ZeitNews Logo Could be Better

[JStMartin]

Per Ric:

The banner at the top looks stretched, I'm sure it's quite easily fixable?

Per Leo:

Zeitnews logo looks a bit odd stretched like that.

[JStMartin]

The logo is just a cropped and transformed version of the existing site logo. That's as good as it gets I'm afraid, unless someone creates a new one - there's no vector graphic to work with AFAIK.

A new logo needs to fit in the current theme. It should maintain the color scheme and be approx 475px wide by 70px high.

Ric said he will be creating a new logo.

[rtaquelim]

I can try, although it will be challenging. You see, I didn't save the original file!!!! (idiot). I'll see what I can do ;-)

[martinsotirov]

I can take over this one, if you haven't arranged it, Ric. The ZeitNews font is "Capitals" from Apple, right?

[rtaquelim]

Sorry, I give up. Damn, I can't do it!! After trying everything I can think of, it simply doesn't want to do it. By all means Martin, I have had enough! I tried stretching the letters, the logo, still refuses to maintain pixel consistency (quality wise). Do you want the big Z logo?

[martinsotirov]

Yes, we are definitely keeping the current logo. I'll just update the main text next to the Z to fit the new dimensions.

Joe, just asking, can you resize the whole header to fit our current logo or does it definitely need the new dimensions?

[rtaquelim]

I've just sent one, but the quality is appalling...

[JStMartin]

Joe, just asking, can you resize the whole header to fit our current logo or does it definitely need the new dimensions?

Rewriting the theme to fit the logo is not feasible. The current logo is 1204px wide. The new site theme is a 960 grid system.

I'd say you can go as wide as 575px, but I wouldn't go higher than 80px because then the whole header region will become too tall.

Give me a few different sizes you would like to try. I'll put them in the theme and take a screenshots so you can compare them.

Ric is working on this ^^

[rtaquelim]

I see. I'll try my best, otherwise I don't see any other way but to redesign the banner, it would be a shame though...

[JStMartin]

Sane size requirements for ZN OP theme logo:

Max Width: 575px Min Width: 450px Max Height: 80px Min Height: 60px

You can see what the theme's designer had in mind here.

Martin and I did some logo work. This is the progress so far (click to see full size):

[martinsotirov]

I didn't know that the theme can fit 80px height. I'll update mine to 80 x 450. Every pixel counts at this small size after all.

[JStMartin]

Yup, still need to agree on an image. The one currently on http://dev.zeitnews.org looks the best so far.

[martinsotirov]

Which one is this? It looks like the original one because it's distorted vertically.

[JStMartin]

5

[martinsotirov]

Have you tried 8 and 9? They aren't vertically distorted. I can move the "Tech Team Application" text under the logo, if that's the problem.

[JStMartin]

I personally don't like the font face, size, and positioning of "a technology team application" on 8 & 9. Also the grid behind the Z has too much hanging off in space on the left and is not closed-off on the top, right, and bottom. IMO #5 is the cleanest dirty shirt at the moment.

I think Ric should make the logo, as he seems to be the most artistic person in the room. @rtaquelim, can you do a new logo to fit the new site still? If not I can arrange for a paid design? We all can chip-in money? Thanks.

[rtaquelim]

I actually like number 1. It's basically what we created 2 years ago. All I would add is the 3D feel to the grid that the old one has, plus the lines in the grid should be more grey and thicker.

Could the letters be less pixilized?

[rtaquelim]

A new banner has been finished, it should be uploaded any time soon. Please let us know if it isn't to your liking

[JStMartin]

Here is the image Ric sent in the email. I just cropped off the empty transparent pixels from the right and bottom. The image is 341px X 79px. I didn't take any pixels away from it during optimization - no down-pixeling in photoshop, only the basic optimization checkbox checked. I did use ImageOptim which is lossless.

I've just uploaded it to the site. You may need to empty your browser cache and/or refresh the page to see it. Here is a screenshot of the previous image to compare:

[rtaquelim]

For some reason, it's a bit out of focus, blurred. It's not the same as the one above

[JStMartin]

You may need to empty your browser cache and/or refresh the page to see it.

It's there, I dunno what to tell ya bud :)

[rtaquelim]

Damn these cache files!!!

All fine, my bad, never mind... :-D

[JStMartin]

LMAO! So yeah I like it but since it's 341px wide, there's a lot more white space on the right between it and the search box. I was wondering if we wanted to maybe take the images that were to the right of the old logo and make them grey scale or grey scale with that blue that's in the theme? So we can fill the white space a bit and make those images match the theme? Maybe something like below? Or different grey scaled images? Or some sort of symbol or collection of symbols? Or maybe we don't have to do anything and the white space is ok?

[martinsotirov]

Guys, the home page is full of content to the bursting point! I think some whitespace would only do us good. I like how it looks at the moment. Lets wrap up this initial version and move!

[rtaquelim]

It looks quite cool man! But I agree with Martin. It's perfect the way it is. Besides, those images were there because I didn't know what else to insert there when I was designing it...lol!

I believe this issue is now closed :-)

[JStMartin]

Ok wow finally! :) Issue #1 is done! :) The image is a bit small width wise, but we are letting it go for now. If someone joins our team that can whip up illustrations with ease, reopen and have a crack at some logos...