logo designing... 2

[jdubz]

hey all,
i've been hired to design a logo for a company that will use it on business cards, stationary and email the size of the image will change to fit the need.
so...
what should i keep in mind, if the image has any detail, should i do different sized versions? example: small medium - large. or can i do this accuratly by just resizing? or is there something that i need to tell the printer...

maybe the correct way to phrase the question would be:
"if going from a letter size logo to a buisness card, can i just resize?"
happy holidays to all.

 

[askIllustrator]

If its all vector (built in illustrator) then yes, all you have to do is resize. I wouldnt rely on any print house to finish your set-up so just send a file for each print. If you are going to use raster images (photoshop) make sure they are about 300 dpi at the largest size, shrinking a raster image wont hurt but blowing it up will.

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein

 

[HobbitK]

jbudz,
For all work going to print bureau then 300 DPI Minimum!
for all things in use over the Internet, 75 DPI will work fine. Make all the images first at 300 or more, then save as smaller files for Internet.
HTH
Michael

 

[jdubz]

thanks so much for the advice, one last thing, if the print house doesn't have illustrator, what do you recommend saving the file as?

 

[HobbitK]

TIF, PDF or EPS.
If you use Tif, check if they require LZW compressing.
Most printers will support illustrator.

HTH
Michael

 

[askIllustrator]

Try PDF first but send a .jpeg along with it so they can compare the 2 when they open your PDF.

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein

 

[RickWolff]

Shrinking a logo done in vector (Illustrator) will reduce fine in size, technologically speaking. But if you are, let's say, drawing a logo that fills an 8 1/2 x 11 inch page and has details in it as thin as a pencil line, the file may produce it, but the printing plate might not. Good logo design requires "beefing up" details that might be too spindly in smaller sizes, or might vanish altogether. If you like the delicate line in the big size, then make two versions, one for large uses and one for small.

 

[jdubz]

hey rick,
thank you for the response. the logo does have fine lines (.5 strokes off the graph tool) and when reduced loses it altogether in printing. i have tweaked a large and a small... it's extra work, but worth it.
i now prose this question to you...
if i know in advace that the logo will have fine lines and be reproduced large and small, is there a medium size that is good to work in, so to avoid having to do a small and large? and if so, what would you (or anyone else out there) suggest.
again,
thanks.

 

[askIllustrator]

If your scale stroke and effects is checked in your preferences, simply scaling the logo will resize all stokes on the fly. As a rule I build stuff that looks good on business cards,(about 3x3) then blow up from there.

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein

 

[jdubz]

again, another great tip... yes, i am feeling that it will always be easier to start small and blow up from that, and tweak perportion on a large. it's all about learning... and you all have made that easier.
thanks so much!

 

[RickWolff]

My rule of thumb while designing logos is, design for all the different ways somebody may choose to render it. I make a logo that is at least possible for a sign maker's plotter to cut into vinyl shapes. Meaning, no strokes (they're converted to outlines), all objects merged, gaps in between are compounded "holes", and of course, all letters converted to outlines. if this chokes Illustrator, you don't have a logo, you have an illustration. (I'm oversimplifying, and it's a judgement call, but it's my thumb, and my rule.)