Loch Tech Monster logo development

[Chazlene]

So yeah I'm gonna be making a start on the LTM site design at some point, mainly on the badass illustration that's going to be in the header, the progress of which I'll post here so yarll can put forward your suggestions and criticisms. My initial idea was a vector illustration of a Loch Ness Monster thing wearing a bluetooth earpiece or summat, but post any ideas you may have. Some reference images the begin with:

http://animals.m-y-d-s.com/uma/nessie/a.gif

http://www.mitchellstevens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/loch_ness_monster.gif

http://www.kimthompsonartist.com/images/Illustrations/LOCH%20NESS%20MONSTER%20Monsters%20Project.jpg

http://sketchedout.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/seaserpant.jpg

http://bp0.blogger.com/_fwBkoRUYqxs/R_QDxSAF8hI/AAAAAAAAACI/gjeIoTbHXh0/s320/Nessie!!.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2008/003/3/b/Ness_by_harmlessfangirl.jpg

Also this Loch Tech Monster stuff gave me an idea... who's up for an ATK summer trip to Scotland?!

[Vicious Horizon]

- It definately needs nessie... how about a terminator-esque nessie, with the broken away skin with the red eye looking out? Or something like that, make it techno-ish in some way.

and Scotland is bloody miles away xD

[Hutch]

I think it would be more appealing if it was playful but not too "clip-art". Bluetooth headset sounds like a good idea. Maybe a t-shirt with a witty nerd statement on it?

Also, summer and scotland??? Is there a summer there? :P

[Chazlene]

I think it would be more appealing if it was playful but not too "clip-art". Bluetooth headset sounds like a good idea. Maybe a t-shirt with a witty nerd statement on it?

Also, summer and scotland??? Is there a summer there? :P

I've managed to sunbathe on the beach in Scotland before.

[Hutch]

I've managed to sunbathe on the beach in Scotland before.

Managed sounds like it was struggle haha

[Calneon]

I don't like any of them...

Try harder Chaz.

[Vicious Horizon]

I don't like any of them...

Try harder Chaz.

That's Sarcasm, right?

[ez64]

- It definately needs nessie... how about a terminator-esque nessie, with the broken away skin with the red eye looking out? Or something like that, make it techno-ish in some way.

and Scotland is bloody miles away xD

This.

It's the obvious choice or even better just summer glau *duck*

[Colonel Mitch]

Im up for a trip to scotland :D

also, i think the more cartoony ones look nice, but like you said summit like a proper looking one with an earpiece would be cool

[ez64]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo34/rochabp/loch.jpg

And thats when I noticed that this girl scout was 8 story's tall and was a dinosaur from the cretaceous period :D

[Chalex4]

The logo definitely shouldn't be scary, and I'm not too keen on the idea of a bluetooth headset. I just have a feeling I've seen it somewhere before, and reminds me too much of callcenters.

Although I originally thought a cartoony look might be best, I'm now pretty keen on the techno-ish approach that VH explained. Have the monster look like it's just made of electronics, so it's basically a robot.

[Chazlene]

The whole robot Nessie idea... don't know how to describe it apart from BLUUURGHHH really. Unless I make it steampunk-ish... might be hard to draw though.

[Chazlene]

So yeah here's some sketches I've been doing:

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7202/ltmsketches1.jpg

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5262/ltmsketches2.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/8454/ltmsketches3.jpg

My favourite concept is the straight-edged monster with the circuit board texture, what do you guys think?

[Hutch]

Circuit board straight one I like... but its all a bit serpenty. I prefer Pleiosaur Nessie. Not phallic snake Nessie

[Calneon]

My favourite concept is the straight-edged monster with the circuit board texture, what do you guys think?
I'm with you on that, the circuit board looks great.

Text should be below the waterline IMO.

[Chazlene]

I'm with you on that, the circuit board looks great.

Text should be below the waterline IMO.

