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Kerning on custom lettering for logo
Posted by Luma Vine in
5 Jan 2012 — 7:10pm
5 Jan 2012 — 7:10pm
I made some custom lettering for this logo project, and this particular combination of letters is giving me a bit of trouble with kerning. Any points of improvement would be greatly appreciated.
*updated*
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6 Jan 2012 — 10:05am
AV is too tight, EA is too loose.
THE and FOR is too loose, the rest is OK.
6 Jan 2012 — 7:59pm
Thanks so much apankrat! I updated the image based on your suggestions. Looking better?
6 Jan 2012 — 8:33pm
AV still looks tight to me.
7 Jan 2012 — 7:08am
Thanks eliason! Updated again.
8 Jan 2012 — 1:35pm
I like your logo.
Actually V E looks a bit tight to me. Kern it reading only the top half of the word.
10 Jan 2012 — 8:46am
Hey Tim, I think you might be right, but could you say a bit more about the strategy of kerning WRT the top half? I think I understand what you are saying in this case, but I am not sure I get how the overall balance relies more heavily on the top half. Part of what I was struggling with in this design is that it first seemed like a tighter spacing was possible, but going looser overall really has helped overcome some of the particularly difficult areas. Still tweaking by tiny bits! Thanks for the help!
10 Jan 2012 — 4:07pm
When people read, they actually only read the top half of words. So in order for your logotype to be as legible as possible you should have a nice rhythm (optical spacing) between the top half of your letters.
It's a trick I learnt from watching Doyald Young's documentary, and it has worked pretty good for me.
Every type lover should see this documentary and therefore I have posted it on my blog: http://brandsandtypography.blogspot.com/2011/12/tweede-bericht.html
Great inspiration!
10 Jan 2012 — 4:16pm
The looser the spacing the more space you have to optically align letters. That's a given.
But I think in this case the looser spacing also fits the brand better.
10 Jan 2012 — 6:11pm
Yea I am happy with the looser spacing. I have seen the documentary, and I do know about the tops of the letters being critical to reading. I always assumed that reading the tops was mostly a lowercase thing. But I think you are right about rhythm. I probably was focusing too much on trying to achieve even color and equal volume between letters. Anyhow, thanks for the help, I do feel this has improved greatly thanks to all your feedback! Thank you!
11 Jan 2012 — 9:22am
It seems to work out in this case. Maybe some pro's can give their opinion about the subject?
Anyway I like the outcome. The leaven symbol is also great!
15 Jan 2012 — 1:42pm
Nice logo! Yet, I believe there's still just a little too much space between the AV. (At first glance, the LEA and VEN rather look as though they're separate sections.)