PSFramework needs a logo

[adilio]

PSFramework is an ever-growing project, and as such should really have a logo to differentiate itself from the pack!

I would like to volunteer myself as tribute. Happy to throw some preliminary designs up here, and have the Community give feedback.

Let me know what y'all think.

[adilio]

Here are a couple designs I tried out. They are a play on the "frame" idea from framework.

[FriedrichWeinmann]

Looking good here :) Personally, I favor option 2 - closer than the first to the core logo, more contrast than the third (making it easier on small sticker logos) Any other opinions (or while I'm being greedy: Design suggestions ;) )?

[adilio]

Here's another take, with just a frame outline of the frame. Making it more framework-ish?

[vexx32]

I like that last one best 😄

[thomasrayner]

I think it should be a digital caricature of Fred looking crazy

[AndiBellstedt]

finally... I think this is long time needed. :-) Personally, I like the last one best.

[sheldonhull]

It's so close to powershell icons I find it confusing, though I think your designs are very slick.

Would you consider PSF>_ as a play on the PS>_ that is used in notes.

[AndiBellstedt]

actually, I like the idea of the play with PSF. Let's consider only these characters, instead of >_ inside the logo?!

[adilio]

Sure, thanks for the feedback all! The PSF>_ and PSF ideas sound great! I'll start working on a mock-up, and post here when I've got something. @FriedrichWeinmann, thoughts?

[adilio]

First pass at PSF text ideas, (with a bit of drop shadow, as per original prompt). I toyed with keeping the prompt at the end, but it makes either the text smaller or frame a wider rectangle. Ended up leaving it off, or as a silhouette in background:

[FriedrichWeinmann]

hm ... neither of these three would work for me :( I don't see the psf being the main visual element, the way it has been used in these three mock-ups

[adilio]

That's fair. Mind walking me through what you had in mind? And do any of the previous frame ideas above my last post work better for you?

[FriedrichWeinmann]

Part of my problem with art of any kind is that I lack any level of ability to envision visual art. Which means I don't really know how "It's supposed to look like" before I see it.

At the moment I m very much in favor of the 4th design (Black Background, white frame). As mentioned however I literally can't envision an "ideal" logo and describe that, so I can't say whether another logo might find more favor.

From a technical perspective (as opposed to the artistic aspects), I'd prefer a logo that works well on the micro-scale but also on the macro-scale: That is, being equally recognizable on a small notebook sticker or a huge banner. Your initial four designs definitely meet that criterion. It would need a distinct outer border/frame, as otherwise it would be hard to embed into am equal or similar background color (e.g. when displayed on a website with black Background). One of the key factors in giving an icon a brand value is the outer shape. So if there is a distinct two-layer outer border, no matter how you display it, there will be a constant shape drawing the observers eye, leading to recognition.

[FriedrichWeinmann]

I'll get back home on Friday. If nobody has any revolutionary new design, I'll go with your fourth suggestion. Thank you very much for all the effort you put into those, the project really needed one :)

[AndiBellstedt]

okay... I've also stressed my photoshop a little, and build up a combination of the logo with the frames and the PSF Logo

I would prefer the first... without the >_

[AndiBellstedt]

@adilio , @FriedrichWeinmann what do you say?

[adilio]

@AndiBellstedt, those look really good! Good for you, flexing the PS-fu!

@FriedrichWeinmann, thanks for the technical elaboration, helps a lot! I can see how resizing the logo and maintaining the aesthetic and recognize-ability is important. Given that, @AndiBellstedt, I think we may need to veer away from the PSF design.

OK, Fred, I've worked on making the frame a bit more prominent, to show up in smaller sizes. Please let me know if it works, and I can provide an SVG (scalable vector) file to put in the repo.

Also, please let me know if you require multiple sizes/dimensions, and I'll happily generate PNG files for you.

And here are some size variations, for your reference:

Given the smaller sizes, it may be an idea to go with the solid frame instead of outline, to keep it looking clear. I'll leave that call up to you.

[vexx32]

@adilio I think you might want to explore making that frame border a bit wider all over before flipping completely to a solid border :)

[adilio]

Good call, @vexx32!

The thickest I can make the frame without it looking blotchy is 18px. Posted here:

This looks more prominent when shrunk:

[vexx32]

Oh heck yeah, that looks a lot better, nice!!

[Splaxi]

@adilio

What about making the corners touch / go into 1 line. Like no space in the corners. Could still give a feel of a frame - but I'm no expert, just thinking if it was easy to test, we would have it of the table if it doesn't have the right look and feel...

[adilio]

Hey @Splaxi, thanks for the feedback and idea!

I played with it for a while, but wasn't able to get it looking clean enough. I'd like to stay true to the stock PS Core logo, as much as possible.

Another idea is that there is an alternate solid frame logo for smaller, icon-size representations, like so:

@FriedrichWeinmann, I'll leave it up to you for the decision. I think frame outline and solid frame are both good to go!

[Splaxi]

I know that dbatools has several different logos, when we are talking about stickers. So settling for one true logo, that looks great and then we can always create alternate versions for different events / milestones.

Solid work @adilio !

[vexx32]

I'll admit I'm not as much of a fan of the solid-y looking border when it's shrunk. It ends up looking kind of fuzzy for whatever reason, so I much prefer the 18px frame you had before. 🙂

Also, if you can make a vector / svg version, that'd be awesome and make for very easy embedding in webpages. 😄

[Splaxi]

@adilio

Could you do a side-by-side of the last 2 designs, in the same size ? Could help people comparing what pro / cons each design have in the different sizes.

The last design had 4 sizes, so that would be a great starting point. Could you note what dimensions each logo has - so we get an idea of where things start to break?

On a note - I feel sorry for every designer on the entire planet, damn it most be hard work to keep customers happy and try to guide them not to fuck up the design you spent hours on polishing, because it doesn't feel right.

Sorry @adilio !!!!

[adilio]

Hehe, I dig the amount of appreciation for my pain!

Certainly, I can show the sizes next to each other. The sizes below are pixels for the width, as height is not really a rounded value.

As they are scaleable vectors, they should retain the shape without too much pixelation, but it does show up in the smaller sizes a bit. We could apply some smoothing, but I don't want to go down that rabbit hole unless needed.

[Splaxi]

The first design really hit me when I first saw it - it felt smooth and really fancy at the same time.

The last design didn't give the same wow at first hand, but looking at it and taking the smaller logos into account, it really gives the same consistent look and feel.

The first design kind of goes "bad" at 100 px and not doable at 50 px, while the last design actually is solid at 100 px and starts going "bad" at 50 px, but not as much the first design does at the same size.

I'm grateful for you taking the time to showing us different designs and making it possible to compare them.

The last design actually "shines" like LED lights and makes me eyes seeking it, more than the first design.

Well - that was my 2 cents!

@FriedrichWeinmann is needed to be the judge

[FriedrichWeinmann]

Heya @adilio : Thanks for all the thought and effort you put into all those designs. I agree with @Splaxi 's comments and formally pick the last design for the logo 👍

[Splaxi]

Hell Yeah @FriedrichWeinmann

Next step - order some stickers. Let me know when we are doing it, I'll see if I can get some money from the company to support us 🤞

[adilio]

Hey @Splaxi and @FriedrichWeinmann. Just wanted to send an update that stickers should be arriving tomorrow :-) ! I will be bringing them to PowerShell Summit for you, Fred.

[Splaxi]

Hey @adilio

Cool - looking forward to see some pictures of them.

Great work!