logo design with Mac Computer - help pls

Not very proficient with the computer but would like to use my imac to design a logo for my homebuilt board. I have in my mind what I want to design – what programs or applications shouldI be using?

i have used claris works and photoshop and the logos i have made came out pretty well. the only trick: the rice paper is too thin for the printer to grab it, so i tape it the back of a normal piece of paper, run that thru the printer, and then cut out my logo. hope that helps a little bit -steve

Not very proficient with the computer but would like to use my imac to > design a logo for my homebuilt board.>>> I have in my mind what I want to design – what programs or applications > shouldI be using? Different applications specialize in specific functions. If you want to draw and do typesetting with your imac get a vector based program like illustrator, freehand or corel draw. If you want to paint, scan images and use funky filters for backgrounds used a rastor based program like photoshop, corel paint. (I just posted a brief descripition between rastor and vector). It is just like most everything else. The professional versions are very expensive but very powerful. You will or have a simple program that came with your scanner but your tools are limited. They usually let you crop an image and tweak the contrast. But the more creative you get the more difficult it will be to work with basic tools. Do some experimenting with your printer before you get to indepth with the whole process. I have had some bad experiences with certain kinds of printers and their ink fading and or colors changing (ie-red to pink, black to purple). Do a test piece, laminate it on a scrap and leave it outside in the sun for a few days and see if it starts to look washed out or see if any of your colors have changed. All ink jet lams will fade, but there is a huge difference in the time it takes and the end results (I have boards that I ride all the time, have had them for years and the lams still look good). I have had very good results from epson products, bad with HP. As far as paper goes, there are all kinds of available. I have bought rice paper for ink jet and it feeds through fine (no feeder sheet needed). Every once and a while one will go through a little off and it will get crinkled. Just feed them through one at a time. I have even printed on non rice paper, like a 12 lb and trimmed it real close and it works fine. The trick is to (with non rice paper) design a logo that is easy to trim. Again do a test. If you get a good printer, good paper and some decent applications, you can do a lot. It is a good process to use for limited production and it gives you unlimited colors, filter ability (fire chrome fur etc.), and creative freedom. I do all my stuff on an imac and or g4. Mac rules.

You can also just create your image on your computer (I like Illustrator), save it on a disk, and bring to Kinko’s to print it out on one of their high-quality, color laser printers. It’s much easier than worrying about whether or not you have a good-enough printer. With rice paper, I don’t bother with ink jets…the colors bleed.