Site Logo Redesign

Hey guys, just wanted to ask something in regards to the site logo.

I definitely would LOVE Kyle to redesign our logo, and if he's reading this, I'm still hoping you will have time to do it Kyle!

However, I know how busy Kyle is and so I was wondering if we could ask someone from our forums to help assist in redesigning the logo.

I know we could just modify our current logo, but I just feel like this is a major step for the site and would like to have something new and fresh....to commemorate a sort of new chapter for the site, if that makes sense.

So suggestions, ideas, comments all welcome :)

Chris here...

Hey Manny, just to LYK that I spoke to Kyle the other day and mentioned this to him and he's told me he's definitely up for redesigning the logo - he's already begun formulating plans regarding the character artwork for it! So, I know it's on his "to do" list! :)

Take care... :)

Chris here...

Just a heads-up gang to LYK that I had a text from Kyle earlier this evening letting me know that he's about to start work on the new site logo, which he hopes to have completed this week (fingers crossed) - he asked me if I could let everyone know, and so I thought you guys would be pleased to hear this awesome news! :thumbsup:

Take care... :)

TCL New Logo

Afternoon,

First off, let me apologise for my lack of presence this year. My art career has taken off incredibly and has naturally been my number 1 focus. Had a great deal of exposure in the UK Newspapers the Telegraph, Daily Mail and Metro.. Also in the Apple community, which has lead to me getting the opportunity to fly out to San Francisco in the January to give a talk about my work at Macworld Expo.

Anyway.. thats my personal update for those that are interested.


New Logo

I have been contacted by Chris, Manny and Mark regarding the redesign and the idea of me producing a new logo/banner. I wish I had more time to produce a number of designs and get feedback on each one to get more of the teams input.. but I literally had 2 nights to devote to this. So here is what I have come up with.

I have redrawn the original ThunderCat artwork, redrawn the ThunderCats text for the new series and added Lair to the end, used the new concept artwork of Lion-O and composited them all together. I tried to make it similar to what we have had in terms of layout but made it much more vibrant and visually interesting. I have also made a new watermark that we can use to 'ident' andy graphics after re-launch.


Check out all of the previews below. All of the assets can be found in full quality in this folder here..
http://www.thundercatslair.org/tcl_logo/tcl_logo_assets

Including example code as to how to center it as a background in the browser.
http://www.thundercatslair.org/tcl_logo/tcl_logo_assets/banner_example.html


I really hope everyone likes it :)




Logo as part of the new site design




Logo Stand Alone





Watermark Stand Alone





Watermark on a sample image

That is PERFECT!!!

Wow you did a terrific job on this mate. Just ideal, I couldn't be happier.

Top shelf as always. Thank you so much, this has made my geek fan day.

Mark

Thanks a lot Mark... glad that you like it :)

I sure do it appeals to me on a few levels:

1) I love that painting on the left side and always have, and it is my proudest possession as I own the original hand painted version.

2) I love how you've given it that grittier matted feeling.

3) I love the contrast of old vs. new moving from left to right and

4) Your work on the logo is just spot on perfect.


Question for the team ... now that we've seen Kyle's banner / logo here and our tag line for the site is up front and center... what do you each think of our tag line.

For me I'm not sure if "A Resource Site" really captures what we're about.

I would prefer that we replace this with something more representative of what this site is to the fan community. I have the following tag line in mind:

"ThunderCatsLair.org - Hear the Roar"

Chris here...

I absolutely love this new site header, I think it looks amazing! Like Mark says I think it's perfect on so many levels! :thumbsup:

If I had one constructive criticism, I think the watermark is a bit "heavy-looking" - my instant reaction when I saw it in context was that it drew my eye to it rather than to the image it was overlaid against. If you were to overlay it on top of something like a script page I'd have thought the black lines would make it hard to read. I love the design, but just wonder if there's a way to make it a bit less obvious on an image (such as reducing the opacity of the black lines)? :)

This minor thing aside, Kyle, you have done an AMAZING job on this, I don't know how you work the wonders that you do! Awesome work, my friend! :)
-----

On the subject of the tag line, I actually like "A Resource Site", because it's so understated. I think our site is the best ThunderCats site on the Internet (and if it isn't now, it certainly will be after the relaunch), and I think the content and presentation we have on the site proves that point. I think by keeping the site's tagline positive but understated, it makes us look good (by not looking big-headed) and also allows the content and presentation of the site to speak for itself somehow. :)

Take care... :)
Merged Post:
EDIT: Here's a couple of examples of the new watermark in action - I may actually be talking rubbish because I've been able to make it look quite good on a script page by reducing the fill down to 25%:

http://www.thundercatslair.org/watermark-example/watermark-example1.jpg

(I've also included the previous watermark that Kyle did as a comparison)

However, on a page of comic artwork, I can't reduce either the fill or the opacity below 55% or it just vanishes into insignificance, and if I'm honest I think it is a bit overpowering in an image like this:

http://www.thundercatslair.org/watermark-example/watermark-example2.jpg

All of which is meant with no offense to Kyle who I think has done an amazing job, and I'm anxious not to hurt his feelings - like I say, it works a lot better on the script than I thought it would, so maybe I'm being over-fussy? :) What do the rest of you guys think? :)

Take care... :)

I love the new logo! :o:D It exactly everything I hoped it was gonna be and more. I can't wait to see up online :)

However I am with Mark. My only critiscism is the tag line 'A Resource Site'. To me it just doesn't sound right for a cartoon fan site that has seen so much passion behind it. We need a tagline to tap into the nostalgia of it's subject....

