Cheap Graphics Can Cost You A Fortune

FULLERTON, Calif. - May 8, 2014 - PRLog -- We see it all the time. Fraudulent companies or individuals that offer copy and paste services for a “low cost”. Many of these people aren’t even aware of what they are doing, they just have a recent version of adobe and figured out how to make a logo.

Our services may seem expensive to some, especially those in the first stages of growth. But what costs are really associated with saving a few bucks?

Google “Cheap Logo Design” and you’ll notice that there are endless pages of companies and individuals offering a premade logo, slightly customized to accommodate your name. You then pay the designer, get a jpeg of the logo (sometimes you’ll receive a native file) then you are apparently ready to use it. If this sounds all too familiar, be sure to keep reading.

There are many copyrights that can go into play in a logo design. For example, we will use a flower design. Our lead designer, Austin has created a quick simple camera in Adobe Illustrator. This design is his intellectual property, and is therefore completely his.

As you can see on the right, the layers show the amount of individual pieces and work that were used to make the original artwork, proving this was not a stolen item, and if he so chooses, he can use, sell, or distribute the design. On the left, we have also included a clip art copied and pasted from the internet, directly. This is a clip art image found from: http://www.inspiritoo.com/.

Graphic Comparison → http://www.pixelredefined.com/pd2/wp-content/uploads/2014...


As you can see on the left, there are no additional elements, and shows that this was a completely copied image. That would be allowed if the copyright has been released to the public, but the best solution is to always create from scratch.

Another part of the design process is knowing which fonts are free for use, and which require additional licensing to be used commercially. If a designer purchases a font and uses it in a logo, but the font is not free for commercial use, you are then potentially liable for using that font. Any design that does not have a creative license release that specifies the allowed usage, could come at a very high cost. Designers can easily collect royalties on the work that has been used, at a premium price. Some designers charge $10,000+ for a simple commercial license agreement (allowing a business to use their design work for commercial business), just imagine how much a designer would charge for royalties of misuse.

Not only is this a huge problem in the design work, but also in the fonts and materials used while creating the art. Certain fonts come with a commercial license release included. Meaning, you can use the font for whatever you want. Others come with a Free for Personal Use license, meaning you can use it for personal items, documents, etc, just nothing commercial or business related.

When a designer does not understand the difference, or does not pay close attention to the fonts being used, it can be detrimental to the consumer.

Not only are there huge disadvantages of working with a non-skilled designer, but you also run the risk of the designer re-selling the same logo to endless other businesses! What’s the point of purchasing something to set you apart, if everyone else’s logo looks the same?

There are very simple ways to ensure you are getting what you’re paying for:

1. Find a professional designer, that knows the laws and takes the time to create something legal and from scratch, that has quality to withstand years to come.
2. Ask questions! Ask exactly what their process is, how they design, what program they use, if the design will be resold, how much purchasing a license costs, what your usage rights are, and how long you can use it for!
3. You can even go so far as to ask for references and sample works, showing their process. Some designers may not love this idea, but if you’re extremely curious, you can always ask.

If you feel a designer is too expensive, consider the amount of time, research, schooling, and actual design work that goes into a logo. Add revisions, along with trying to make sense out of mixed reviews on the first comp of a logo, and you’ve got yourself a pretty difficult job. The amount of time and care that goes into a custom logo, not to mention your company’s individuality and complete legal safety, the initial investment is extremely minimal.

If you have questions about your design, feel free to send us an email and we will be happy to assist you!

Email - Info@pixelredefined.com