New logo guidelines and web design elements posted

[Gain Paolo Mureddu]

chasd at silveroaks.com escribió:
>> The new logo guidelines are out!
>> http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Logo
>
> Yay !
> I am glad to see the guidelines are simple, short, and easy to 
> understand, at least from the perspective of someone used to looking 
> at this type of document. Some comments:
>
> 1)
> The color of the guides used to delineate the clear space reserved 
> around the graphics is difficult to read, and is too similar to the 
> color choices of the graphics. As someone that has created bluelines 
> in the past, I understand why light blue was chosen, but I think gray 
> or black may have been a better choice.
Couldn't agree more.
>
> 2)
> I would recommend that acceptable background colors be specifically 
> listed, and all others prohibited. This is common in other graphic 
> standards documents I have been exposed to. I think the "whitelist" 
> for backgrounds should be white or the listed PMS 2935. It isn't hard 
> for me to close my eyes and imagine some rather distasteful or 
> problematic background colors used, but maybe that's my problem. For 
> example, the logo on a background of PMS 541 ( the dark blue ) would 
> make the symbol almost disappear, but that is not prohibited by the 
> document. The logo on black would lose the symbol in the darkness ( 
> logotype in white ), although it would not be as bad as a background 
> of PMS 541.
>
> Perhaps the clear space around the logo if it is placed on a 
> non-acceptable background could have rounded edges similar to the 
> backgrounds used in the usage guide. This would make a "badge" of 
> sorts. Of course, a radius for the corners relating to the x-height 
> shown would be a good idea.
This is a very good idea. As I am designing some computer case stickers 
(I was originally thinking on leaving the background transparent) I came 
to realize there are quite a bit of black cases out there (including 
mine) which would render the symbol almost invisible. So a range of 
approved colors for the background is indeed a good idea.
>
> 5)
> The RGB and CMYK colors should be listed as approximate, since how 
> devices render those values varies considerably. However without using 
> LAB values, what you have is probably the best you can do.
>
> Although many people assume all RGB values are specified on a scale of 
> 0-255, there are several graphics programs that use 0-100. The scale 
> of RGB values is not mentioned in the document.
>
> Curiously, if I open the SVG files in InkScape, not the originating 
> program ( Illustrator 11 ), the color values are much different from 
> those specified in the usage document ( in _all_ color spaces ). In my 
> tests, if I used Illustrator 11 or 12, the colors are specified 
> correctly ( but not in Illustrator 10 ). However, it is likely that 
> someone will use InkScape ( or Xara LX ) to open these graphics files. 
> Although I would expect there would be a huge scream about proprietary 
> formats, I would recommend providing the original .ai files for those 
> that _want_ to use Illustrator, .svg files exported from InkScape with 
> correct color values for thse that want to use that program, and CMYK 
> .eps files for use specifically in print. SVG is great, but it doesn't 
> support CMYK very well ( if at all ), so if you need to distribute 
> something specifically for print, EPS is the best format. You could 
> have 2 PMS color EPS files as well. Many modern color laser printers 
> support DeviceN color ( like at Kinko's ), so color matching is 
> generally better now using PMS specification rather than CMYK, a 
> switch from a few short years ago.
I may be a total inexperienced user and complete amateur when it comes 
to graphics design and color theory, but unless I'm terribly wrong, 
that's why the Pantone® color numbers are used, isn't it?, I am using 
Inkscape, as I'm doing all in Linux with free software... One thing odd, 
though... As you say, CMYK values are rather odd, however the 
hexadecimal values and the RGBA values DO correspond to those in the 
PDF. I would assume there is a problem with CMYK support in Inkscape, 
which might be worth to report to the mailing list. I have had some 
trouble manipulating the files in Inkscape (only tried with the infinity 
symbol, though), but I had to resort to the XML editor to be able to 
select the different four elements of the drawing, when trying to select 
with the mouse, only a grouped selection is possible... I suppose this 
is what the original designer intended, and (compared to a "pure" SVG 
made with Inkscape), the file has two additional images (one in jpeg 
format and one in PGF [for whatever that is]) which I have been unable 
to export (they're only "visible" from the XML editor, or viewing the 
file with the cat or less commands).
>
> 7)
> Will there be a layout file/template so that printed information 
> distributed at LUG meeting would have a consistent look ?
> ( OOo, Scribus, InDesign, XPress )
> A OOo Impress template ?
This is actually a very good idea indeed!
>
> Otherwise, great job !
>
>> Please be sure not to violate any of the guidelines.
>
> Repercussions are ?
> I've got a big steel ruler, but it doesn't stretch that far . . .
>
> Thanks,
>
> Charles Dostale