| A great logo can help a business project a positive | | | | additional presentation of logos due |
| image while a bad | | | | to a complete change in direction on the companies |
| logo can bring a negative impression about a | | | | part, there should |
| company. For many | | | | be an extra fee. An example would be asking for a |
| companies, a logo is the only identifiable mark a | | | | yellow duck logo |
| potential customer may | | | | design and changing your mind to a red dog design |
| ever see, so it needs to be memorable, descriptive | | | | once the logos are |
| and easily | | | | presented to you.Adding an identity program to |
| recognizable. If a logo is the company spokesman, | | | | your logo is a legitimate cost. Designing |
| how much is it really | | | | the business card, letterhead and envelope layouts |
| worth?Cheap logo designs are all over the Internet - | | | | are normally a |
| logo designs under $150! | | | | higher priced package. You should receive camera |
| $99 logo designs, $75 logo designs, $49 logo designs | | | | ready files for each |
| and even lower! | | | | design.There is a standard reference for pricing |
| You will easily find a wide range of prices for logo | | | | graphic design and corporate |
| design on the | | | | identity projects. It is Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, |
| Internet. Be careful of cheap logo design offers, | | | | published by the |
| some designers may be | | | | Graphic Artists Guild. Any logo designer can purchase |
| using clip art. A logo design that includes a royalty | | | | the book. A |
| free piece of clip art | | | | professional graphic designer would have a tough |
| cannot be copyrighted. That same piece of clip art | | | | time supporting a |
| could be used on | | | | family and a studio designing all of their logos below |
| dozens of other logo designs. A designers portfolio | | | | $200.I'm not writing this to give exact prices for a |
| should be displayed | | | | logo design because each |
| and there should be a wide variety of logo samples. | | | | logo designers circumstances are different. Amateur |
| At $49 each, do all | | | | logo designers |
| of the logos look the same? Do the majority of | | | | charge much less to get their feet wet, but slowly |
| them have block lettering | | | | increase their rates as |
| and a swoosh?Some logo designers charge one flat | | | | they gain experience and creativity.The standard |
| fee for a logo with no questions | | | | logo design rates are based on two major |
| asked. Can you imagine Coca-Cola purchasing a logo | | | | components, |
| design for $99? | | | | company size and application or distribution size. The |
| What a deal! Or how about Bob's bait shop paying | | | | majority of logo |
| $750 for a logo. | | | | designs created over the Internet are created for |
| There goes the budget! All companies are not equal | | | | small companies and |
| in size, budget and | | | | individuals with limited application and distribution uses. |
| usage. All designs are not equal. Does a swoosh take | | | | Fortune 500 |
| the same amount | | | | companies normally pay much higher logo design |
| of time and effort as creating a detailed | | | | rates and use |
| motorcycle?The confusion doesn't stop there. Some | | | | advertising agencies.My conclusion is that the value |
| logo designers charge | | | | of a logo should be based on a few |
| additional costs for extra colors, extra modifications | | | | important criteria: |
| and extra | | | | 1. Experience of the logo designer |
| preliminary designs. You have to get your calculator | | | | 2. Size & budget of the company using the logo |
| out just to figure the | | | | 3. Scope and usage of the logo |
| final cost of your logo. Do you really know what you | | | | 4. Difficulty of the designAn individual or small |
| are paying for?How much is a logo design really | | | | company with small to average uses should be |
| worth? Ask Coca-Cola, Polo, Nike, | | | | prepared to pay anywhere from $300 to $1500 for |
| The Hard Rock Cafe, Hallmark or any other | | | | a top quality, |
| company that relies on their | | | | professional logo design.What's included with your |
| logo as their number one spokesman. Not every | | | | logo? The worst part of paying for a cheap |
| company is as large as | | | | logo is finding out that you were not sent the |
| these but every company should have a logo that is | | | | correct file formats for |
| easy to identify and | | | | printing and web. You will then have to pay another |
| stands for the integrity of that business.A logo | | | | graphic designer or |
| design is more valuable to a company than a single | | | | printer to create the correct files. Be aware of what |
| spot | | | | file types you will be |
| illustration. An illustration is normally used once or | | | | needing and ask your logo designer what file types |
| used for a limited | | | | are included in their |
| campaign, whereas a logo is used for years and is | | | | price.The most common file types needed are AI |
| placed on business | | | | (Illustrator) and EPS for most |
| cards, letterheads, envelopes, web sites, vehicles, | | | | professional print jobs. These are vector format |
| buildings and | | | | files. These files should |
| products. Do you see the difference in value to a | | | | be in a CMYK color format. Vector art allows you to |
| company? A logo has | | | | reduce or enlarge a |
| more value than just the hours spent on creating it. | | | | design to ANY size without losing detail or clarity.For |
| It becomes the | | | | home use and some print jobs you will need TIFF |
| companies identity.With that said, shouldn't a logo be | | | | and BMP files. |
| worth more than just the time involved | | | | These are pixel files and should have a DPI (dots |
