Hi,
I submitted my site Trafalgar Marine for Fenders, Rope and Chain for review last week. One thing that came out of the discussion was that my logo wasn't brilliant. I think the comment was "what you have is not a logo". Just wanted to get a second opinion on what I should do i.e. keep as is, redesign or get another logo created.

I've read the things to avoid and have seen the warning about banner logos already.
The (file) size of the image is to big but every time I reformat it looks really bad around the writing any way I can make it smaller without this corruption?

Thanks, Michael

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/

What's with the big black hairy bollocks on the end of it?.....lol

I can't see much point in changing the logo unless your going to change the site as well.

It's one of our U-Bow rope fenders, designed to protect narrowboats Rope fenders.

Yes I agree that the look and feel would need updating at the same time. One without the other would probably look stupid.

Thanks, Michael

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/

You need a logo that's much cleaner and one that perhaps has a more instantly recognisable device. You absolutely shouldn't use a photographic image.

A 'lighter' website design will help too but the branding of your product/service should always flow from the logo - so get that done first.

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Logo Design • Vector Conversion • Print
www.eagleimagery.co.uk

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to think about what I want the logo to represent etc. Do designers want a lot of help, ideas, guidance or would they rather be left alone to develop their ideas. Redoing all my paper works going to be a pain as well

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/

1. A good designer will ask you the questions that they deem important to the design process. More questions are better

2. When you receive your new logo, make sure that you get:

• .EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
• vector format (this is important as it means that the image is scaleable to any size without a loss of quality)
• fonts as outlines (but you want to know what fonts were used)
• Pantone or CMYK colors (the RGB colors for the website are derived from the Pantone or CMYK) Personally, I prefer Pantone solid because Pantone makes a guide to help you convert Pantone to RGB.

This EPS will be your MASTER file as everything else is derived from it. YOU will not be able to open/read this eps file as you need a program such as Adobe Illustrator. Have the artist create a PDF version of the EPS.

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Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com
sitting in my basement with my iMac

Good, solid advice Dave!

I can't tell you how many people that I've come across that just don't think to ask for the source files for their artwork.

It's a huge time-saver and can save you a lot of cash if you're going to a print shop or sign shop.

Using your own artwork ensures that you always end up with what you're paying for.

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Printer ink & toner cartridges in Canada | Integrated Web Payroll, Online HRMS Tools with Employee Time & Attendance

Dave,
once again some smashing advice. I've now been in touch with a few different companies regarding the site redesign. Haven't touched on the logo that much so far but when I do having these questions up my sleeve will help separate the Wheat from the Chaff.

How do I make sure I have all the copyright to the logo/design work? Is it a contract I have drawn up or something that will\should be in their (web development companies) contract?

Keep feeling like I've just kicked the top off a large can of worms and I haven't even started properly yet!

Michael

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/

It's tough to give you definitive advice in that copyright laws differ from country to country.

Do a Google Search on "UK Copyright Law" and/or contact a Barrister who deals in copyright law. They'll be able to hook you up pronto!

They'll ask you a few questions, review the artwork and give you some solid advice on how to proceed and they'll probably do it at no charge.

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Printer ink & toner cartridges in Canada | Integrated Web Payroll, Online HRMS Tools with Employee Time & Attendance

My WebEnhancement™ contract says: "[customer] shall have sole and exclusive right of ownership of any web pages and other creative design work created by MarketingTactics specifically for [customer] in connection with the Services performed by MarketingTactics hereunder, except for (a) software made or obtained by MarketingTactics; (b) trademarks, trade names, and other designations and insignia of MarketingTactics that may be displayed at [customer]’s website; and (c) a limited amount of general-purpose or reusable images, graphics, formats, or other components created or obtained by MarketingTactics for purposes not unique to [customer]. MarketingTactics makes no claim to any trademarks, trade names, or other designations or insignia belonging to [customer] that may appear in the website. MarketingTactics agrees to enter into such assignments and certificates of acknowledgment as [customer] may require in order to give effect to [customer]’s ownership rights hereunder."

My intent with this paragraph in the contract is that my client OWNS EVERYTHING created especially for them. You paid for it, you own it.

What you don't own [exclusively] is work (images, code, forms) that I create for everyone. For example, a small red arrow pointing to the right to indicate a link. You don't have EXCLUSIVE rights to that. For example, the code behind a request info form. Non-exclusive. Code I purchase (e.g., Milonic Menu). You don't own that.

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Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com
sitting in my basement with my iMac

Hey guys,
looked at your advice seems good ol common sense (need a bit more of that around here). I don't know if you've been following my other post but I've decided to go and meet the following local company Evoluted New Media - Web Design, E-Commerce and Email Marketing

I'll be getting together a list of questions (see if they give the right sort of answers) this week, probably post them on my other post "what should I do now".

Cheers, Michael

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/

Hello again,
just thought I would post the final result of the redesign we had done.

The site is finally live now (thanks to anyone involved) and I think that the new logo is great.




Thanks, Michael

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/

I like your logo, it is very good and simple!

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Company Logo Design

Thanks. The green areas won't appear on stationary etc. I think its so there's no gap between graphic and the rest of the header.

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Trafalgar Marine Services Ltd
http://www.trafalgarmarineservices.co.uk/