I’ve been tweaking the look and feel at Roamsters again and this time I really wanted to change the header graphic out.
This is the old header graphic — something I just cobbled together one day. A little boring, don’t you think?
Yesterday, I went over to 99Designs and almost submitted a budget logo project for $195, which gets you about 40 design submissions.
Then I remembered how most folks absolutely hated the new logo that I had done for NetProfitsToday — at great expense, I might add.
As my design skills extend only to adding a linear gradient (making the color go from light to dark) and I can usually mess that up too — I can’t ‘just cobble together’ a really nice one with fancy design elements.
But this morning, after looking at a few cheesy freebie offerings, I finally got the bright idea to search for “headers” and “logos” at BigStockPhoto and was blown away by all the gorgeous headers that came up.
Well, here’s the one I chose, which I think is much more fun and vibrant than the old one.
It cost one whole dollar — saving me $194, a week of waiting for those submissions to come in and the possibility that I wouldn’t like any of the designs.
Because the design elements stretched right across the header, I did have to do a little tweaking to add some ‘blank space’ on the left side to put in the Roamsters logo and tag line. If you’re concerned about having to do any tweaking, there are plenty of headers that already incorporate ‘white’ or blank space for logos.
So, what do you think?
Like it? Hate it? Should I change the Roamsters name to orange?
I hope you like it. Then again, I’m not overly concerned if the consensus runs generally negative — because a new header graphic will only cost a buck! 
About Rosalind Gardner
Try it with a gradient orange, dark left to light right. Good grab and thrift!
(oh, and I have a bit of time tonight if you want a bit of free photoshopping done.)
That would be SO cool. Should I send you the blank background?
Casey,
That sounds like it would look excellent, but I have no idea how to do a linear gradient when adding text. Although I have Photoshop, I still use PaintShopPro. Don’t kill me.
Cheers,
Ros
Sure thing! And perhaps a clue about the font you used to put in the text? I’m also following you at Twitter (@perfectlyshaped) if you want to DM there – although I can’t seem to DM you at the moment. If you have an IM (AIM, MSN, Gtalk, ICQ), we can talk back and forth as you look at iterations, which will make the process a lot faster.
Hi Casey,
… and then I went for dinner. Will email you the background along with the font that I used. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Cheers,
Ros
lol ok – I’ve got the brushes cleaned and the fresh canvas all stretched. Will attack on arrival
You remind me that I need some canvas. Have paints and a really nice easel and haven’t painted a stroke, yet. One day.
Ah, well, all mine is virtual! I wouldn’t know what to do with real life canvas and tubes of oil, except maybe to fingerpaint a bit…
Thanks for a great tip. I’ve been paying serious money for headers. I do think you should go with the orange or some bright color, maybe even yellow just to brighten it up, kind of overwhelming blue now.
Hi there Ros,
Just visited Roamsters to see how the Logo fits with the rest of the webpage.
10 minutes later and with my “French Designer head” on I have to say…Oh Mon Dieu!
It certainly looks much fresher than the old logo but Rosalind Gardner = Fab and this logo almost has it but not quite.
It needs some bling so that it delivers harmony with the rest of the web page and in the same time makes the subscribe feature to stand out!
Let’s say that I have beautiful hazel eyes (Which I do and I hope everyone agrees with me – if not Google will drop your ranking) and I want them to stand out. So…what I would simply do is to wear the same colour top and boom…these two dots are now mesmerising
Back To Roamsters Logo…
- The blue colour is achieved in great harmony with the rest of your web-page and ties beautiful with most of your pictures.
- You could deliver some harmony by adding some colour either to the byline or the Roamsters name itself that is the same colour as your subscribe phrase. (I love orange and it would tie in nicely with the go button on the top right too – whatever colour try to make it the same as your subscribe phrase)
- Needs symmetry – The globe in the end sits on the banner. WRONG, that could make a French Designer unhappy…thank God I am not
Love it! Simple but can easily attract everyone’s eye. And the cost is cheap , for only one dollar..great!
that’s good rosalind… but how come the cost for design till $195?
Hey that’s really looking awesome. I like your selection Rosalind. I am also looking to get new header and logo for my blog. Thanks for posting this information .I never heard such small price for getting a new logo. I think I’ll visit Bigstockphoto to get new logo for only one dollar.
Hi Robert,
Glad to hear you like the new header. It’s actually getting some improvements made on it right now by one of our NPT readers MK (Casey) van Bronkwurst. Stay tuned to see what she does with it.
Cheers,
Ros
(not to be too picky, but it’s van Bronkhorst – and just shot a couple more iterations up to the server)
And I thought that I was an ‘expert’ with Dutch names, coming from a line of van Bracht’s myself.
Sorry ’bout that!
Hi Rosalind, I like the other header better.
Yes!! I think a splash of orange color for the name would make it pop!
love the header but I agree with some of the other comments, a splash of orange would be nice.
Thank you for the link to find new headers, I would never have thought of looking for those in the stock photo sites.
Ros -
I liked the old one better. It matched the site. This new one leaves me cold.
I’m stuck on Paint Shop Pro, version 6, bought it at a yard sale long ago lol.
I have a Photoshop genius in the Philipines who works cheap. He is my Photoshop secret. In a lifetime I don’t think I’ll spend as much with him as I would buying Photoshop.
How are ya?
Lowell
How about running a contest and have some budding graphic designer design you a header, am sure they would love the exposure on your blog and maybe pick up some extra clients too?
I know I will be needing some help with graphics in the near future.
Sue