Good idea, didn't think of that, not sure how to do the water though... if I make it all wavy and curvy it'll probably clash with the rigid look monster.

[VoX]

Agree with Cal, the circuit boarded one is my fav.

[Colonel Mitch]

Amazing work chazle. if i could draw like that i would be very happy.

I like them all but dont think the overlapping loops look great, purley coz they dont make sense underwater, as the monster would have to be like knotted under there and it would look silly if the waterline was lower :P

[Chazlene]

Amazing work chazle. if i could draw like that i would be very happy.

I like them all but dont think the overlapping loops look great, purley coz they dont make sense underwater, as the monster would have to be like knotted under there and it would look silly if the waterline was lower :P

Cheers, yeah I realised that after I drew it :p hence why I wrote 'Overlapping doesn't look great' next to it.

[Kiliv]

the summers warm up near edinburgh, ive got sun burn up there a few times this year xD and yeah i think Vh's idea would be pure awesomes

[Target]

If its just the logo then surely it needs to be something quiet simple that's easily recognizable kind of iconic, obvs if its the main header aswell its going to be a lot bigger and more detailed.

r

[Chazlene]

Just quickly threw this together while bored in an IT lesson:

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/2400/lochtechconcept.jpg

[Calneon]

Love the head (that's the main part). Hate the font.

EDIT: Ears and too black and different sizes.

[Chazlene]

Love the head (that's the main part). Hate the font.

EDIT: Ears and too black and different sizes.

They're meant to be different sizes... and I just used that font due to the limited selection on my uni's macs, when I make the actual thing I'll look around for a decent font to download. Maybe people could suggest fonts they think will look good? I'm actually pretty awful when it comes to choosing typefaces that look good with the image.

[VoX]

Head is made of win, actually quite like the ears.

Font is eugh though, will get looking for better ones.

[Calneon]

Yeah I know they're meant to be different, it just doesn't look right IMO. I liked how they were on your sketch, kind of thinner and the same size.

Great site for free fonts: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/

[Colonel Mitch]

I like but i think having the black eyes on top of and kinda in the middle of not coloured chips looks a bit weired, maybe that could be incorporated into it without looking too naf :)

[Chazlene]

I like but i think having the black eyes on top of and kinda in the middle of not coloured chips looks a bit weired, maybe that could be incorporated into it without looking too naf :)

On the actual thing I was going to make the circuit board pattern more subtle, and maybe only one colour, but I'll probs incorporate the eyes into the pattern to see how it looks, you've given me a good idea for it now.

[Target]

That looks pretty good, not sure about the eyes or the font of the writing, maybe good have some brighter colouring but its pretty good tbh

[Chazlene]

Another idea I had, making it more wonky:

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/5831/ltmsketches4.jpg

(Apologies for reflectiveness of photo).

[Chazlene]

Also I've been looking at these character design tutorials for help and inspiration:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/16/40-cartoon-character-illustration-tutorials/

Which styles out of those do you think would look good for the Loch Tech Monster?

[Calneon]

I quite like this one: http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/uncategorized/create-a-vector-pirate-cartoon-character-from-a-hand-drawn-sketch

[Chazlene]

I quite like this one: http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/uncategorized/create-a-vector-pirate-cartoon-character-from-a-hand-drawn-sketch

Yeah I quite liked the look of that one too, shouldn't be too hard to do since there's no simulated pressure on any of the lines.

[Chazlene]

Started making the actual thing in Illustrator, still got to add the circuit board texture and pimp it in Photoshop:

http://www.atkcommunity.com/gallery/images/3/1_ltm_logo.jpg

[Colonel Mitch]

I think i just died.

[VoX]

I like.

[Chazlene]

I think i just died.

Errrr in a good way or a bad way...?

[Colonel Mitch]

Errrr in a good way or a bad way...?

He he, was expecting that response.

It looks lovley but has nothing to do with tech like that :P

[Chazlene]

He he, was expecting that response.

