Opinion/Advice on a graphic

[Stormy]

I've been designing the logos/emblems of some of the civilizations in my sci-fi universe to help me get the feel for the culture of each and to help me 'get my groove back' so to speak.

I was wondering if any of you could give me some ideas. This here is the emblem for the Endoran Imperium. The red and gold symbolize wealth and power to them. The diamond shape symbolizes something, I haven't figured out what. The glyph is the first 'letter' in the name of the royal family.



What I need is some way of representing their ego centrism by placing them as the center of the universe. I have been racking my brain trying to think of a way to symbolize it. I tried having some yellow balls with a glow effect around the diamond, but it looked out of place.

[Ωbright]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

Looks pretty cool to me, if a bit simple. Still, it's pretty dynamic in color and shape. What about a thin, faint gold infinity symbol encircling the logo horizontally? It could symbolize infinite domain.

Oh, and I totally don't want to hijack this thread, but if you're into creating sci-fi universes you should check out this thread.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

Diamonds are typically seen as symbols of wealth/power/influence in our little universe. Could the diamond be given the same cultural significance in your universe?

[Stormy]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

Sure, the Imperium is an interstellar alien civilization that died out for unknown reasons around 30,000 years ago (well, I'm pretty sure how it happened, but the younger races don't know). I don't see why they can't have similar meanings. Diamonds still have the same molecular structure on other worlds as they do on Earth, and due to their rarity and properties they would likely be associated with wealth and power as well.

Obright: Thanks. I already have Celestia, and it is totally cool. If you want to see something neat, go to Earth, turn on constellation outlines, center the camera on Merope. Notice how there is a little cluster of stars all close together? Now Go to Merope and center the camera on Sol. Notice how all the constellation lines seam to point at Earth? Nifty huh?

I've never heard of that other program, but I'll check it out.

I think Civilization symbols need to be simple, like flags. They should be iconic and recognizable. Most importantly, you should be able to draw it from memory.

I'll try the infinity symbol and see how it looks.

[Stormy]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

I couldn't figure out how to put in the infinity symbol while keeping it centered. So I put in these rings. What do you think? Perhaps I should put something on the rings? Like planets or stars?

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

I kinda like the idea that the infinity symbol is behind the diamond itself. Sure you wouldn't see that it's exactly that, but with the appropriate design you could direct the eyes and sorta give the impression that it's there anyway.

Not that I'm any good at this ****, and have any idea how you could pull that off, or if it would really even work.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

I think the rings need shading like the diamon had. They seem kinda out-of-place.

[BeeZee]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

Simple logos are the best logos. Anything overly complicated is less memorable and harder to decipher at a glance. Consider the Nike swoosh, which is arguably one of the most famous and influential logos of all time: no texture, no effects, one color, one simple shape, and yet it instantly communicates everything it needs to and then sticks in your brain indefinitely.

Simplify. Start by getting rid of the rings on the outside, and then keep going even further. You'll end up with something much more professional.

[Byron Pennyworth]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

I agree, it looked perfect without the rings. Of course, this is from a purely visual perspective, and doesn't take into account the meaning you want associated with said symbol.

[Ωbright]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

I agree about corporate identities being simple, dynamic, and eye-catching, but this isn't a corporation. They're not trying to sell anything. I envisioned something more akin to a presidential seal or military insignia. Those things are notoriously "I'MO MAKE YOU LOOK AT A TON OF CRAP RAGHT NOOWW, FOO." They're overly complex on purpose in order to wow you.

Depictions of advanced civilizations often show a more reserved, more austere design sense, so seeing the original logo made sense to me. It was austere, yet still regal. I didn't really mean that it was too simple.

I think the rings might look ok, but definitely not that wide or that bright. I was thinking of something much more subtle. Rings can signify power also, and I don't mean in a Tolkien way, I mean more like a perfect, unbroken circle representing an all-encompassing order and governance. But this is your universe, it's really up to you.

I'm just here to help with the visual effects.

[Stormy]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

Well, simplifying it further isn't really possible. I mean, after you remove the rings. I could get rid of the bevel, but that is really only there because I'm trying to simulate it being made of metal

Thanks Obi, you get whats going on. I'll try again.

[EDIT] Here it is with beveled rings, so they fit the rest of the image. I tried using a different color, but going for anything but red or yellow looked strange and I couldn't make the red look right. It was too difficult to remove the white edges (they are there due to the process I used to get the rings in there in the first place), so it looked like ****.



I'm going to try a different way of getting the rings into the image, if it doesn't work I'll just stick with the more basic logo. Unless someone thinks of another way to pull off the "we are the center of the universe" part of the symbolism.

[BeeZee]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

Well, simplifying it further isn't really possible. I mean, after you remove the rings. I could get rid of the bevel, but that is really only there because I'm trying to simulate it being made of metal

You have a symbol with a bevel inside a diamond with a bevel inside a frame with a bevel with a stroke surrounded by two rings.

[Stormy]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

When I remove all the bevels and the two rings, all I have is a red diamond sitting on a yellow diamond with a thin red outline and a yellow symbol in the middle.

Like I said, the bevel is so you can see what it would look like made of metal, which is primarily the form it would take (badges, pins, on the sides of buildings and the hulls of ships).

[Big Rick Cook]

I'm agreeing more with Stormy and Obi at this point.

Someone showed me a design concept that included the infinity symbol like was suggested, but for whatever reason did not feel like he should post it.

The rings are just a bit too much for me, but the infinite symbol going on in the background in more of a suggestive manner than actually being there just feels right to me.

I'm taking the liberty of showing you a rough version of what I mean with your image, Stormy. If you feel like I shouldn't have done so, well, I apologize. =) Don't mind the uh... amateurish nature of it. I suck at these things and have no even halfway decent image editing software, nor would I know what I was doing even if I did.



The infinity symbol itself is only suggested at its continuation behind the emblem proper, using sightlines within the emblem to draw the eye in that direction. The little lines inside could be enlarged slightly or moved to give that sort of an impression, but even without changing the squigglies within the emblem I think it gives off a fairly good impression given the right structure of the infinity symbol on the edges of the emblem.

Does that make sense? I feel like I'm a farmer trying to describe quantum physics to a quantum physicist. =(

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: Opinion/Advice on a graphic

OH YEAH! I FORGOT ABOUT THAT I'M STUPID.