Images within Text - Logo Lesson

The same advice which applied to images and text in the previous lesson works here as well. The images and font you select are what makes or breaks these types of logos.

The logo below illustrates the easiest way to incorporate an image within text. The lower loop of the "g" is exaggerated to allow a leaf to fit inside. All you need to do is select a simple image which represents your product, and then find a place to put it. Look for open areas within a letter. Good letters to use would be "O", "A", "D", and "P". The letters "I" "T", and "L" are not good candidates since there is no place for the image to be inserted. If the name or initials of your company seem limiting, remember to try both upper and lowercase letters.

The satin logo uses a satellite dish as a substitute for the letter "A". This type of logo is a bit more complex because it requires you to find a shape which matches both the company's product and a letter. Note how simple the shape of the satellite dish is. An outline of the image will work best. You can also "fudge" a little, the legs of the satellite have been exaggerated so that the shape of an "A" is preserved. The dish is above the word so it does not distract from the text.

At arzoo.com faces carve out the shape of the letter "o". Notice how simple these faces shapes are. The faces look at each other with subtle smiles on their face which conveys a happy, light-hearted, approach to business. Also note how the "dot" and the word "com" each received a unique treatment. Since the word "com" is in a smaller font, the logo provides more visual interest.

Here are some additional examples of logos which substitute a shape for a letter.

     

Here is the sample I created. First select images which are simple and basic and then choose a wide serif font which will show off the shapes.

I began with these 2 images of clip art from arttoday. com.

BEFORE


AFTER


I had to do quite a bit of adjusting in order to get these to work. First I made a copy of the clip art and then removed the white background. Then I inverted the image so that the comb and brush were white not black. I also resized the art work. I found I had to do a great deal of hand work fixing the stray pixels as I found them. I used the magnifying glass to get in there and get a good look.

1. Open a new PhotoShop file width 200 height 150.

2. Enter Text (I used Franklin Gothic Condensed, 84 pt). A sans-serif font will work best with this logo. I entered the word "HAIR" and then changed each letter to a unique color. My file now looks like this.

3. Next I copy and paste in the layer with the comb. I adjust it so it is in the bottom of the H. This is a white comb sitting on top of a white background so it will disappear when you first place it in position. Add a layer which is filled with black so you can see the comb.

The black background is just a temporary solution since the final product will be in white. I need to create a patch of solid color which sits behind the comb so the comb shows thru. I create a new layer, use the lasso tool to draw in the shape and fill it with the color of the letter H. I return the background to white. My document now looks like this.

This step was repeated 2 more times. I created a patch for the "A" and then brought in the white scissors. Finally I added a patch for the "R" and used the brush to create the upper loop of the "R". Don't worry if the letter does not look exactly like an "R". The brush handle is not a usual part of an "R", however the overall shape of the layer holds up.

Here are my 3 patch areas.

Now my finished logo with layers showing.

To view this file as a Photoshop document access the CD > CIS 58.53B Advanced Class > PSD > logo > image-logo.psd