just mention this and let the designer deal with it or what? I was just thinking that some designs may not necessarily translate across the 2 mediums (ie. plastic and web)- e.g. graduated colours maybe etc...

thanks!

[Varelse]

For such medium (like vinyl for example) - the less complicated logo, the better.
Flat 1 color would be the best for sure (and the cheapest), but you can think of 2-3 colors too. Graduated color - theoretically this could be achieved with the threshold pattern, but I'd expect a noticable price increase with such effect applied, as it requires much more work.

You can also ask for a logo in full color and 1-color (black) version too.
Not all the logos look good in 1 color, so it should be kept in mind when designing.

[macky]

Yeh thats what I figured, a sharp and flat 3 colour logo maybe

Ok thanks!