It looks lovley but has nothing to do with tech like that :P

Yeah, like I said, I've still got to add the circuit board texture in Photoshop.

[Colonel Mitch]

Yeah, like I said, I've still got to add the circuit board texture in Photoshop.

I know. Hence i didnt say that stuff in my first post :P

[Calneon]

I think it needs straight edges and sharp corners. I think it looks way too cartoony like that.

[Chazlene]

I think it needs straight edges and sharp corners. I think it looks way too cartoony like that.

Well it does have straight lines, I might try giving it pointy corners, but when making it before rounding them off they did look TOO pointy, and I'm worried if I leave them like that it'll look awkward in context with the water and background.

Also what do you guys think about making the background of the site something like the I Can Has Cheezburger one: http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Except having imagery of game controllers, CD's, etc?

Edit: Also do you think it should have scales down it's back? Bear in mind it'll mean each section will have to be spaced out a bit more so the whole thing will be wider.

[ez64]

The monster kind of looks like a digital signal wave could perhaps go down that route?

[Colonel Mitch]

The monster kind of looks like a digital signal wave could perhaps go down that route?

This

[Chazlene]

http://www.atkcommunity.com/gallery/images/3/2_ltm_logo.jpg

http://www.atkcommunity.com/gallery/images/3/1_ltm_logo_2.jpg

Hmm I really like the idea of the digital signal wave as well... like both of them though, perhaps the wave one could be used somewhere else on the site.

[Vicious Horizon]

Use the digital wave on like............ certain parts of the site where it's more applicable.

[Target]

The other one looks like its nipples are ejaculating

[Chazlene]

The other one looks like its nipples are ejaculating

Nipples on its back...? Those probably won't be there on the final one, I just don't want to have a jolly background with clouds, the sun, etc.

[Chazlene]

Progress, yeah I know the grunge texture is a little heavy, I'll change that:

http://www.atkcommunity.com/gallery/images/3/1_ltm_logo_3.png

[Chalex4]

Wow it's looking pretty damn awesome now. I'm sure you have a good idea already of what you're going to change, but things that occurred to me are the random chopping off of the tops of letters and the missing piece of thicker black line on the top of the wave.

Design wise, I like the circuit board overlay, but for things like tshirts the digital display version could work better. It's probably too complicated like this. Also, what' the point of the random dotted lines?

[Chazlene]

Wow it's looking pretty damn awesome now. I'm sure you have a good idea already of what you're going to change, but things that occurred to me are the random chopping off of the tops of letters and the missing piece of thicker black line on the top of the wave.

Bah you're such a perfectionist, they're meant to be like that.


Also, what' the point of the random dotted lines?

Do they need a point...? They're just there. I will change them though, not exactly happy how they are, just there needs to be some sort of background and I don't want it looking landscapey.

[Calneon]

Looks fantastic, really well done.

Only thing I don't really like is the random black line widths, I know it's on purpose but I'm not keen on it.

Also, how is this going to integrate on the site? It's a bit big isn't it?

[Chazlene]

Looks fantastic, really well done.

Only thing I don't really like is the random black line widths, I know it's on purpose but I'm not keen on it.

Also, how is this going to integrate on the site? It's a bit big isn't it?

Yeah this won't be used in the actual header, I'll put the text to the left of the monster, and only have a thin line of water.

[Target]

Nipples on its back...?

Thought it was common knowledge that this particular type of monster has nipples everywhar!!!

[Colonel Mitch]

Thought it was common knowledge that this particular type of monster has nipples everywhar!!!

Ive never heard that story either

[Zanziba'ar]

All of them? at once?

[Chalex4]

This is a good point actually, we need to get back onto sorting out the LTM site.

[Target]

You missed the boat on this 12months ago you retard

[Chalex4]

This was never something I alone was going to do. In fact, I very much just wanted to watch this happen. Unfortunately, we never had the volunteers :(. Still have all the contacts though!