New from iStockphoto: Logos
When most people think iStockphoto, they think stock photos. However, the company also sells illustrations, Flash files, and video and audio clips. Soon it will sell logos, too.

Last week Kelly Thompson, the company's chief operating officer, wrote this in a small news item on the Web site's front page:

"We're excited to announce a whole new product coming to the iStock collection. Clients will soon be able to download a unique logo to brand their business or organization right here at iStock. This is a huge opportunity not just for existing iStock contributors, but for our community of designers as well. If you’re a designer, you've probably created hundreds of different logos over the course of your career and we're offering you an outlet to start selling logos to the world’s largest community of creative buyers."

That statement sparked a forest fire in the iStockphoto forums and elsewhere. While I understand what's fanning the flames, and I think it's a bad idea for iStockphoto to sell logos, I want to clarify one misconception I've seen often in the past week: compensation.

Many people are outraged that logo designers will be paid $5 for their efforts, and that would be outrageous if it were true. Here are the facts as stated by the company:

Each logo will be sold only once at a price-point that ranges from 100 to 750 credits. Designers can recommend a price but iStockphoto inspectors will make the final pricing decision. iStock will pay a base royalty rate of 50% per logo design for the first six months and give advanced notice for the rate after those six months. Plus, designers who create one of the first 10,000 approved logo designs by January 1, 2010, will also receive $5 as a bonus.

Does that mean the compensation truth is rosy? No, but it's a far cry from $5.

OK, now that compensation is clarified, it's time to hash out the rest of the issue. Head to the forums to say whether you think designers will be hurt by or benefit from iStockphoto logos. As part of that forum thread, I'll also post links to a lot more information from iStockphoto.

Combine Illustrator Patterns with Photoshop Masks for Instant Visual Appeal
With the techniques in this article by Chad Neuman, you can create eye-catching imagery without fancy plug-ins or big stock photo budgets.

Here's an example of one of the effects:

Scanning Around With Gene: Really, Really Deep Type
Before there were instant drop shadows everywhere, type that appeared to be three-dimensional looked like it was drawn by an architect or draftsman. Gene Gable scanned examples like this one from the mid-20th century for your viewing pleasure:

Free For All: Harvest These Freebies
Pariah Burke has discovered so many fine freebies, he couldn't wait another day to share them with you! There's something for everyone in this sampling of free tools, fonts, and services. For example, check out this subtly beautiful Photoshop action:

Related Reading: Love Photoshop Actions? There are more here!

Illustrator How-to: Distribute Art Around a Path
Mordy Golding says that when you want to align objects to something other than a straight path -- for example, 12 stars in a circular pattern -- you have to go back to Illustrator's beginning. Watch his video tutorial now!

Related Reading: Here's another fun thing to do in Illustrator.

How to Choose Colors Everyone Likes
A long time ago, a professor in Switzerland came up with a formula that could predict how most people will react to specific color combinations. As author Igor Asselbergs notes, this formula may not determine the difference between good or bad taste, but it does predict common taste. And that makes the formula quite useful when you're choosing colors.

Can you guess which one of the color combos below aren't liked by the majority of people? (Caveat: Designers may not fall under the "normal" banner in this situation.)

"One-Click Photo Lab" Now on Desktops

New App, Book, & Community for iPhone Photographers

Make 3D Models with Digital Cameras

Enjoy the Daily Drop Cap

Flickr Friday: September 25, 2009

New Podcast This Week!

The UK Telegraph has gathered the 20 most bizarre Craigslist advertisements.

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