What are Comps? How do they help in creating your design?
After we have conducted the client interview, I start working on the designs for the upgrades to your branding or website. To get a better idea of the look, I create ‘comps,’ which is short for comprehensive layout in graphic design terms. A comp is a draft of your logo or website layout before adding the final finishes.
Logo and Branding Comps
In the logo comps, I will use different fonts, color schemes, and graphics or images to get the right look and representation for what we talked about in our client interview. For logo designs, I will create at least four looks, with one of them will be very different than the others to ensure I’m taking the right direction.
These looks are created quickly and are not finalized. For example, logos are created in Photoshop where I can adjust the settings and alternations rapidly. The final logo is created in Illustrator because logos need to be in vector format if they are going to be produced in different products. For example, car wraps that need vectors because the file will have to be resized to accommodate a large product.
An example of four comps created for a logo in progress for Walk the Walk Counseling.
How Website Comps are Different
For the comps in website development, I will create one very detailed landing page based on the font and colors of the logo to get a consistent look for your website. The landing page shows the overall styling and hierarchy structure of your site. For the rest of your pages, I will create wireframe comps of the remaining pages. The purpose of the wireframe layouts is to ensure that the pages have a good user experience based on the content of your pages. Based on the content of each page, the structure may be different your landing page, but the style will the same.
Deliverables and File Formats
The deliverable is your final finished product for approval. For your logo, it will be sent to you in a couple of different formats so that you can view and use it on any computer. There is one file format you may not be able to open, which is the vector file that will be saved in the EPS or .ai file format.
Why Do You Want the Vector File?
To have your logo sewn on t-shirts or apparel goods, you will also need your logo in vector format for the sewing machine programs. Having your logo already in a vector file format will ensure your logo remains consistent with the rest of your branding products.
Vector file formats are used in the production of most branding products because they are the best file formats for resizing graphics without killing pixels and resolution. This is because they are drawn and defined by mathematical curves and formulae rather than in the pixels.
However, you can’t preview or open this file unless you have a vector program like Adobe Illustrator. Most shops that create the promotional products you need will have this program and be able to work with the file.
Other File Formats for Logo Delivery
When you get your completed logo, you will receive it a JPEG (.jpeg), PNG (.png), and TIFF (.tiff) file formats. Having multiple file formats allows you to view and use your logo on any computer or device. These file formats are also compatible with any business programs you may need with your logo.
The JPEG is most efficient but will be flattened with a white background. It is your best preview file but does not have the option of having a transparent background. Transparent backgrounds are more useful for most situations that you need you to use your logo.
The PNG or TIFF files will have a transparent background. The reason why I send both is that they may display on a black background you if don’t have the right program to open the file. PNG files work best and open well in Microsoft programs, while TIFF is accessible on most other platforms, but may not preview on your computer.
Website Deliverable
Example of a website design.
After the comps are approved, I will create a test site first of your website that will have the root of http:blueskies/yourwebsite/. We need to ensure that the website functions the way you expect. After the final payment, we transfer the site to your domain. More about this topic in the next post!