I've been asked to design a simple logo for a friend who's starting his own business. I have 'some' ability with the CS3 tools, but I can't seem to find a way to do this easily. If anyone can assist, I would greatly appreciate it.

Basically, I need to learn an easy way to make letters (or a font) designed to look like finished welds. To clarify, picture:



It needs that pattern that a good weld has. I don't think it's within my knowledge to create one from scratch, and google searching has only brought me topics on actual welding or something called 'welded text' which I think is something entirely different.

Anyone?

?

Try making a normal metal texture and then use the smudge tool set to a high hardness and make little smudges starting from the direction they'll be going so you can overlap and get the "ringed" effect. I don't know if that'd work though. I've never done anything like that. I suppose then you could make a line element out of that in Illustrator and make the text there.

Hmm, not a bad idea, but wouldn't it look kinda flat if I used smudge? I can't test this yet because I'm not at home.

Roger, Sorry but that's just not what I'm looking for. Thanks though.

Yes, ignore Zully when it comes to photoshop and design. Brilliant.

He's not ignoring him, zul just didn't produce what he's asking for.

I know, I'm just being a dick.

A good logo can be displayed entirely with black and white. Not grayscale, but 2-tone black and white. Or at least as few shades as possible. It needs to look good on any medium.

Particularly when run through a scanner and fax machine 50 times. Because that's where it'll see a lot of use >.>

What I have in mind will be fairly simple, I'll probably end up making a primary logo for future use, and then a modified black and white 2-tone for business cards and business receipts.

I didn't realize Roger was Zully, I can't keep up with all the name changes.

The 2-tone logo shouldn't be the modified logo, it should be the primary logo that you design first. Worry about a pretty colored version for the website or whatever after you have the proper design.

whoa! i did not realize that either!

lol, on a whim ityped in "zully textures" into google and this gem came up:
http://www.seriouszone.com/forums/showthread.php?52938-the-birth-of-a-texture&p=808905

Well, it seems like it would be the same either way, since the 2-tone is just going to be a cutout version of the logo. Even the 'nice' logo won't be too fancy.

I know that's not what you were looking for. That's precisely why I did it.

Also I like that link.

TEH SERIOUS ZONE

business is rough

Sorry I only have CS4 guess I can't help

Didn't know that Roger was Zully either.

I was always damned impressed by most of the textures posted in Showcase (by him and/or by others), even if I usually didn't comment as I had nothing constructive to add.

Okay so as Emon pointed out asking for 'CS3 advice' is oddly specific. Close the program and grab a pencil and paper.

Look here and pay attention to what makes these logos look nice:
http://abduzeedo.com/tags/logo

Then go here and make sure your logo won't end up here one day:
http://yourlogomakesmebarf.com/

Compare, contrast, do whatever. Just don't start off by saying "I NEED A WELDING FONT FOR A LOGO"

Everytime I hear of some ambitious business guy trying to get free work out of a graphic designer, I think of this and this.

Hahahahah those are awesome
I tend to think of this: http://clientsfromhell.net/

Haha, never heard of that site. The Oatmeal does some funny comics on idiot clients too.

I only mentioned CS3 so you would be aware of what tools I have. I guess I am just not very good at explaining in detail what I have in my head. Unfortunately I had a LOT of cleaning to do at my house yesterday and didn't get around to working on this thing.

Hmm, similar to what I'm looking for, only that looks like a really inexperienced welder