Looking for inspiration…

[iKarith]

I'm looking for some inspiration (thanks for the d20, but that's a different game) for a new logo for YeOldeInn. The one we have uses the HeroQuest trademark and it probably shouldn't. We're probably not gonna get a "you need to change it, now" because nothing about the site is commercial, but it seems like the site has a trademark of its own that would be perfect fodder for a logo:



Doesn't get much better than that, does it?

So trawled teh intarwebs for something similar. Didn't find anything close, but I'll share what I found.



Well the artist who came up with that one is clearly male …



That's cool.



hm.





That one is here. It's also the first one of these that makes orcs (at least the men) not be just "green human". I mean, the female orcs are all very "human-looking" because but still.

I don't find many orc bar patrons drinking. The one I found that was the closest (and it wasn't) to to the spirit of our was a link that was 404, boo! I was definitely hoping to find something more like the classic cards ink/pen style and definitely more the oldhammer-style classic HQ grinning orc. He's just happy to be here… Have a drink, laugh, maybe smash something later … basically a fun night.

I mean I can't draw my way out of a paper bag, so whatever I find, I'd need to find someone to take the time to draw it for us.

Other suggestions? It's gonna go with a completely new site anyway so it doesn't have to look like anything we have now.

[Daedalus]

I think I mentioned this before, but another idea is Ye Olde Inn drawn with the same style as the HeroQuest logo. The trouble is the cost.

[waltergarcia]

It's so beautiful, I'm looking forward to the experience

[Daedalus]

I wonder if an AI art program is what we need . . .

[Kurgan]

AI has a tough time with text, but nothing says you can't edit it further yourself. The question is how much time and effort you're willing to put in. The free AI programs out there are trial and error with mixed results. And of course there are plenty that charge for their service, but at that point why not just pay someone with actual talent to do what you wanted, or take the time to learn yourself? Not saying everyone has time to take art classes these days, but still...

The idea of an Orc with a mug of ale or whatever is a great one. The AI programs I've tried end up making a character that looks a bit too much like Shrek or the Incredible Hulk, but you may get better mileage. The cheers icon there works because it's literally the game map image that everyone knows from the classic game toasting which is so much fun. But the inspiration is inspiring. Hope you come up with something cool!

[opalmox]

Gentlemen:
It's been a while since I've done any serious messing around with GIMP. But after a couple of hours while I figured it out, I came up with this as a draft.

https://imgur.com/a/mKvcNZ5

Is this along the lines of what you were thinking?

Obviously, this isn't the finished product, but wanted to get your feeling on it before I go much further.

[Daedalus]

For comparison:





I's a good start. Does anyone else agree it's worth more work as a concept?

Some quick comments:

The airbrushed effect will be tough to approximate, but each letter is divided in half by a reflected "horizon." Compress your horizon down and fill the top with more gold.

More airbrushed details are needed at the top and bottoms of the letters; same for a beveled look.
That can come later, as you have indicated.

The background granite texture needs to have a flat face and then must show thickness below.

The curve of the lettering breaks most midway, so the left side of "D" needs a tilt more than the "I."

Not sure what you used for the type, but it is a fair approximation.

• I feel the "Y" should be symmetrical (opinion.) The current one seems ready to tip over.
  
• the accent over the "E" should be dropped.
• Cross lines for the "I" should also read better, as the current letter could be confused with a small "l."
• Straight, block letters aren't as wide as those with curves, so narrow the "Ns." Actually, all the letters could narrow a bit more, but most notably the "Ns."
• Widen the top of the "D" curve so it mirrors that of "O" and "Q."

opalmox, I'm very pleased you are willing to show us the potential of this design. When iKarith can reply is an unknown, but either his health or professional life has kept him out of this thread for now.