PSP Tutorials

Creating a cool logo

Today we'll be looking at one way to make yourself a cool logo! I know you're asking why do I need a cool logo? Right? Well for one if you have a cool logo then you are going to be remembered and if you're remembered the more return visitors you get! And two well everyone wants their site to be original and what better way then to have a cool and unique logo?

This is what we'll be creating today,

this tutorial will just be for you to learn one way to do this and not a strict step by step. I'm hoping that this will inspire you to come up with your own idea.

This is what you'll need
Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8

Start by creating a blank canvas, 300x300
This is actually larger then you will probably need but this gives you some room to move around.

Select your colors, this should be colors that you like. I happen to like blues so I'm using #010485 for the foreground color and #5385E5 for the background color. Choose two shades of the same color, just make that your background is the darker of the two, change foreground properties to NULL and background properties to gradient settings Linear, angle 0, repeats 0, and choose the Foreground-Background gradient.

Select the Preset shapes tool with these settings:
shape = Rectangle
Anialias checked
Create as vector checked

Draw out a rectangle (size doesn't matter!!)

Now time for node edit! If you're new to node editing don't let it scare you. I know it seems a little intimidating but it's really quite easy. Select the pen tool and you'll see your 4 nodes. Here I'm giving you creative license, add new nodes (ctrl click) or just drag the 4 existing nodes to make a different shape. Here is what I did.

Looks a little like a bow tie doesn't? Oh well I said I wanted unique didn't I? LOL

Now add another layer and select your text tool. Select a fat font so it doesn't disappear and choose a contrasting color to your shape. I'm using Ballonist SF font size = 36 Colors foreground = #FF0000 background = #800000 , same gradient as with the shape.

If like me you are using more then one line of text do this on seperate layers, this way you get the dark to light colors on both.

This is what I have so far

It looks pretty good as it is but let's kick it up another notch!

1 Make your shape layer active and convert to raster

2 Click on selections - Select all, Selections - Float, Selections Defloat, then contract the selection by 3

3 Grab the Selection tool (rectangle) hold down Ctrol and deselect the bottom half of your shape.

4 Add a new layer and select your Flood Fill tool, Select whie as your foreground color and change the foreground properties to gradient = Fading foreground linear, angle = 0 repeats = 0 invert = checked and flood fill your selection.

This is what I have now

Now we repeat those steps on the text (1-4) except you may have to change the number you use for contracting the selection. I had to use 2 instead of 3.

This is what it looks like now

It looks pretty good at this point but the text looks a little flat so let's add a drop shadow to give it some depth. I used these settings...

And there you go! You're finished! All that's left to do now is save it. I save these type of images in .PNG format because it keeps it looking sharp but you can save it in what ever format you like best.

.PNG black background	.PNG white background
.JPEG black background	.JPEG white background

I saved the JPEG's with a compression level of 5

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please feel free to e-mail me.