When do you start working on my project and when can I see the first concepts?

How do I see my samples?

What if I don't like any of initial designs?

What if I have my own ideas for the logo?

Can you create a file set from my existing logo?

What files are included in my logo/id package?

What are the specific differences in file types?

What is the difference between vector and raster files? 
And what are PMS colors?

How do I receive my final files?

Who keeps rights of the created logo?

What happens if I lose my files and/or artwork?

We begin immediately after we receive your completed contract and deposit. The first step is the longest, up to two weeks, as here we research your company, your market, target audience, even your competition, as well as your goals for the logo. This allows for us to create the most effective logo possible. 

Revisions after the first sheet are generally completed in 48 hrs. The more information you can give us at every step of the way, the quicker we can narrow in on your perfect logo design. 

And although we would prefer that you not rush your logo design project, we do understand tight deadlines and offer rush services for an additional fee. This would reduce the first draft timeline to 2 days, and revisions to one business day. 

How do I see my samples?

We have a client preview site where all of our clients can log in to review their project as it develops and to leave feedback to us as we go along. A username and password will be assigned to you and you can log into the preview site and review your work as often as you wish, day or night. If you prefer, we can email your logo concepts and revisions to you.

What if I don't like any of initial designs?

If your package allows, we will simply re-discuss your vision for the logo, and supply you with a new sheet of concepts. If you have purchased a more limited project, we can re-discuss what you are looking for, and create additional concepts on a pay-per-concept basis until we have found a concept to develop further. 

Please consider this when you fill in your order form, the more information you provide in the beginning, the closer to target we can come right from the start.

If you are never able to accept any of the concepts as one to develop further, you may cancel the project for a full refund of all monies paid minus a $50 administrative fee. Once you have selected a concept as acceptable and revision work has begun on that concept refunds will not be issued.  

What if I have my own ideas for the logo?

Super! We welcome all ideas for your logo, and in fact the more specific you can be about what you are looking for in the beginning stages of the design, the more "on-target" our concepts and revisions will be.

When you place your order we ask you to fill us in on some logos, websites, etc., that you are fond of and for any other information you can offer into the design process. Also, at each stage of revisions we welcome your criticism and input. 

Some questions to think about in preparation for the design to begin:

• What do I want my logo to represent? (quality, elegance, reliability, speed, etc.)
• What colors should my logo be?
• Should it include text, an image, or both?
• How can it stand out from my competitors?

Can you create a file set from my existing logo?

Yes. Sometimes a company will find that they only have a not-so-great version of their logo. When it comes time to have a brochure printed, you may need a crisp, high resolution file, perhaps with colors separated, etc.

We can take your sketch or low res file and create a full file set from it for a very small fee. You will receive a CD like all of our clients, with a full description of every file type and how to use them properly. 

What files are included in my logo/id package?

At Bold Print Design Studio, we do not limit your file types based on the package you select. We believe that just because you may not need a lot of revisions, that does not mean you will need less file types for your logo to work properly for your business. 

You will receive the Master Files from the original software used to create the logo. This file can be used to create any other file type. Many design houses do not release these native files, forcing you to return to them should you ever need any changes to the logo in your company's future. That's now how we want to do business.

You will receive high resolution, CMYK (color coded for printing) files for professional and in-house printing. If your logo is created as a one or two color logo, you will also receive the spot color (PMS coded) high resolution files for limited ink printing, which can save you considerable amounts in the printing process.

You will also receive high resolution black/white or grayscale versions for professional or in-house printing of such materials as fax cover sheets, etc.

Lastly, you will receive several web use files, created in web safe colors and optimized for fast loading and accurate viewing on all browsers.  

We will include all files, a list of filenames and types (and where to effectively use each one) as well as your list your company fonts and colors in your final package. 

All ID Package projects will include all files needed for professional printing (either in full color or spot PMS colors) as well as low res proofs for you or your printer.

What are the specific differences in the different file types?

Master File: (yourfile.ai or yourfile.psd) This is the file from the native software used to create your logo (most likely an Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop file). This file can be converted into any other file type you need, and can be easily edited in the future as your needs change. If an Illustrator file, all Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors will be intact, and it will be of unlimited resolution meaning it can be scaled to any size without becoming blurry. Photoshop files will be CMYK color coded, and high resolution (300 dpi or greater) for professional printing. Photoshop files will include all layers, and both formats are fully editable.

