Pen & BladeLogo Design Contest

Thank You so much Shams. I have sand You my e-mail address just now.
Tom

Hey Tom so this is the design we're going with!! :D

The things I might want to play with (like stroke thickness and color) I can do on my own in Photoshop once I get the layered file.

My email is shamsnelson@gmail.com

I would just close the contest now and send you the funds, but then it won't allow me to communicate with you anymore... So I just want to make sure we connect via email before I do that.

Thanks!!

~Shams

Thanks Shams!
Tom

Yes!! Ok this might be it..... Let me just have 1 more day to make sure I don't get any other feedback.

Thanks!

~Shams

like this?

gemstone could be more recognizable

shouldn't make a bit bigger?

shouldn't the "pommel with the genstone" at the upper side of the logo at the end of the sword handle?

Hi Shams, waiting for your recommandations :)
Tom

Ohhhh! I like this one better! Thanks!!

Also I'm getting a liiitle more feedback.

One thing is to stretch the pencil just a little bit lower so it pokes out of the circle a tiny bit more (so it will be more noticeable at a small size).

Might be one or 2 other small things but we're getting really close!! :D

Thanks!!

~Shams

Sorry. I think the 2nd (#147) and the 3rd (#148) ones are the same :)
Overlapping "&".
But the current 1st has crossing lines joining between "&-d".
I hope I managed to bring you the difference that is not obvious.
tom

"&" with overlapping lines between "&" and the "d" fonts.

"&" with crossing lines

Hí Shams,
Sorry but the difference does not seems properly in 350x280 pix jpg file. I send you the magnified "&" signs to see it. The only difference is the "&"-s line lapping.
Tom

Is it the outline thickness that's different? I think I like this one but I'm not sure... which one do you like?

Hey, what's the difference between this one and the second one?

I think we're happy with the design like this but I wasn't sure what the difference was to choose.

Thanks!! :D

~Shams

Hi. Shams,
It is not a problem. I was amazed at how soon the selection phase ended.
I am working on your revisions.
Thanks,
Tom

Hey Tom!

Sorry I thought choosing the winner would let me go into the revisions phase. But yea -- you're the winner alright!! :D

I'm pretty sure are the last revisions I wana try before deciding on the final elements: https://penandblade.com/images/new-logo-notes.jpg

Aside from the "&" -- I also made the gemstone I little more shiny -- you'll see what I mean.

Thanks again, and sorry about the confusion!

~Shams

Hi ~Shams,
Thank You so much to choose my (our) logo as the winner!!!!
I have just uploaded the finale files for You.
Please send me Your contact (e-mail) where I can send You the logo in other formats as You wish.
Many thanks!
Tom

Sounds great! :)

Yes thank you! I'm going to take a screenshot and do some doodles on my iPad to play around with that area, see if I come up with any cool ideas. If I do I'll send them to you tonight God willing!

Thanks!

~Shams

Hi, ~Shams
do you mean like that? What about the empty space without "&"?

This looks amazing man!!! :o

I like the "&" now but would you mind uploading a version just like this one but without the "&" at all? I kinda want to play around with it a bit at my end and try out a couple ideas.

Really like it though!

Thanks so much!

~Shams

Bigger "en"fonts in the Pen word and darker rope color.

a bit lighter gold fonts

a bit lighter gold fonts

less "&" letter

Hey!!

WOW. They all look great, but so far I'm feeling this one -- but probably with the larger size lettering.

I still think I'm going to want to see some different "&" -- (I still like the idea of it being round and behind the word "Blade" like it's rising -- but now we're getting into details we can iron out at the end if we, God willing, go with this design!

I'd also love to see this one with the rope being like a hemp rope color -- just that beige-y typical rope color.

Man seeing this makes me want to work really hard on growing this company!!

Thanks!

~Shams

light line map below

the chain is much brighter

... however much less bg can see

a bit larger fonts

and more map

more contur on chain

rope

With SILVER chain, and colorised pencil tip

One with chain aroud in front of white bg

One with chain aroud black bg

Yes, SUN is good idea! :)
Tom

You know what! (Sorry for the many comments, but this just popped into my head) -- I think my issue might be with the "&" -- I feel like it's just kinda sitting there "plop!", not quite flowing with the rest of the composition.

