How to Print a Logo on Materials
Logos are essential to communicating your company's identity and building brand recognition. It should be an easily-recognized, memorable design of graphics and/or text that uniquely identifies your company. There are tons of items on which to print your logo, from everyday items like corporate letterhead to mass-produced trinkets like pens and paperweights. In order to get the most out of your logo and make it compatible with the widest range of merchandise and print materials, hire a professional graphic designer if you aren't skilled with graphic design.
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Instructions
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Hire a professional graphic designer to create a logo for you if you do not already have one. You can help streamline the process by giving the designer some rough ideas of what you're looking for. Make sure it is designed using vector graphics rather than raster graphics. The difference is this: images created with vector graphics can be scaled up to a very large size, while an image built with raster graphics will be distorted when scaled up. Having a vector graphic logo will allow you to print it on everything from pens to billboards.
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Decide where your logo will be printed. Request printing specifications from the printing company doing the job. Every manufacturer has a set of specifications for how to submit logos, graphics and text. Take special note of the required resolution (expressed in DPI), file format (usually JPEG, PNG or PDF) and color mode (RGB or CMYK).
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Use a graphics editing program, such a Photoshop or Corel PaintShop, to convert your vector logo to one with the required specifications. If you do not have a graphics editing program, consult a professional graphic designer to convert the logo for you.
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Submit your converted logo to the printer, along with any other relevant text or materials. For a fee, most printers will offer to provide you with a test proof of the final object so you can approve of it before ordering a large batch.
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Tips & Warnings
To reduce problems when having your logo reproduced, do not use gradients in your logo design. Gradients are color blends that combine multiple colors which might not print identically on all materials.
If you do have a complicated logo with gradients and multiple colors, consider creating a second, more simplified, version to use in applications where the printing options are limited.
For ideas on possible materials on which to print your logo, consult a commercial graphic design or printing shop. Here are a few novel ideas to consider:
1) Floor coverings (http://www.floorpix.com)
2) Home-made screen printed T-shirts (http://ezscreenprint.com)
Different manufacturers use different printing technology, which can affect the appearance of the final colors. If you are concerned about the precision of the final colors on your logo, then order a test proof from the manufacturer and adjust your logo accordingly.
References
- Photo Credit logo image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com
