Illustrator Help

[uachemeams4hm]

I know this might not be the right spot but I need to transform a logo (jpg) into a vector format with Illustrator. I also need to change the word Texas to Lake Jackson.

Can someone please help me how to do this?

Thanks!

[hue-e]

First question is, do you have a high resolution version of this? I should be 300dpi to start off with.

Provided that's the case...
-I recommend cloning out the Texas in the logo in photoshop first. (you'll replace with whatever later.
-Next, place the logo in an Illustrator document, goto Object/Live Trace/Tracing Options
-Select color, then how many colors the logo is, then make adjustments until it looks right. Click ok
-you should have a workable vector graphic at this point. You'll want to drop out the white background, use the white arrow, select the white area, hit delete
-select the text tool, type out Lake Jackson. Pick a font that's close to what you want, the move it to where it goes.

There's quite a bit more to this if you want it to look exact, and be ultra clean. This is just the easiest way I can offer to convert something from jpg to vector as painlessly as possible... provided you have high resolution graphics.

[hue-e]

oh... and if this is someone elses logo, I might reconsider using it. I recently heard a story where some high school used a copywriten logo for their football team. had it put on jerseys and the field... then got a letter from the company saying they were going to sue for using it.

just be careful... original artwork is ALWAYS the best way to go instead of ripping off someone elses art.

[mmuhlenkamp]

I think Vector Magic works better than Illustrator's autotrace if that doesn't work out for you. If you want to really learn how to use the pen tool you can do it by hand and that would turn out the best probably (this is mostly straight lines so it wouldn't be too hard for newbie to Illustrator to start on).

Also, ditto on the copyrighted logo thing, if you don't have permission to modify this logo for your purposes you should come up with a completely new one.