B/W and Color Print Files: (yourfile.eps and yourfile.tif) Your EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) files will be either vector based (of unlimited resolution meaning it can be scaled to any size without becoming blurry and with all Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors intact) or in raster format, CMYK color coded, and high resolution (300 dpi or greater) for professional printing. Your tif files can be easily imported and resized in common desktop software uses, such as Microsoft Word. They will print clearly from your desktop computer. Both formats will be provided in black/white or grayscale and PMS spot color or full color.

Color Web Files: (yourfile.jpg or yourfile.gif) If your file is a photo-realistic image with many colors, a jpg file will be created. If you have a "flat", drawing-based image with less colors, a gif will be created. In either case, a screen resolution (72 dpi), optimized, web-safe color version of your logo will be provided for fast loading, accurate viewing on all platforms and browsers.  

What is the difference between vector and raster files?
And what are PMS colors?

Ahhh... what is the meaning of life? While this can be a more complex issue then it needs to be, the answer, in a nutshell, is this:

Raster images are made of pixels, or little "dots" of color, like a photo taken with a digital camera. Vector images, on the other hand, are made by mathematical calculations of lines and shapes. These usually look more like a drawing with "flat" colors then like a photograph.

The benefit of a raster image is that you can get a more realistic image, like a photo.

The major drawback with a raster image is scalability. If you greatly enlarge a digital photo and print it out, it will be blurry. The dots just get bigger and bigger to fill the larger space, and you can see it losing resolution.

Another drawback is colors. This kind of image is printed by "process printing"- which means a printer uses 4 inks (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black- hence the CMYK term) in different percentages to make up the colors in the logo. This is fine in full color projects, like a color brochure, since you will be paying for full color printing anyway.

Which brings us to vector images. While the drawback may be limited “realism” with a more drawing-based look, there are many advantages.

First, it can be scaled to any size imaginable without loss of resolution (getting blurry) because the software just recalculates the lines and shapes into a larger scaled logo.

The other benefit is colors, for two reasons. In a vector format, you “tag” each part of a logo with a specific color. A very specific color, universally known as a PMS color (for Pantone Matching System). When we complete your logo, we will let you know what your PMS colors are, and when you get items printed the printer will use those colors of ink.

The two benefits of this are 1- any printer you get to print the logo on any project (as well as if you order staff shirts, mugs, etc) will always use the exact same color ink, thus increasing your branding efforts and consistency in your materials, and 2- using only 2 colors of ink on a project (say letterhead for example) will cost you less than printing in full color for every item, which can get costly.

So, generally what I recommend is this: if you are a 99% web-based business, and your logo will primarily appear online where resolution is not an issue and added colors do not add expense, go for raster where you can add a little more splash with the colors. 

If, however, you will be having printed materials created from the logo, or you may eventually need a large sign or banner or shirts or other materials produced, stick with vector.

How do I receive my final files? 

With Bronze packages, we will transfer these files to you electronically, meaning you will download the completed package from our website. We strongly suggest that you make a backup CD of all files when you download them, for safekeeping. 

With all other packages, we will save your files onto a CD and ship it to you, either via USPS Priority Mail or UPS or FedEx Overnight, based on your package selected. 

Additional disks can be mailed or overnighted for an additional fee. 

Who keeps rights of the created logo?

YOU! Until the design has been paid for in full, the designer owns all rights to the image, and you may not use the image on your website or in any materials.

As soon as the project is paid in full, ownership and copyright will be transferred to the buyer of the project immediately. 

We reserve the right to display the projects in our portfolio and other marketing efforts, unless other arrangements are made in advance. 

If you would like to learn more about copyrights and registering your logo, visit the US Copyright Office / Library of Congress.  

What happens if I lose my files and/or artwork?

We archive all of our design work, so we can generally retrieve your designs should you lose your material, and send them to you again on a CD. 

There is a $75 fee for this service, so we highly recommend creating a backup CD when you download your files, or having a second CD created and stored in a different location than your office should disaster occur. 

Although we do try our best and will most likely be able to recover your files for you, we CANNOT GUARANTEE that we will be able to retrieve your files. It is your responsibility to create and maintain backups.