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When reviewing logo concepts submitted from designers, I want to ask them to include a single-color gray version, like something that would be stamped in a background. Is there a name for this in the graphic design world?

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6 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

There's a simple word for this:

monotone

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up vote 4 down vote

Monochrome is the use of one shade or color. Images using only shades of grey are called greyscale, but the use of "black and white" will do the job just as well.

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up vote 3 down vote

Ideally you're hiring designers that are skilled at presenting their work to you. A skilled designer will take into consideration the project requirements and present designs that accommodate said requirements. MOST (thought not all) logo designs typically will require the use of one-color versions and, at least at the early stages, most logo designs are presented in one color versions.

As for terminology, it's 'one color' or, perhaps 'black and white'.

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DA01- "most logo designs are presented in one color versions"- that's what I thought too, but I'm using 99 designs and almost no ones doing it- I just wanted to know how to give them instructions to do so. – Yarin Mar 12 '12 at 18:14
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"but I'm using 99 designs" = that's your problem. Those folks aren't professional designers. You rarely get what you pay for on that site (which is little to begin with). – DA01 Mar 12 '12 at 19:09
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DA01- Couldn't agree more- first and last time on 99 Designs- mea culpa – Yarin Mar 14 '12 at 15:34
up vote 2 down vote

A single color is known as spot color.

That's all you need to say. Don't say grey: that is both the name of a color AND and a term for the range of "colors" (256 of them in 8-bit CG).

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up vote 1 down vote

The stamp in the background is known as a watermark.

A one color image would be monochrome.

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Just as a semantic question, can a gray-scale image be considered monochrome? – Johannes Mar 12 '12 at 17:26
Ryan- thanks, but as Johannes points out, monochrome means 1 color but can have different shadings. Like gray scale. I'm looking for the black & white equivilant. – Yarin Mar 12 '12 at 17:27
In your question you asked for one color which to me means you don't want to pay a printer to use more then one color which is what monochrome gets you. A gray-scale image is considered monochrome because it would only use black ink. I'm not familiar with any set term otherwise especially if you wanted gray. Your best bet is to say a "one-color logo" or "solid gray logo" although that is weird and easier to just say "solid black logo" – Ryan Mar 12 '12 at 17:43
Ryan- this has nothing to do with printing- most modern logos have a flat one-color representation and just wanted to know if there's a name for it – Yarin Mar 12 '12 at 18:15
Yes, I understand that now but your question didn't specify that to begin with. I was merely explaining why I answered as I did. – Ryan Mar 12 '12 at 19:01
up vote 1 down vote

I think I got this.

a single-color gray version

According to me it would be like using a main color such as blue and the light shade of the same blue will be the gray version of the same, we use the same technique in all other color's also.

If you are familiar with tint and shades than you can use this term to make designer understand. such as you can say use the light shade of red with this killing(blood) red show me some more tints and shades of the same color which goes well with this.

And that would be more easy for you and for the designer if you show them any example logo which clearly says your word look how beautifully logo is stamped in this background i need such looks and feels in my logo too.

A good read from my point of view, if you have spare time : Color harmony Logo

Hope this will help a bit..

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