GIMP Version: 2.8.2
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: Windows 7
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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I have created this logo for a newsletter, I'm not satisfied because I would like improve some things, but all tutorials that I have tested are not convincing on my logo.



I find the lines edge of logo too crude, not smooth enough, I have used paths to trace the line edge but it's too pixelized. I don't see how simply smooth them.

My colors are too basic, I have tried to add glossy layers but the result is little strange, it's not what I would to do.
I feel like drawing as a child.

What you do in my place to beautify this logo ?
I am open to any proposals or creations, I leave you available the xcf.

When you stroked around the outside, did you select to path, then select NONE, go to your paths dialogue and click on the paint along path icon on the bottom, select the size stroke you want and you should get a very clean non-pixilized stroke.

you might want to used this tutorial on the image to give it some depth and shine.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5808

apparantly you didnt use any curves when you drew the path, thats why it looks so crude

i think you would get a better result if you made this logo in Inkscape
or try to construct your logo with a combination of ellipitical selections and the path tool
basically its a big ellipse with some parts cut out

i think the colors are too garish, i would go with a less colorful tone

The first thing I would do is clean it up ...



Logos should look professional.

I can't say I know what you need exactly, here's just a quick shot at it (using your image)
Just made the paths smooth and added gradient because logo looks flat without gradient.

For a smoother line when you stroke a path or selection first choose a small round brush set to 2 px. In the Choose Stroke Style dialog use, Stroke with a paint tool rather than Stroke line.

Isn't the same shape:

Open new document, RGB, transparent, 300 dpi
I draw with path one shape. Fill with black.
This one was duplicated in a new layer. The New was transform, as layer, flip horizontally an vertically.
Helped with guides, both layers, placed as i like.

Each layer is working so: (green layer, p.e.)
alpha to selection → selection→ shrink 2px and filled with the color in your example. Now i have a color shape with black border.
Add new transparent leyer → alpha to selection → fill with white → gaussian blur 130 px.
Deselect all.
Select green layer: filters → bump map with blured layer as map, depth 31. (In blue layer invert bump map).
Duplicate the layer: colors → invert value and set this layer in overlay mode.

Repeat these steps with the blue layer.

Inkscape version

- Make the shapes with paths, using as few points as possible (the less points, the mor eregular the thing is).
- make one shape, and then flip it twice to obtain the other one
- the rest is just stroke/fill

some great results here !


this technique will still result in jagged edges
its always much better to stroke (or fill) a selection from a path instead of a selection from alpha

# esper:



Maybe, but in my screen i see the same kind of jagged edges between the shapes maked with alpha than the ones in stroke along a path. For it, when i set the file give it 300 ppi of resolution, case of steeno who wants it for a letter logo, i suppose printer it.

here is my result:

im afraid jamac4k was right, i got pretty jagged edges too, although i converted everything into a path

to mask that, i used the dropshadow

used a bumpmap to make it a bit less flat (Gaussian Blur 10, Depth 13, Azimuth: 295, Angle 39)
and a bit of lighting effects (Intensity: 0,3/Glowing: 1/Bright: 0,1/Shiny: 0,7/Polished: 10)

i got the logo by setting guides and subtracting two elliptical selctions from each other

and then building a path on top of that

Thank to everybody for your advices and learnings, I could not test them earlier because I had damage on my roof and a leak in my house with the bad weather.

I have understood how use the paths and the gradients, this is my last version for my logo :

Nice result steeno

My take on it. Smoothed the lines a little and added some shine to give it volume. I'm not a big fan of the colors, so this is the best I can manage within the given parameters.

Thank Odin, glad that the result be pleasant for you.

Thank EK22 for your contribution, unfortunately the colors are imposed, these are those of my company's department.
I like the shine effect that you have added, the volume effect is very interesting, could you explain to me how you do it ?

If the edge looks jagged, try to make the logo as big as possible. I mean, create a new image, 2000x1000 px for example, then make a path which is as big as the canvas. don't make it too small. then stroke with 10 px brush for example (the size of the brush should not be too big or too small). and gaussian blur it 2 pixel. This way the jagged edge will be less noticeable, and because the size is big, the blur is not too noticeable either.

Put the whole logo on one layer, colors outline and all. On that layer do Alpha to Selection.
In the channels dialog, right click the field below the channels, initialize new channel, check from selection.
Select none.
Gaussian blur this channel by about 50, then again by about 25, then 10 and maybe even 5. You want a good blur.
click the eye icon to make this channel invisible.

Add a new layer over the top of your logo, fill it black.
Black layer selected, go to light and shadows, lighting effects. You'll point 2 light sources here, directional. One from above, one from below. In the bump map tab, use the blurred invisible channel as the bump map. This should give you highlights on the black layer.
Gaussian blur by about 5-10, depending when the highlights look smooth.
On the logo layer, Alpha to Selection, go to select, shrink selection by 1 and then invert it.
On the black highlights layer, delete the background around the selection. This should give you the logo outline in black, with white highlights.
Set the layer mode to screen and your highlights will appear on the logo.

Note, if you want to go more complicated with it, have both halves of the logo on separate layers and apply the steps here to each of those for independent shine to each.

I know this sounds complicated, but if you do it, it is really simple and an elegant way to add some highlights to just about any object.

interesting technique EK22 !

I didn't invent it. I think it was one of the tuts on here where I picked it up. Been using it copiously ever since.