verity

Hi, i'm new to the forums here (and pretty much to photoshop as well). i'd like to create a logo for a school paper called "the inkblot" but i haven't got a clue on how to begin. i'd like it to be simple, just black text with (obviously) splattered ink and an inkblot somewhere. can anyone help me out? i would be really really grateful. and you get a cookie *waves cookie* ;\

Shaun

Google images "inkblot" brings up a few you might be able to use.
You could distort the text with the bloat and punk filters in Illustrator.
What about using "Curlz" for the typeface?

retired_paddza

Well, you're going to be hard pressed to find someone to do your work for you... but if you're looking for help with a technique I'm sure there is a bevy of knowledge here.

When you say "inkblot" are you talking about Rorschach style inkblots or do you mean just an ink splatter effect? If you want a splatter or puddle effect, that would be pretty easy to come up with using a custom brush effect or some paths. What software/version are you using? Photoshop 7 introduced the new adobe brush engine which allows some very easy ways to build a splattering effect (there might even be one included, can't remember).

More info = better answer

Shaun

Another thought - while I was browsing the web for free typefaces I found this one "Creepygirl". Might do for your text?

Quote "ReadMe"
Kiwi Media Presents...
CreepyGirl!
For more information about Kiwi Media and Kiwi Media Fonts, visit
http://www.itis.com/~wonko/kiwi/
or contact wonko@itis.com.

Attached sample.

Squeeze

.

verity

WOW. thanks a lot. That's a great starting point. I'll look into your suggestions. If anyone's curious here's an example of the (temporary) logo: www.the-inkblot.org

ideas on how to jazz that up? it's a nice concept but a bit plain

Dodo

Verity,

As a layman er... sorry, layperson, I have to say your logo looks pretty good already. You can possibly add something to emphasize the liquidity of the large ink blot.
http://www.geocities.com/withmyluckt...ken/blotty.gif (the link is a bit temperamental, so try copying it into a new browser window - I suppose they don't like referential linking!)
I think the bevel might be a tad too harsh in my example.

You can also try to soften any hard edges for letters inside the blot since naturally the surface tension of the ink/fluid pulls it into more curvy shapes. It can happen though that some sharper corners remain (from what I can remember of my leaky pen days) due to the texture of the paper. Who knows, maybe you can buy a cheap pen/some ink from a local stationery store and make a blot on a piece of paper - there's no better example than reality.

P.S. If you really want to jazz it up, I suggest listening to some Miles Davis while looking at it.

verity

*tacklejumphugs*

...I hope you survived that. That looks awesome! How did you do that?!?! *wanders off to try to figure it out*

I might actually stay with that logo now.. thanks!

Dodo

Oh I only copied the blotty bit (with the "ink") written in it, to a new layer, smoothed it out a bit (since the edges were a bit too edgy) - used some Gaussian blurring too. Then I selected the Blending Options for this layer and did some Bevelling and Embossing on it, adjusting the size and softness until it looked "fluidy". I think I also used Liquify somewhere - it seemed the right thing to do for some reason.... \:]

And finally.... I shrunk it to make it look better because some of the splodginess was still too rough around the edges. Size does matter! So really, I did nothing. Photoshop did it [stuned].

Shaun

Linking from geocities - in the geocities File Manager make a copy of the picture you want to link to but change the type from .gif to .txt

It'll show up then ...