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Making a logo and lettering in GIMP

Hi experts... I've used GIMP a couple of times, but am no expert in it, nor in any way am artistically or graphically talented. I'm a Windows programmer and have created a new application for data processing work that I'm tentatively going to call "The DataSurgeon". I plan to make a very simple logo just by using a stock icon of the outline of a surgeon, and to the right of it have the following lettering (one word on top of the other, with "the" being in slightly smaller type):

The
DataSurgeon

In my mind, I picture this lettering in a big, fat, thick, strong looking font... maybe with some chrome or metallic elements to give some "shininess" to it.... hopefully conveying the aspect of the "cold steel" of the surgeon's scalpel. Would anyone be able to recommend a suitable font and settings for something like this? I've looked briefly at the "Create|Logo" menu of GIMP and there are so many options for lettering variations there - each where you choose a specific font. Would anyone be able to steer me in the direction I'd like... if you can get the drift of what I'm shooting for?

Thanks!
Shawn

shawn857

ASKER

Just googling around... the example I see here is kind of what I'm thinking:

http://www.designmarkgraphics.co.uk/blog/articles/2013/02/23/Draw%20a%20snowy%20piece%20of%20text%20in%20GIMP.html

Not bad... but maybe someone has something even better in mind!

Thanks
Shawn

Joe Winograd

Hi Shawn,
Here are the steel and chrome fonts at FontSpace (all free to some extent, but check licensing terms, as they vary):

http://www.fontspace.com/category/steel
http://www.fontspace.com/category/chrome

I like Argentum for what you described:
http://www.fontspace.com/rafael-dinner/argentum

Note that its licensing terms say:

Personal use only, no commercial use.
Licensed as: Shareware

There's a Contact Designer button if you need to look further into licensing. Regards, Joe

shawn857

ASKER

Thanks Joe... but actually not really too fond of any of those fonts - the lettering is just too square/blocky and military-looking. I picture something with more rounded lines, but still squat and powerful-looking. Maybe I don't really need a custom "steel" font, but just a normal font already in GIMP, with just just metallic/chrome effects added to it...?

Thanks
Shawn

SOLUTION

Paul Sauvé

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Joe Winograd

> not really too fond of any of those fonts

Fair enough.

> Maybe I don't really need a custom "steel" font, but just a normal font already in GIMP, with just just metallic/chrome effects added to it...?

I know a fair amount about using GIMP, but am not very artistic. Like you, I'm a programmer, but unlike you, I simply go for pre-built logos that are at the free sites, such as IconArchive and Iconfinder. I look for ones there that have a "free for commercial use" license so I can use them in my commercial programs without cost and without problems. But they're never very fancy, not like the one you're planning for "The DataSurgeon". Good luck with your new app — I hope you sell lots of it! Regards, Joe

shawn857

ASKER

Thanks Paul, I'll check out that GIMP tutorial. You had also wrote:

"One last comment - if you open GIMP and select File ―> Create ―> Logo..., there are a number of logo styles you can try out. Most of them have parameters for font, text size and color, background color, etc. "

Yes, I've already looked at this but was hoping someone could first steer me towards what I wanted, as opposed to trying all those combinations and permutations of fonts/styles.

Thanks
Shawn

Paul Sauvé

>> Yes, I've already looked at this but was hoping someone could first steer me towards what I wanted, as opposed to trying all those combinations and permutations of fonts/styles.

It can be rather difficult to advise without knowing exactly what your needs and preferences are.

For example, the tutorial you link to uses Cooper Black font. If you navigate to C:\Windows\Fonts on your PC, you will get an idea of what the different installed fonts look like.

When you click on the GIMP text tool, the stylized A in the toolbox, you will also get a preview of the different fonts, albeit quite small.

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Joe Winograd

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Paul Sauvé

Here are 2 examples - the text is the name of the Logo in the list:

You can save the text logos (with the background level 'disabled' by clicking on the eye), select a suitable image and reopen the the saved logo as a new layer to be placed anywhere on the image...

Joe Winograd

Hey, Paul, love that CHROME one! Great job! I think it's just what the doctor ordered. :)

Paul Sauvé

Thanks - I used the same font as in the posted tutorial - Cooper Black!

It's easy enough to change the color as well!

Would that doctor be the The DataSurgeon?

Joe Winograd

Indeed! :)

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Merete

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shawn857

ASKER

hehe, I guess that makes me the doctor then.

Joe, thanks for the suggestion about the FontViewer software - I downloaded it and am going to browse through all the fonts checking out how "DataSurgeon" would look. Very handy tool.

Paul - now that I see your "Chrome" example of the Cooper font, I'm not that fussy for it. I like how that font looked more in the example here:

http://www.designmarkgraphics.co.uk/blog/articles/2013/02/23/Draw%20a%20snowy%20piece%20of%20text%20in%20GIMP.html

... I'm gonna play with it in GIMP. And do some research with FontViewer.

Merete - thanks but I don't have PowerPoint :-(

Thanks
Shawn

P.S: Joe, thanks for the well wishes on the launch of my software. I hope I can *CARVE* out a little niche for myself ;-)

Joe Winograd

hehe...good one! Post a link to it here when it's ready, or send me a message if you prefer — I'd like to take a look at it.

Merete

Don't you have Microsoft Office Shawn?

shawn857

ASKER

Thanks all, for your contributions. Joe, your suggestion of the Fontviewer software was the best for me. I've googled around and found a lot of suitable fonts for free and have installed them... now I just need to do some comparisons and see which one looks best.
Thanks also Merete for your details about Powerpoint... if I can find an Office disk an install it, it could be a useful tool in the future.

Thanks!
Shawn

P.s: Joe, yes I will message you when my software is released.... I would welcome your feedback! Thanks for your interest!

Joe Winograd

Shawn,
As a fellow programmer, I'm looking forward to seeing your app! I'll be happy to provide feedback. How do you plan to market/sell it? I'm thinking of putting up a Shopify site for my software, but haven't made a final decision yet (whatever way I go, I do not want to become a website developer — I want to spend my time writing the software). Would love to hear your thoughts on it. Probably best to take this out of this thread, so if you're interested in discussing it, drop me a message via the EE Messaging System. Regards, Joe