How to Create Your Own Logo
Sep 2nd, 2008 by admin
Okay… It’s not everyday that I suggest taking the power of graphic design into your own hands. But recently I was desperate for a new logo to use as part of a special marketing program. Short on time, I decided to design one myself. I can be pretty creative when push comes to shove, but I honestly had no idea where to start. So I contacted a friend who typically has all the answers (pun intended). He recommended that I purchase an image from iStockphoto.com and use either Photoshop or Paint to alter the image and add other elements such as text and a banner. While Paint is included as part of your Windows operating platform, Photoshop is not. But again, my friend with all the answers had a suggestion: OldVersion.com. What’s nice about this site is that older versions of software programs are available to download for free and are fully-featured.
After getting Photoshop up and running, I was really impressed; yet I also realized that there was a bit of a learning curve. With little time to spare, I opted to use Paint (located under Accessories) instead since I was familiar with its features and tools. In the end - even though the route was clunky at best – I created an awesome logo that I have used online and in print. Here’s how I did it:
- Download an image from iStockphoto.com. You will need to buy credits to make a purchase. This is the legal and appropriate way to go about this. Do not use a copyrighted image without the owner’s permission or without purchasing the rights to use it! Otherwise you could find yourself in legal hot water.
- Open Paint and import the image by selecting Paste From under Edit in the toolbar.
- Once the image has been imported, you can play around with its size, shape and so on using the options available under Image (toolbar).
- To add text, select the big ‘A’ located on the left near what looks like a can of spray paint. Point your mouse to the place on the image where you would like the text to appear and click. You can now add your company name, tagline, etc. Change the font type and size using the Fonts toolbar that appears after selecting to insert text.
- You can add other images and icons, too, to really create a one-of-a-kind design. It’s completely up to you!
- When you are done creating your masterpiece, go to the Start menu and type ‘Snipping’ into the search box. This will pull up a tool that will allow you to capture and save your newly created logo as a jpg.
And that’s all there is to it… You now have a great logo that you can use for letterhead, business cards, your Web site, in newsletters and a million other places. Entrepreneurs always find a way to make things happen. When you’re pressed for time and need a design, do it yourself!