How about ThundercatsLair.org... The Ho of a Fan Site! :D Just kidding ;) But Mark is on the right track I think with 'Hear the Roar'....

maybe "The site where Thundercats are Loose!"? How does that sound? I think the more we mention Thundercats and related words, the better our Google ranking as well ;)

Kyle: Well done pal, hope it all goes great for you in January. Glad things are taking off for you!

Chris here...

"blackiecats, post: 30516" said:

I love the new logo! :o:D It exactly everything I hoped it was gonna be and more. I can't wait to see up online :)

Do you know, I've no idea why but I was sure you wouldn't like the new logo! It just goes to show how long you can know someone and still get things wrong! :D

I definitely agree with you, I think the new logo looks amazing! :)

"blackiecats, post: 30516" said:

maybe "The site where Thundercats are Loose!"? How does that sound? I think the more we mention Thundercats and related words, the better our Google ranking as well ;)

In the case of the logo, it will only influence our Google ranking if the word "ThunderCats" is in the alt text of the logo image, as search engines can't detect text that are contained within images - the main reason for using alt text on images is accessibility, but a happy side effect is that it helps Google find those images and their parent websites more easily as well! ;)

Also just as a side note - as far as I'm aware, search engines aren't case sensitive, so whether someone searches for "Thundercats", "ThunderCats", "thundercats" or "THUNDERCATS" it shouldn't (to my knowledge) affect where a particular website appears in a search results list...although I am open to correction on that! :)

If we're going to ditch "A Resource Site" what about something like..."ThunderCats Lair - Sight Beyond Sight"...maybe? I really like the idea of "The site where ThunderCats are loose", I think that it makes us sound like passionate fans rather than sound like we think we're the best or whatever, so I think you're bang on the money with your line of thinking, Neil! :) However, I think it needs to be a bit shorter - maybe "ThunderCats Lair - Where ThunderCats are loose?" :)

Seeing this new logo makes me feel really good about the new site - I think once we've got all the material moved over there (which realistically won't be until after Christmas, at least for my stuff), it definitely has the potential to be the ultimate realisation of our collective dream of the ultimate ThunderCats website! Well done Kyle for once again being the catalyst for great things for our site! :thumbsup:

Take care... :)

I really like the "Sight beyond Sight" tag line. It speaks to the detailed insights we bring, the extra information that other sites just didn't delve deeply enough into. We scratch way beneath the surface of the ThunderCats franchise to truly give sight beyond what is easily seen.


If that doesn't resonate with others, how about "ThunderCatsLair.org - Where fans Roar" or "Hear Fans Roar"
Merged Post:
Wait wait wait I think I've got it!!!

ThunderCatsLair.org - Site beyond sight

Chris here...

"grizzlor, post: 30522" said:

I really like the "Sight beyond Sight" tag line. It speaks to the detailed insights we bring, the extra information that other sites just didn't delve deeply enough into. We scratch way beneath the surface of the ThunderCats franchise to truly give sight beyond what is easily seen.


If that doesn't resonate with others, how about "ThunderCatsLair.org - Where fans Roar" or "Hear Fans Roar"
Merged Post:
Wait wait wait I think I've got it!!!

ThunderCatsLair.org - Site beyond sight

LOL, this really appeals to my love of wordplay - I'd definitely be happy to go with this for the tagline! :thumbsup:

Take care... :)

Thanks for everybody's replies and feedback. Won't be too hard to change the tag line, can we all confirm that we are happy with

"ThunderCatsLair.org - Site beyond sight"

Also regarding the darker watermark.. thats again something I should be able to adjust very quickly. Will do all of the changes when we have settled on a final decision.

Can't wait to see it live!!

Chris here...

"kzlambert, post: 30525" said:

Thanks for everybody's replies and feedback. Won't be too hard to change the tag line, can we all confirm that we are happy with

"ThunderCatsLair.org - Site beyond sight"

Also regarding the darker watermark.. thats again something I should be able to adjust very quickly. Will do all of the changes when we have settled on a final decision.

Can't wait to see it live!!

You're a legend, Kyle, thanks for being cool about my comments re: the watermark and well done for this amazing job. Like you say, I absolutely cannot wait to see this live, I think we are on track to creating the ultimate version of ThunderCats Lair - can you tell I'm over-excited?! :)

Take care... :)

Kyle you just never cease to amaze us do you. Absolutely love the new logo showing the vintage and new look.

Im with the camp of ThunderCats Lair- Site Beyond Sight

Thanks Manny C.. Was thinking of you the other day when I found the TC Sleeve you sent me for Christmas a long long time ago!..

Just updated the logo tagline to Site Beyond Sight as well as a more diluted watermark.


http://www.thundercatslair.org/tcl_logo/updated_tcl_logo_assets/

Chris here...

Late response from me due to being busy and then being ill and then being busy again, LOL! But, just wanted to say thanks once again to Kyle for his superb work on this - my friend, you never cease to blow me away! :thumbsup:

"Site Beyond Sight" I think is a brilliant tagline, well done Mark for this suggestion - looking forward to seeing this baby hitting the Internet! :thumbsup:

Take care... :)