CRAPIC Design - Creative Radicalness Aimed at Peons with Irritating Cheesy DESIGN

So usually I really like the posts on Smashing Magazine. They do a great job of getting good resources, inspiration and tutorials out there for other designers – just like me. I actually like to think of them as peers to myself, in a way, just not quite as awesome as me. I’ve even listed them in “My Awesome Homies” link collection in the right column. That’s why it makes it all the more confusing to me that they would basically slap me in the face in their recent 10 Common Mistakes in Logo Design post.

Photoshop bomb below!!!

I’m reading through the post as usual, thinking “yeah, those smashers nailed it again!” and then I come upon this (my emphasis in red):

3. Uses Raster Images

Standard practice when designing a logo is to use vector graphics software (WTF?), such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw (booooo! hiss!!). A vector graphic is made up of mathematically precise points, which ensures visual consistency across multiple sizes. The alternative, of course, is use to raster graphics software, such as Adobe Photoshop (Ah yeah!!!). A raster graphic — or bitmap, as it’s commonly called — consists of pixels.

Using raster images for logos is not advisable because it can cause problems with reproduction (writing posts while picking your nose is not advisable either, but you did it). While Photoshop is capable of creating very large logos (suck it, Corel Draw!!!), you never know for sure how large you will have to reproduce your logo at some point (WTF!!). If you zoom in enough on a raster graphic (something’s hanging, you may need a Kleenex), it will appear pixelated (Huh?! English, please!!!), making it unusable. Maintaining (you) visual (make) consistency (no) by  (sense) making (at) sure (all) the (so) logo (maybe) looks (you) the (should) same (go) in (back) all (to) sizes (picking) is (your) essential (nose).

What!?!?! Did you just diss Photoshop?! Smashing didn’t call me out by name, but it’s pretty obvious that they’re taking a stab at me. I am like the Photoshop evangelist, so if you are messing with Photoshop, you’re messin’ with me!!!

OK, I still like Smashing, but I need to set the record straight. Here are the top 5 reasons I’m right and the Smashers are wrong.

1. Adobe: billion dollar company that’s been around forever. Smashing: a cute little tiny startup company. Bling and muscle: Adobe.
2. Let’s just look at the words. “Photoshop” sounds so creative and full of life. “Smashing” sounds so destructive and anarchic. Creativity and peace: Adobe.
3. Speaking of creativity, don’t you love Adobe’s logo? So hip and original. They take the first letter of their name and put it in white on a red background. Smashing’s logo is… well… the first letter of their name in white on a red background. Originality point: Adobe.
4. Adobe starts with “A.” So does “Awesome.” Smashing starts with “S.” So does “Sucky.” Choosing the first letter of your name: Adobe.
5. Smashing Magazine is a web site. Understanding  your medium: Adobe.

So in a landslide it’s Adobe-5, Smashing-0. I still like the Smashers, and will still list them in the links for “My Awesome Homies” but hopefully they’ve learned 2 important lessons through this – you do not mess with Adobe and you do not mess with Mr. CRAPIC.

I’m Audi 5000.

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