8 point Garbage Matte Grab of my Logo

[DVX100Shooter]

This was my first ever attempt at playing around with a 8 point Garbage Matte in Final Cut Pro. What I have is 3 elements. The Pink Clouds are from a digital picture I took of the Philadelphia skyline back in July as the sun was setting (I removed the buildings and trees). The Glacier is from another picture (I removed the sky and water from that picture). Then I went out and shot the Schulkyll River in Philly and dropped that in. I color corrected the water I shot to give it a more bluish look. The original looked more grey than blue. I added more pinkish red/blue to the sky. And gave the Glacier a different shade of blue than the original. This is just a grab. The water is actually moving along in the .mov file. I think it turned out pretty good mixing live video with 2 still images. The text is animated on the screen as well. I did everything in Final Cut Pro and Livetype. I didn't use Photoshop or After Effects at all. I wasn't sure how to post the grab. You may have to click the link below.


http://home.ripway.com/2004-11/204501/cre8tiveminds05logo.jpg

[disjecta]

I think it's a nice idea but the font is competing way too much with the background. The font itself is not forceful enough, you might want to consider either another font or beefing up the one you are using.

Just my 1 cent.

[DVX100Shooter]

what would you suggest? As I am still learning how to do all this. I wanted to do the fonts in Photoshop but PS keeps confusing me! LOL!

[disjecta]

You want your logo to pop and have the background as the gravy. Right now, everything is in your face and it's hard to focus on your logo name.

Suggestions:

1. Tone down the background by changing the opacity

2. If you haven't nailed down your actual logo yet, you might want to try all upper case...that will make it a little stronger against the background.

3. Thicken the lines in the existing font to make it jump out more

4. Increase the opacity of the drop shadow to make it stand out against the background more.

Things like that...keep experimenting

[Slimothy]

I cant see it!

[DVX100Shooter]

Yea im sorry about that. The site I am using to upload files www.ripway.com has some sort of limit that a file can be accessed in a 24 hour period! There are times that my little photo on the left side under my screen name doesnt show up when I post here. That is why. Check back tomorrow.

[disjecta]

Bizarre.

[jigmic]

Not bad

[Bill_Hooper]

Just a thought: the orange pattern on the black text seems a bit too much. Like too much color against the pink and also this whole image might have too many ideas. I'm guessing it's fire? I would suggest either lessening that effect or losing it all together and doing a simpler effect on the text. Maybe some kind of simple gradient or something.

You could also take the pink clouds to more blueish and then it would be a little less busy. I'm not crazy about the blue on pink, personally.

Cool man. That's all I got.
Bill

[J.R. Hudson]

This isnt too shabby at all!

I suggest the following; subjective as always...

Make the actual WATER/OCEAN dark blue to really make the glacier pop.

Turn the PINK into sunburned ORANGE strom clouds.

Use a FONT with more impact and stack the elements (CRE8TIVE on top of MINDS)

[J.R. Hudson]

I hope it is okay; I played around with the FONT. I think you should use something that carries more weight. And remember, a good LOGO can fit on card, hat, pocket tshirt, bumper sticker, etc

IMHO

http://img117.exs.cx/img117/4797/cm81xz.jpg

[disjecta]

Hudson, don't you have a creative mind today.... ;D

[J.R. Hudson]

:D

I'm in the middle of INVOICING :-/

Gotta take a mental break :D

[jhurt]

Hey shooter, here are some subjective thoughts as well...

Like the others have mentioned, the foreground and background are competing for attention. I would also sit back and think what this logo/graphic is "saying." Are you trying for a fire and ice motif? If so, look at the possiblity of choosing just a few key colors. This would probably be orange and blue. Restrict your color palette to work with just a few key shades. And in keeping with filmic qualities, nice deep, desaturated tones work well... especially as leaders to your work.

Try another typeface as well. Experiment with different weights. Mimic what the big guys do. Are you trying to project a modern, trendy image, or more substantial, professional feel? Look around, you'll definitely see what "feels" right for you.

Also, visually leave room for the most important part: your name. For instance, the glacier gets a primo position in the graphic - the one reserved for your name. Don't let anything under it compete visually with your name. Leave a clean, empty space underneath. Showcase it. Also be sure to properly purchase or get permission to use any and all elements in your design. You've shot most of it, but the glacier looks awfully familiar... ;)

I've done a few quick things in Photoshop, taking an element of your existing design, and tweaking it. Simplifying it, really. Don't be afraid to not use something. Livetype is cool and all, but remember to keep it classy. I've focused in on the clouds. "Creative" to me doesn't necessarily say "floating glacier," so I nixed it. The glacier may be an integral part of your identity, I don't know that. But if it is, by all means, find a way to work it in. The sky/horizon I don't mind. So that stays. However, when I vertically mirrored the sky downward, something interesting happened. I liked it better than the water. It now kinda sorta looks like clouds reflecting off perfectly still water. Imagine the two moving in sync. Creative thinking is now portrayed by endless space. The horizon is now the line of your logo. Again bringing the focus to it.

I also wouldn't give too much special attention to the "8" in the word creative. Let it flow. It can break the word apart and into two sections if not watched. And by having an 8 in your name, you can play that up in certain situations. Like possibly a card, literature, website, etc... That's why the half shown 8 shows up in my tweak.

Anyway, I'm sorry this went as long as it has. I hope some of this is helpful; I'd love to see how the final piece comes out. :)

Here are the results of my tweaking:

http://homepage.mac.com/joshhurt/.Pictures/creativeminds.jpg

Cheers!
Josh

[dualfilms]

I really like Josh H's and John Hudsons designs (overall)

I wish i could get some help on my logo now ;-)

www.dualfilms.com

email me if you have any comments!

~chris
producer/director

[J.R. Hudson]

Josh

I love the colors you chose in that. Very cool. Super pro looking.


dualfilms; Ill tweak on it Monday; Im shooting all weekend! :D ;D

[dualfilms]

thanks man...i look forward to seeing it!

good luck on shooting :-)

~c

[DVX100Shooter]

WOW! I didn't expect to get so much advice and tips and illustrations! LOL! I am thankful for people like you all to lend your *comments and advice! Thanks again! By the way I am in the process of re working everything and playing around with some other ideas. In terms of the "8" I had to register my companies name with the state and I had to spell it exactly how I wanted it. I like how you made the 1/2 "8" design off to the side! Everything is mine except the picture of the Glacier. I removed the sky and water from the Glacier picture and replaced it with the stuff I shot with my digital camera and DVX100. The water is an actual river that I went out and shot. Its the only moving video in the logo (to be used at the beginning or end of projects)

[jhurt]

Cool. Keep us posted, and don't hesitate to yell if you have any Photoshop /Illustrator issues... :)

Later,
Josh