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I Created Famous Logos with CSS

Shahed Nasser on February 15, 2021

This article was originally posted on my personal blog CSS is a powerful tool that can do almost anything once you have had a full grasp of it. So...

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luxzg • Feb 16 '21 • Edited

While I applaud the effort and how-to's, I'd have a different take on it. For any dev, it's also good to learn and look OUTSIDE of their comfort zone and existing toolset. For this task, I'd rather go the way of SVG, at least for more complicated / graphical logos (like Twitter, WhatsApp). SVG is essentially close relative to HTML as both are variants of XML style markup, so it comes easy to any web dev. But it offers the power of actual drawing, arcs, points, lines, etc. Twitter should be relatively simple 13-point shape. WhatsApp could be 11 or so points. And you can use something like Inkscape to actually draw any of them, for practice, then simply copy the code. Bonus is that you'll learn new skills, expand old ones, it is way more useful for later.down the line for more complex shapes, and it offers 100% replication of the official logos (no guessing, font swapping, pr approximation).

As challenge try RedHat logo in both CSS and SVG and see what takes longer (including learning Inkscape, I think you'd be faster with SVG). Edit: one with the face+hat, not just the hat :)

But as a practice run or self driven workshop to do some more CSS, these are real nice :)

Shahed Nasser • Feb 16 '21

Thank you for your input. That’s another way to look at it. I might do another one for SVG as well, but the reason I chose CSS is because I use it more often so a practice is definitely needed. Also I already use Inkscape and know it’s capability so there’s no doubt in that.

Although yes it would be easier to do it all with SVG, but my purpose wasn’t to do it the easy way. I wanted to take on a challenge. I still think it’s a good idea for me to later on take on the same challenge but with SVG, so thank you for the input!

Ramkevo • Dec 23 '21

This article is great, meaningful and special than other articles. Fall guys is a simple game in which 60 players battle in a single match, with only one winner

Wiz Lee • Feb 19 '21 • Edited

@luxzg , any nice resources on learning svg? =) I am having trouble understanding how it works easily

luxzg • Feb 19 '21 • Edited

Well, for my noob steps I usually go to sites like w3schools.com/graphics/svg_intro.asp :) But I personally also like to learn the hard way..trial error and lots of experimenting :)

If you install Inkscape you can try to create few simple files like: dot, straight line, circle, 2-point arc, triangle. Then save as SVG and open in any text editor to see how they are formed.

In basic form, it is xml style that describes shapes. Some shapes have predetermined tags, but going "drawing" mostly ends up with lines (paths). Just imagine it describes positions of pen drawing on canvas through coordinates, while defining stroke size (thickness of pen so to say) and color along the way.

Edit: just went through the link I posted real quick, it's real basic but good enough for quick start for all except paths. For a more in depth about paths you can use other resources, but I feel crucial for complete understanding is to know how vector graphics in general works. There are few types of points, simple points that is something like polyline if you have them connected, then two types of points that form a curve. If you have smooth wave like curve thats one type, if your points result in sharp .. "pointy" points (lol sorry, second language) that's other type. So if you were to draw a triangle you'd use one type, to draw a circle you'd use other type, to draw a moon-like shape you'd use third type, and to draw shape like capital letter "R" you'd mix and match. Thing is that with those 3 basic types, and using "move to" (moving pen in air) and "line to" (moving pen on canvas) you can form any line and shape, then color it with stroke and fills of different kinds... And you can create wonders, all in perfect vector graphics that can be resized infinitely.

Hope my edit helps some more to point you in the right direction :) In short SVG is VECTOR graphics described in XML. Once you learn vectors and XML you'll learn SVG automatically :D

Also, good way to learn even more about vectors, paths, strokes, and.moveTo LineTo logicnis by learning about Ghostscript and ... In few more tutorials you'll go from HTML to SVG to Ghostscript to PDF.. And then your views of digital worlds will expand crazily, yet will suddenly become "easy" and quite understandable :) I hope :D good luck!

Wiz Lee • Feb 19 '21

Thanks for your detailed explanation! =) Just by reading your explanation I understand more - especially that SVG is a description of coordinate (vector), stroke size and color. Will certainly try to create SVG by using Inkscape and observe what its SVG in text is.

Will explore Ghostscript too, hear about it but didn't look very close at it before. I am mainly interested in SVG due to its capabilities to create very nice performant animation in the web.