Input Wanted - Custom ChipCos

MacGrad · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-2005, 04:29 PM

After spending a bunch of time working on a "failed" (meaning: non-clay) design for the "Canadian Clay" group buy, I decided I wanted to put my newfound knowledge of Illustrator to good use and make myself a Canadian ceramic chip for myself, since I'm not interested in another set of clays.

(NOTE: This is NOT for a Group Buy! This is for a personal set of Chipcos, which may replace the American Beauties I purchased.)

I've created the chip front (haven't decided if it'll be 2-sided), but it feels like there's something missing and I can't seem to think of what it is. Any suggestions (and the Chipco color/CMYK codes) would be greatly appreciated.

Al

Jambine · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2005, 04:53 PM

Maybe a text banner around the top (if you have anything to add). Anyway, that’s a great start, very classy.

gpc · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2005, 05:58 PM

Try using a different font and maybe centering the picture with Confederation on the top and cardroom and casino below.

If you keep the picture where it is try som different sybols on either side.

If you want denoms then move everthing up and add a denom below. I assume you do not want denoms though.

Fins · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2005, 06:17 PM

I'd be tempted to make either the inlay a very light shade of the wrap or leave white & make the text a lighter shade of the wrap.

Have you printed to scale? What point size is the inlay text (i.e. providences & territories)? Looks a tad small. Also, think the leaf's could be larger.

Is the center image a vector or high res? Who's the figure?

Looks classy, nice design.

MacGrad · #5 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 11:33 AM

Thanks to the people who gave suggestions... I've tried to implement them in these mockups. Any more ideas?

When printing to scale, the "provinces" are faint enough not to overpower the main type, but they're large enough to read if you look closely at them.

(That's John A. MacDonald in the picture - our first Prime Minister. Grumpy old codger, isn't he?)

If I went with Chipcos, I'm thinking about putting the "CI" in the bottom maple leaf. Anyone see a better place for it? And if I do a two-sided chip, does it have to be on both sides?

Also, this set would be used for stud games... is four colors enough, or should I add one more?

JP · #6 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 12:28 PM

Just a suggestion, but what if you placed the four suits where the leafs are and then placed two leafs where you have the suits.

Fins · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacGrad

If I went with Chipcos, I'm thinking about putting the "CI" in the bottom maple leaf. Anyone see a better place for it? And if I do a two-sided chip, does it have to be on both sides?

Looking good... getting close I'd think.

Yes, I believe the "CI" must be on the face & obverse sides.

I don't think the Italicized font wraps very well.

Other options for the "CI" are under the pic, on the pic & in the wrap in a very dark shade of the wrap. If you could think of a casino name with CI might look like that's why it's there... Confederation Independence or something in French?

I like the mathcing shades in this mock much better.

One other thought is maybe you could use diff color for the leafs on the BLU & GRN.. maybe fall colors... yellow & orange... that way you could tie those colors into your spot design.

I'm not sure about the suits but I do like the leafs staying in the wrap. Seems like one image on each side would be better... Canadian flag?... or maybe you could merge the red suits into 1 image & the blacks into one image... for the reds you could use a gradient or something and color like the flag RED-WHT-RED... just a thought.

wijwij · #8 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 02:07 PM

No, no, no to the use of an italic swash font in all uppercase for CONFEDERATION.

Much better would be widely spaced uppercase but not italic.

Swash characters are designed for special letters at the beginnings of lines of poetry -- they are never supposed to be used next to each other.

=Will, typographic maven

MacGrad · #9 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fins

Looking good... getting close I'd think.

Yes, I believe the "CI" must be on the face & obverse sides.

I don't think the Italicized font wraps very well.

Other options for the "CI" are under the pic, on the pic & in the wrap in a very dark shade of the wrap. If you could think of a casino name with CI might look like that's why it's there... Confederation Independence or something in French?

I like the mathcing shades in this mock much better.

Font: I was looking for something "script"-ish, and this is what I found. Didn't have any luck finding decent free fonts (and had problems trying to install them so Illustrator could use them), so I went with the default. I'll try a couple other "normal" fonts and post them.

I think the way the design has gone, there's not many places I can put the "CI" without it looking completely out of place...

MacGrad · #10 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wijwij

No, no, no to the use of an italic swash font in all uppercase for CONFEDERATION.

Much better would be widely spaced uppercase but not italic.

Swash characters are designed for special letters at the beginnings of lines of poetry -- they are never supposed to be used next to each other.

=Will, typographic maven

(looks downward, scuffling feet)

Sorry, Mr. Will... it was a mistake. I won't ever do that again. As soon as I fix it, can I go out and play with the other poker players?