How to Create Vector Sports Logos
Often, when a sport team's logo is sent to a print shop for reproduction on items such as a jersey, T-shirt, poster or flier, the printer will request a vector version of the artwork. Logos drafted in vector-based computer software programs are preferred because the images can be scaled up or down to virtually any size without losing resolution or having a jagged-edged "pixelated" look when enlarged. A professional graphic artist can assist you in this project, or, if you have the inclination, create the logo yourself.
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Instructions
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Purchase or download a vector-based graphics software, such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Xara Extreme or the freeware version, Inkscape. The websites for these products provide start-up tutorials to help with learning the use of the drawing tools and image-editing functions. The commercial versions also provide a wealth of information in the help files and on accompanying discs.
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Start with hand-drawn sketches of your logo, or previously created art that is not vector-based. Scan the art and save the digital image to your hard drive in a new folder. If you already have a digital file of the logo, save it to your hard drive in a convenient folder.
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Open the graphics program and create a new document. Set the document size to accommodate your scanned or digitized logo.
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Import the scanned image of your sketch or the digital art into your document. Lock the image and create a new layer above it to trace and draw on. Save the document in the same folder as the scanned file or digital art.
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Create the background or borders of the logo by using the basic geometric shapes that can be created automatically using specialized drawing tools. Modify the shapes to match elements in the imported art on the layer below. Use color fills and/or color outlines to accent the shapes.
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Turn off the view of the second layer to make the background shapes invisible. Create a third layer in the document. Trace the foreground elements in your imported art using the point-by-point drawing tools, and fill the shapes with color and outlines as desired. Make adjustments by manipulating the points or control handles in the segments of the lines.
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Turn off the view of the third layer to make the foreground elements invisible. Create a fourth layer in the document. Use the type tool for creating or writing, such as letters in the name of a team or organization. Select a font that you wish to use or one that closely matches the artwork you may already have. Re-size the lettering by increasing the font size or by scaling up the entire line of writing.
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Turn on the visibility the top two layers, and turn off the visibility of the first layer, which has the original sketch or artwork. Evaluate your vector drawing and make adjustments to suit your requirements. Alternate turning the visibility on and off for various combinations of the imported art layers and the vector layers to compare the alignment and accuracy of the drawn shapes.
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Save the vector logo in the native file format for your graphics program. Save another version in the PDF format, which is a more universal standard that most graphics and image-viewing programs can open for either editing or display.
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Tips & Warnings
Compare pricing on several programs before purchasing. The prices span a wide range. There are also several freeware programs that are suitable for low-budget projects.
