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What is a logo? | |
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Design Preparation | |
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Design Guidelines | |
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Well Known Examples | |
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Logos & NYC.gov sites | |
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Versions & Formats Once the logo design has been finalized, you will need to have multiple versions prepared, varying by size, color, file format, and end-media type.  Size VersionsColor VersionsVector & Bitmap FormatsEnd-Media Type |
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| Size Versions Have versions of your logo already set in different sizes - at least one large version and one small version (e.g. to be used on a business card). |
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| Color Versions Have both black and white (grayscale) as well as color versions of your logo prepared. - If your logo will be used for web media, include the RGB or Hexidecimal value for each color. - If your logo will be used for print media, include the CMYK values for each color. |
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| Vector & Bitmap Formats Logo files can be saved in 2 different formats: vector (using Adobe Illustrator) or bitmap (using Adobe Photoshop): VECTOR format saves your logo as a set of mathematical properties. For example, if you logo is a yellow circle with a red outline, the vector format will decribe it as a red circle shape filled with yellow color:  The advantage of saving a graphic in vector format is that size is irrelevant. In our example above, it doesn't matter how big or small the logo is - the format will still describe it as a red circle with yellow fill. Therefore, logos saved in vector format can be scaled to different sizes without losing any clarity or detail. BITMAP format is completely dependent on size and resolution. The bitmap format describes the image as a set of individual colored dots; the resolution determines how small those dots are. Higher resolution (measure in "dpi" or "dots per inch") means that more dots fit within a given space, which allows for a sharper image. Lower resolution means that fewer dots fit within a given space, and the image may seem fuzzy or blocky:  All size and color versions of the final logo should be saved in BOTH vector format (as an Adobe Illustrator ".ai" file) AND bitmap format (as an Adobe Photoshop ".psd" file). When saving versions in either of these file formats, separate each of the elements, shapes or colors into separate layers. |
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| End-Media Type If the logo will be used for web media (e.g. website), prepare a low resolution (72dpi) Photoshop version (bitmap) with the logo reduced to the final size. Separate each of the elements, shapes or colors into separate layers, placed on a transparent background layer. If the logo will be used for print media (e.g. business cards), prepare an Adobe Illustrator version (vector) with each of the elements, shapes or colors separated into different layers. |