New logo guidelines and web design elements posted

[chasd at silveroaks.com]

> The new logo guidelines are out!
> http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Logo

Yay !
I am glad to see the guidelines are simple, short, and easy to 
understand, at least from the perspective of someone used to looking at 
this type of document. Some comments:

1)
The color of the guides used to delineate the clear space reserved 
around the graphics is difficult to read, and is too similar to the 
color choices of the graphics. As someone that has created bluelines in 
the past, I understand why light blue was chosen, but I think gray or 
black may have been a better choice.

2)
I would recommend that acceptable background colors be specifically 
listed, and all others prohibited. This is common in other graphic 
standards documents I have been exposed to. I think the "whitelist" for 
backgrounds should be white or the listed PMS 2935. It isn't hard for 
me to close my eyes and imagine some rather distasteful or problematic 
background colors used, but maybe that's my problem. For example, the 
logo on a background of PMS 541 ( the dark blue ) would make the symbol 
almost disappear, but that is not prohibited by the document. The logo 
on black would lose the symbol in the darkness ( logotype in white ), 
although it would not be as bad as a background of PMS 541.

Perhaps the clear space around the logo if it is placed on a 
non-acceptable background could have rounded edges similar to the 
backgrounds used in the usage guide. This would make a "badge" of 
sorts. Of course, a radius for the corners relating to the x-height 
shown would be a good idea.

3)
The link for the recommended font should be clickable in the document. 
I understand that the document was exported out of InDesign 3.0.1, 
where that is not easy to do. I can do that for you if the originator 
of the document is not able to.

4)
There is no other contact information in the document. I think there 
should be a URL listed where designer could go to check for the latest 
version of the document, or for links to the graphics files. PDF files 
tend to get stored locally on hard drives. Once the usage guide is 
separated from the web site, there are no internal references to make 
it back to from where the document came.

5)
The RGB and CMYK colors should be listed as approximate, since how 
devices render those values varies considerably. However without using 
LAB values, what you have is probably the best you can do.

Although many people assume all RGB values are specified on a scale of 
0-255, there are several graphics programs that use 0-100. The scale of 
RGB values is not mentioned in the document.

Curiously, if I open the SVG files in InkScape, not the originating 
program ( Illustrator 11 ), the color values are much different from 
those specified in the usage document ( in _all_ color spaces ). In my 
tests, if I used Illustrator 11 or 12, the colors are specified 
correctly ( but not in Illustrator 10 ). However, it is likely that 
someone will use InkScape ( or Xara LX ) to open these graphics files. 
Although I would expect there would be a huge scream about proprietary 
formats, I would recommend providing the original .ai files for those 
that _want_ to use Illustrator, .svg files exported from InkScape with 
correct color values for thse that want to use that program, and CMYK 
.eps files for use specifically in print. SVG is great, but it doesn't 
support CMYK very well ( if at all ), so if you need to distribute 
something specifically for print, EPS is the best format. You could 
have 2 PMS color EPS files as well. Many modern color laser printers 
support DeviceN color ( like at Kinko's ), so color matching is 
generally better now using PMS specification rather than CMYK, a switch 
from a few short years ago.

6)
The recommended font could be shown in a range of sizes instead of just 
one size to better illustrate the feel of the font.

7)
Will there be a layout file/template so that printed information 
distributed at LUG meeting would have a consistent look ?
( OOo, Scribus, InDesign, XPress )
A OOo Impress template ?

Otherwise, great job !

> Please be sure not to violate any of the guidelines.

Repercussions are ?
I've got a big steel ruler, but it doesn't stretch that far . . .

Thanks,

Charles Dostale