I suggest that you contact the foundry which produced the “out of the box” font you wish to use: they may strenuously object to your cunning plan…

Modifying a font file is prohibited by many type foundries, but not modifying the lettershapes to make a logo.

In other words, read the font's license carefully to make sure that modifying it and using it as a logo doesn't violate the license.

WT: What usually gets lost in these discussions is this: Type is no longer a physical object -- you no longer buy type. What you've bought is a license to use some software. That license has restrictions about how you use the software.

There are ways to modify the characters generated by font software without modifying that software. That's legal, at least, in the U.S.

If someone can do the needed work in a layout program (e.g., InDesign), it is also relatively inexpensive. If not, then it is going to get costly, probably more than if the work was done in a font editing program.

As people have said, check the EULA (font license) for the font. Or, if it is an Adobe Original, we can assure you it is permitted to modify the software (do the work with a font editor).

Your best way out, if the font is from one of the smaller publishers, might be to have the font designer do the work. Some would, some wouldn't. Doesn't hurt to ask.

Yeah but don't type designers just get around all that EULA stuff by simply doing a revival? That's what you guys call it right ...a revival? You know, tweak a letter shape here and there and call it your own ;) And besides, a creative interpretation of an original copyright ain't illegal. Otherwise art students would getting kicked out of every gallery in world ;)

Over the xmas break I saw my one of graphics (poster I did for the U.N.) show on the back of some playing cards!

Katherine, I love your 'come on in' video. And just on a side matter, have you considered using tattoo models with your pin-up pieces?

n.

>it doesn't need to be done at extremely high resolution

Even if you don't anticipate needing it in a large size, a professional would almost certainly prepare the logo as vector art, which means it doesn't have a resolution like a photo, it's art that can be enlarged to any size without loss of quality. (Google "vector graphics" if you want details.)

They will probably give you copies in several formats, but at least one of them should be a vector format.

This is being over-thought.
The request is quite straightforward.

I may be able to help you out. You can see some of my work and contact me here:

http://www.jltypographicdesign.com/JL/Contact.html