Maybe it could be more rounded working with the shape of the edge or pushed into the bg like the one in the current logo (https://penandblade.com/images/pen-and-blade-logo-03-small-transparent.png)

Oh!

Another idea! if it's in the bg a little tucked behind and is round, it would be like the setting sun, which also work with the new bg colors!)

What you think?

~Shams

Yo also I'm actually liking the font more as I'm seeing it more... One thing my friend pointed out is the stem of the "P" maybe could be a little longer so that it doesn't get confused with a "D"

Thanks again!!

~Shams

Thanks, it is perfect!

Oh, this is the video with the bg in the graphic i sent you btw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb1KMgIFnNI --- it has some nice text and stuff I think, buy there are lots of videos you can choose from and most are in 4k so I think the screenshots should be high enough quality right?

Yes, having both versions would be amazing! (But maybe we should finalize the round version first so we get the colors, etc. where we want them)

And I think that's a great idea with the subtle map! As long as it doesn't look too busy I really like it -- and also if we can keep the map graphic on its own layer so if my map drawing style changes/gets better, I can update it in PS.

Thanks man, you're the best!!

~Shams

Hi, ~Shams
right now I'm watching your YouTube channel links. What if we put into the background some map detail just gently, like in that link?
What do you think?
Tom

Hi, ~Shams and GREETINGS for the TEAM!
Do you mean that the currently 1st rank logo would be in horizonthal version. So you would like to see a round logo and horizontal version too. OK, I'm on it.
thanks, Tom

Oh! I jsut realized I could link the image file -- the bg of this is what I was thinking for the new bg color scheme for this logo: https://penandblade.com/images/penandblade-shamsnelson-button.png

Hey Tom! Just got out of a quick meeting with the team and everyone is digging this logo quite a bit!!

So our thoughts/changes would be:

- background color: maybe like the backgrond gradient in the graphic at the bottom of the page (for the YouTube channel) here: https://penandblade.com/ (That purple-red-yellow)
- Gemstone in sword pommel -seems like it's only half there...
- The border -- thinking either a chain (same color as the sword so it doesn't compete with the words "Pen & Blade") or a rope would fit the theme a bit better
- Font - the other team members quite liked the font -- I like it too but I dont 100% love it... If it's easy to show another font option or two that would be awesome, but don't lose this one as we might go back to it (not so worried about the font cause I've got some PS skills so I know I could pretty easily take the Blending Options on that layer and change the font myself if I want to)

The other thing that would really be a big selling point (my teammate came up with this) is that the logo you did before this that I commented doesn't fit well in a circle. Once we get this design where we want it -- would it be possible to also get a version that's laid out like that horizontal design too? (but with these new colors, assets, etc.)

Overall awesome work man! Thanks!!

~Shams

Thank you to ranking me! Have you any other color recommandation for the logo? If there is any idea for modifications on yout side please let me know it.
Tom

Oh yea, like I like how there is no taper to the pencil here. (In reference to my comment on your other design)

~Shams

Hey! I feel like this is clever and would read very well in a circle/at a distance -- so I like it for those reasons...

But if needs more medieval fantasy theme/flare to it, and I'm not a fan of the color and bevel (or whatever the shininess is called). I think I'm much preferring a flatter/matte look.

If you want to rework the design I would just keep the P/B combo idea and iterate with different fonts, as well as try to get some more fantasy themes worked in.

Thanks!

~Shams

Hey! I really dig what you're doing here but the main reason I wouldn't be able to use this (though I like it) is that it would leave too much empty space in a circle and it is prominently for my YouTube profile pic so that's really important.

I'm kinda bummed though cause I really like the creativity with the "E" and pencil turning into the sword. Really cool stuff.

If you do another design my main feedback in what I would want changed other than what's above (most importantly the fitting in a cicle thing) would be:

- Pencil doesn't get thinker toward the tip (so strait like a sword would be (Maybe make the sword blade wider at the hilt
- not a fan of the colors... more vibrant like World of Warcraft for inspiration (while this feels more like 300 (the movie) which is a little too gritty

Thanks!

~Shams