I need banner, logo, graphic help please

[lilred]

I have about 1.5 yrs of self taught web/graphic design. I work off of Photoshop 2.0, PhotoSuite and Notepad. My first project started as a hobby site for my husband and as a tutorial for myself. It has since turned into a full blown business that is, in the near future, going to be incorporated. The first site was so lame, done in HTML alone and w/ gray as the main colors (not a crisp silver, but dull gray). It has since turned into this:
http://www.precisionmotorsportsonline.com It still needs a lot of work and is in the need of another update.

Anyway, my reasonsing for finally posting here is that I need something to make the site look more alive. I want to do these things on my own. I have a serious issue w/ giving up and having someone else do it. But, a logo is seriously needed now and it's come to the point of me deciding or giving in and having someone else do it. I've been working on different ideas, but I'm not liking any of them. I know that the reason is, is be/c my knowledge of turbo charging vehicles is not that great. I'm not hugely aware of what would draw the attention in. I know that with racing or show cars, there are always women, racing flags (checkerd design), flames, etc. So I've been working on those ideas some. I do not want an actual woman though for any images. I've been working on silhouette ideas.
I personally like the banner on the link above, but it's getting old.

I just need ideas. If it's helpful, I can post some of the logos/banners that I've been playing around with.

Anyway, hi, I'm Misty. I've been a lurker for quite some time and hope to learn a little more and maybe help out, if possible.

Thanks in advance

[Mac 5]

What's with the popup with the "Warning...all risks of injury or death" when you go to your site? That might scare away some visitors. Maybe a small warning on the bottom of your page is enough, or save the warning until you place an order.

Your top banner isn't too bad, especially since you used Photoshop 2.0.

[lilred]

Yeah, my disclaimer gets lot of comments. I'm not too worried about the disclaimer though, at this time. It'll do for now. I'm actually going to put that on the entire index page and move the home page so that it doesn't pop up every time someone goes back to home. But for the type of business that it is, the disclaimer is much needed. It also accompanies the products.

I actually used the Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition on that banner. I was given Photoshop 2.0 and am just getting used to it.

I'm going to upload some of the graphics and post them here or a link to them and maybe get a little more help that way?

Thank you for your reply.

[lilred]

Below are links to a few banner and logo ideas that I've been playing around with. I know that text still needs to be added and resizing needs to be done some on some. I wouldn't mind getting some feedback about these; good/bad and maybe some advice.


http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/b1.jpg

http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/b2.jpg

http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/b3.jpg

http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/b4.jpg

http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/l1.jpg

http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/l2.jpg

http://www.precisionmotorsportsonlin...pFolder/l3.jpg


Thanks again in advance

[lilred]

anyone?

[WeServUNetworks]

Your site does not look bad. I think the disclaimer is slightly a tern off. I think possibly your text needs a bit of color to brighten things up and maybe play around with some fonts/sizes also. In general I think your site looks well and I also looked at all your pics above and you seem to a have the right idea.

I am not sure if I can post this or not but on my site I offer several design media services.

http://www.we-serv-u.net/design/
http://www.we-serv-u.net/design/premium/
http://www.we-serv-u.net/design/pro/

Hope any of this helps.

[oceanmajk]

Hey lilred,

You're site is OK to start with, but could use some improvements. Everyone's can!

1) I would integrate the top banner into one piece, not just a black background in a table with a text logo and a blocky image that doesn't fit. I would suggest getting a later version of photoshop, and learn some of the web optimization tricks it can do. It could be very helpful not only designing the look and feel of your site, but also optimizing your images for better performance.

2) The layout of everything is structured well, I would suggest though making the font a bit smaller unless the bold spots are important, this would help make your site fit better into one frame of the browser, and maybe even show more products on one page without the user having to look around and scroll to see everything.

3) As for colors, I'd just bring a little more color into it, other than black and white. Make it a little more appealing to visitors.

4) As for the logo your working on, don't design your logo in photoshop unless you don't plan on printing it anywhere. If it's just for a website, then fine, but still upgrade your photoshop so you can benefit from some of their design tools. If you intend to print your logo on shirts or business cards, design it in Illustrator so it is vector based and can be transfered to anything you want to print it on. Illustrator is a pain in the ass to learn, but it's useful in the end. Or just pay someone $100 to come up with something.

5) Lastly, the banners you're working on are HUGE! haha Why so big? It can be a pain in the butt designing for small banners, but if you plan on having some banners ready to distribute to partner websites, you're gonna have to have them in industry standard formats.

Good luck!

[lilred]

Thank you for your response.

1) I'm working on ideas about the top banner. And you're right, I probably should go ahead and upgrade Photoshop. Do you (and/or anyone) recommend Illustrator over a newer version of Photoshop? I do plan on having the logo printed on multiple things.

2) I also agree about the font. I think the bold font makes the worlds look more fuzzy and not as clear. I learned CSS on this latest update and if anyone noticed the code, a lot of the CSS stuff isn't even needed. I need to do a spreadsheet and should now while I'm updating anyway.

3) Adding more color is another thing I'm working on. I did add a couple things that added a little color and am working on more. It's difficult to get in the time to sit and concentrate long enough to just complete it all.

4) I'm still playing around w/ the logo and might complete an idea and than have someone else do it. I'm undecided on this at the time. I would really like to be the one who completely designs and finishes the logo, be/c there's huge potential w/ this business and it will be appearing in a show (the logo and business name) for the first time before the end of the year and then hopefully be appearing any many shows next year.

5) Yeah the banners are too big. They're just ideas on the design though and not really the size. I probably should size it down first and then work on it, rather than vice versa.

And thank you Jason for your reply. The disclaimer is blunt and it has drawn controversy, and maybe has had a small play on business, but for people who are serious about modding their cars or are hard core racers, they understand that disclaimer and it doesn't matter. I will find a way to make it less "in your face" though. I do think it has that approach.

Thanks again to the responses so far