| in creating it? Professional graphic design rates | | | | per inch) of at least |
| average anywhere from | | | | 300 dpi. 600-1200 dpi is best for professional printing. |
| $30 to $75 per hour. If you see a logo design priced | | | | These type of |
| at $125 and that | | | | files lose their detail when enlarged but can be |
| designer charges $50 per hour for design work, do | | | | reduced.The last file types you will need would be |
| you assume that | | | | JPEG and GIF. These are |
| they spent 2.5 hours on your logo? That price would | | | | pixel files and are used for web design. They should |
| include the time | | | | be in a RGB color |
| spent to contact you, the research done on your | | | | format. Be aware that not all colors translate well on |
| company and | | | | the Internet, |
| competition, the preliminary ideas, the changes, the | | | | especially GIF files. Ask if the logo designer used |
| finalizing of the | | | | web safe colors. You |
| logo, the file prep for each different format, sending | | | | should receive crisp 72 dpi files for the Internet. A |
| the logo, billing and | | | | GIF file should be |
| allowing you to have all rights to the design. So how | | | | transparent if you do not want a white box around |
| much time was | | | | it when displayed on |
| actually spent creating your logo?My conclusion is | | | | your page.Be sure and ask your logo designer about |
| that a logo is much more valuable to a company than | | | | your logo colors. Ask them for |
| a | | | | the Pantone PMS color numbers for each color. You |
| standard illustration so the price should reflect the | | | | will need this |
| added value. Many | | | | information each time your logo is printed. This |
| professional graphic designers would be hard pressed | | | | insures that you get the |
| to create a top | | | | exact same colors with every printer that you |
| notch illustration for under $150 let alone a creative, | | | | use.Will you get your files over the Internet or will |
| well designed logo. | | | | you receive a CD? Try to |
| So beware of logos priced under $150, you may get | | | | get a CD, it is much easier to take that to your local |
| what you pay for.There's even more confusion about | | | | printer. Ask your |
| logo pricing. Some designers base | | | | designer how long they keep your logo on file in |
| their logo rates on several of these factors:Logo | | | | case you lose your |
| Modifications - You could get charged for each time | | | | versions later down the road.You should also receive |
| you want a | | | | all rights (copyrights) to your logo. Since a logo |
| change or modification to your logo. If a logo | | | | is a companies identity you will need to own all rights |
| designer asks the right | | | | to get a trademark. |
| questions, does the research and stays in close | | | | Ask for this in writing if you have any doubts.Ask |
| communication with the | | | | for the background on the logo designer you choose, |
| client there should be no need for major changes | | | | you should at |
| during the creation of | | | | the very least know their name. Do they have a |
| a logo design. Be a good communicator and explain | | | | degree? How long have |
| to the logo | | | | they designed logos? Is this their profession or a |
| designer exactly what you want your logo to be | | | | hobby? Where is there |
| saying about your | | | | portfolio? Can you contact their other clients? Can |
| business. As a designer, you should get signed | | | | you speak to them |
| approval for each | | | | directly? With the amount of software available |
| modification showing that the client was in | | | | today and the invention |
| agreement at the time.Extra Colors - Printers charge | | | | of the Internet, any sixteen year old kid can start |
| more for extra colors. If a logo designer | | | | his own logo design |
| charges more for a two color logo than they do for | | | | company.In closing let me say that the information |
| a three color logo, get | | | | above is a personal opinion |
| a detailed explanation as to why. It only takes the | | | | and is taken from years of searching logo design |
| click of a mouse to | | | | web sites and reading |
| add an extra color. In today's world there is very | | | | books on graphic design. The prices and information |
| little need for color | | | | I have explained |
| separations so there should be no need for a | | | | here only pertain to the work of graphic designers, |
| designer to charge by the | | | | not advertising |
| color.Preliminary Designs - A few choices is good, to | | | | agencies. An advertising agency handles logo design |
| many choices is overkill. | | | | on a larger scale |
| A logo designer should be able to decide for you the | | | | and incorporates an entire corporate identity service. |
| correct amount of | | | | Their logo design |
| preliminary designs it will require to create your | | | | rates are many times higher than a graphic |
| perfect logo. Be leary of | | | | designers.Curtis D. Tucker is one of the leading |
| eight, ten and more initial designs. How much time | | | | cartoon logo designers online |
| could actually be | | | | today. His company, The Curtoons Cartoon |
| spent on each design? If you don't like your first | | | | Company, specializes in |
| two or three designs | | | | helping individuals and small businesses create |
| you can easily request two or three more.If you are | | | | fantastic looking |
| on a committe or a board, I assure you that you do | | | | cartoon logos and characters. The Curtoons cartoon |
| not want to | | | | portfolio contains |
| present ten logos to ten different people. You may | | | | over 200 cartoon designs and can be seen at |
| never get down to a | | | | can be reached 7 days a week at 580.977.9947. |
| winning design.On the other hand, if you need an | | | | |