logo question

i'm designing a site for a b and b in scotland (first proper job), anyway need some help using photoshop cs2.

I have been learning html and css for the last wee while but only got photoshop just there and I have no idea how to create a decent logo!

My idea was to create a logo 750 x 150 big and have a picture of ben nevis (aligned right) with a brown background and some how make it a bit transparent so that the picture of ben nevis can be seen(could i use a gradient [brown > white] and have the image on the right?). I wanted to then use this image as a background for my header div.

firstly i no pretty much nothing about photoshop and can't find decent tutorials to learn how to do what i want (will be getting a freinds notes to learn off of on the weekend). Anyway would appriciate any help on this if you can give it. need to try design the logo for the client asap (don't mean to sound pushy, sorry )

even any tips on how to create a logo which is simple and effective, think i might be biting more off than i can chew. if you think i am please say so i know to stop fafing abooooott

cheers people

If you want actual good tutorials for this kinda stuff the best place for me is http://www.pixel2life.com and www.greycobra.com. They have some of the best tutorials out on the net and they're free. They also have everything you could ever possiably want to learn about anything on that site as well. Its a great place.

Whatever you do, make it at a high resolution. Often, logos get used in print materials, and sometimes they're big bring materials.

If you hand them a PSD that is 750x150 and at the normal 72dpi, they'll be calling you later ready to yell. That stuff won't work properly in real print jobs.

If you can't make it in vector format (Illustrator/Freehand), then at least make it 500dpi and HUGE, like a few thousand pixels wide and high.

Cool, cheers.

i'll try check those links out

I find that most logos are pretty simple, its all about creating something simple and memorable. Too complicated and you have to read it rather than recognise it, which isn't effective.

Think about some of the most popular logo's of all time?

The nike swoosh
The Olympic Rings
Ford

etc

Even two Letters kerned so they are touching can be an effective logo.

Hope this helps!

-Ross
3.7 Web Designs