Photoshop Monotone Logo issues
betzi (22 pencils) | Mon, 2007-12-03 03:28The Chocolatier Australia logo was created by a creative firm in CMYK. I have the opportunity to change the logo as I'm not happy with the shadows and complexity of the embossing (original logo not attached). It's not the most legible logo created but have to stick with it.
To save the company $$$ & a consistent brand colour, I want to create it as a monotone image with a transparent background to be used either on white or coloured backgrounds see image attached (White logo to be used on dark backgrounds - not limited to brown).
The issues I have with creating a PMS monotone logo are
- If it's to be printed as CMYK - how is the best way to change my Monotone file to be as close to the pantone colour
- What format do I save it in to ensure it stays as a PMS and has a transparent background when placing into indesign, illustrator etc
- It will be used in Microsoft office for internal use - what's the best format to save it in?
... is it even achievable to have a monotone logo to work on so many formats
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.
You're making this WAY too complicated.
Vectorize your logo. Then you can use it on any medium when properly processed. Once this is done you don't worry about the background because there is none.
Printers printing in CMYK will use the PMS/CMYK equivalent; though this will never exactly match. I'd recommend sticking with the PMS color here rather than trying to save $$$ by reason of consistent color. Get a Pantone color book; it will show you what the CMYK conversion is for your PMS color. Photoshop and Illustrator approximate, but I'd use the book just to be sure.
A white logo on the color is actually knocked out (except for the fact that you have a shadow, does that have to be there?).
Definitely get rid of the shadows and embossing if you can.
Jpgs for Microsoft Office, just tell whomever's using it to not use it for print and expect it to come out exactly like the PMS color, ever. AT ALL.
Hope that helps!
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
Thanks for your comments. I was just thinking... I should have explained that I went to my boss highly suggesting to make the logo total vector but he believes being a chocolate company it needs to look like chocolate.
I am currently using the vector (.ai) file every where I can using PMS & matching process colour.
... maybe you could suggest how I can go to my boss and say you are having a vector logo whether you like it or not :) lol!
Your boss is a nut! Not sure how having a vector logo = not chocolate?! Ha ha ha.
Seriously, you'll save tons of money, your printers will love you (because they won't be cleaning up your silly raster logos) and you can blow that logo up to billboard size with no loss in resolution!
Go to http://www.brandsoftheworld.com. ALL those logos are in vector format. It's just the best way to do it. If you need a raster logo, you can easily create one. It's much harder going the other way, but once you do, you'll never look back.
And some cool info on vector images and spot color print production:
http://www.thelogofactory.com/library/articles/format.html
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
I don't play in Illustrator very much, but there's got to be a way to add an embossing effect to a vector image in the CS suites.
If anything, maybe create the embossing effect utilizing the blend tool? I know Photoshop makes it a piece of cake (or chocolate, in this case) to add embossing effects, but you can create the effect in Illustrator - it'll just be a little more time-consuming at first. But I agree - you'll be happier in the long run that that logo is vector once you start using it in advertising media.
In either case, if you add highlight and/or shadow effects, you'll lose your 1-color colorspace, because there will be multiple colors used to create the gradual highlights or shadows, UNLESS you make what I'd call the "base" color of the logo something like a 50% tint and use the 100% tint for shadows and lighter tints for highlights. This means selecting an extremely dark PMS color to work with.
Spot colors in Photoshop are a nightmare in my experience. I haven't used them much, so maybe that's why I'm so grumbly about using them. I'd much rather deal with spot colors in Illustrator only, where possible.
Agreed on the spot color issue. I do believe you can emboss in Illustrator too...
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
Forgot to add - Photoshop does have a little "wizard" tool that assists you with exporting transparent images if you're still determined to use Photoshop for the logo.
Go to Help > Export Transparent Image... and it'll walk you through from there. I think in your case, the best format to save the image in would be a Photoshop EPS. It'll pull into InDesign OK, at least, and bring the spot color along with it.
Still think you should go vector, though! Coax your boss to the darkside!