3D logo animation is a short video played in loop mode to tell the audience about the company or brand behind a product, service, or business. An effective logo must be an eye-catching head-turner that appropriately represents who the owner is, what the products are, and how the company does business. Making a 3D logo that commands attention is not always easy.
Professional 3D logo designers often use an exciting mix of colors, audio, texts, and graphics to make it as attractive as possible. But being beautiful alone might not be enough, so they also put 3D visual effects to enhance the charming factor. The combination of 3D effects and animation is a sign of sophistication and an indication of professionalism and thoughtfulness. Every unique logo can give a company easy recognition, and the impact is even more significant with animated 3D graphics.
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3D logo animation services cost
Even a seemingly simple 3D logo can be effective. Price starts from $0 with a DIY approach to upwards of $1,000 when hiring a graphic designer.
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Free tools
Many people start designing their first logo using free online tools, which typically come with a reasonable variety of icons, shapes, and typefaces for anyone to try. An online 3D logo designer also has numerous graphics editing features, but the options are limited to basic customizations only. Some tools allow users to insert their designs into pre-made backgrounds and build simple animation styles with a quick commands interface. Everything is provided at no cost at all.
However, there are a few significant drawbacks. The video animation is usually either low resolution or watermarked. Getting a higher resolution and removing the watermark is possible, but those services are not typically free. Another consideration is the number of users accessing the tools daily. Many of the same icons, logos, and animation styles have been used by others. Although, free tools are helpful if you want to experiment with different layouts, fonts, color combinations, and shapes to be used as reference points for future designs. However, helps if you do not rely on free tools to create a professional company logo and rather hire professional 3D logo design services.
If you can access professional-grade graphics software, such as Adobe After Effects or Cinema 4D, you could try using (modifying or combining) premium templates and build an animated logo. Online marketplaces have no shortage of logo templates for novice and advanced users. A professionally-made template for Adobe After Effects costs between $10 and $30. Every template is ready to use with minimum tinkering. You can replace the icon, typeface, and colors, then call it a job done. Remember that although you use a premium template, it does mean you are the only buyer of that design.
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Heavy modification is often necessary to remove any obvious resemblance to the template’s original logo animation. Dig deep into the software functionality to transform the template into something unique that represents your brand. It is not an unlearnable technique, but unless you know your way around the software, the endeavor can quickly turn into a waste of time and money sprinkled with frustration.
Custom designs
Freebies and templates are never ideal for a one-of-a-kind 3D logo animation. You must start the process with paper and a pencil to draw the concept before sending it to a professional 3D logo designer for further processing. A custom logo always starts from scratch. Every bit of the icon, typography, animation style, and any additional element is designed to your specifications only. There are hundreds of experienced freelancers and graphic design studios all around the web offering their services for reasonable fees.
Regarding the scope of work, creating a 3D animated logo involves much more complex steps than a 2D logo. Prices start at around $300 for a few seconds of 3D logo animation and can be $1,000 with market research included. You may find more affordable freelancer services at about $100 – $150. If a company says it charges from $300, it only refers to the base price for basic services, which will not include a study of your company history and competitor analysis. You must send at least a rough logo sketch and the project requirement so the company can start immediately.
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| Cost of 3D logo animation | |
|---|---|
| Scope of Work | Price Range |
| Basic Animation | $300 – $500 |
| Animation with Market Research | $1,000 (approx.) |
| Customized Animation | $500 – $1,000 |
| Complex Animation | $1,000 and above |
| Freelancer Services | $100 – $150 |
Please note that the prices mentioned in the table are approximate and can vary depending on various factors, such as the 3D logo animation’s complexity, the 3D modeling expert’s experience and expertise, and the project’s specific requirements. Discussing the details with the freelancer or graphic design studio is always recommended to get an accurate quote for your project.
Custom logo services
Although many professional 3D logo designers tend to use similar software packages, they may offer a specific range of services depending on price. In a turnkey logo-making service, the scope of work includes the following:
1. Brainstorm
A preliminary discussion about the design concept between the client and the 3D logo designer. The client provides general information about the company, its products, and the target market. Based on the information, the 3D logo designer asks questions about the industry, company history, and competitors.
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2. Market research
One thing that separates professionals from amateurs is market analysis. Professional 3D logo designers take time to study your brand’s demographics and how it stands among similarly-priced alternatives. The study also focuses on competitors’ logos, specifically their recognizability and how they affect sales. There are some technical issues to consider, such as logo placement on websites and social media, animation duration, and sound effects. Size or resolution also matters because you want to use the animation on various platforms like TV ads, digital billboards, mobile apps, online stores, and emails, to name a few.
3. Sketch
Research findings are the foundation for sketching a few basic concepts. All the known information about the brand and business elements is connected as a 3D company logo with a dense yet concise message. The text selections, colors, and animation style must harmonize to convey the message coherently. Some 3D logo professionals are willing to offer several initial concepts. A discount 3D animation service may skip the previous steps and go directly with the sketching process. It means the clients must provide at least some rough ideas of how the logos should be based on their research.
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4. Create
The client picks one logo (from the available sketches) to develop further. At the end of the step, a concept is transformed into a 3D animated logo.
5. Revision
It is not uncommon that a client is not overly happy with the first final delivery. There can be one or two revisions to refine minor details before the project ends. Setting up deliverables/milestones in the fourth step helps pinpoint mistakes as they appear, which minimizes having too many revisions following logo completion. The client must reserve all the IP rights of the logo, 3D logo animation, and 3D models. A legally-binding agreement signed in the contract about IP rights ensures that the company will not use the logo and models on other projects for other clients or use them in any way that may put the client at a disadvantage against competitors.
Creating an effective logo
A 3D animated logo should be more than just a picture at your company door and website. It must foster a powerful first impression to keep people returning to the goods and services associated with the logo. Every effective 3D logo is built and comes with the following components:
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Brand identity
Avoid thinking that you should be able to cram the entire company history and business philosophy into a few seconds of a 3D logo animation. It is impossible to give a complete story account through a small icon and a short text. One of the primary purposes of a 3D animated logo is to offer a glimpse of the bigger picture, encouraging people to search for more information and taste what the company has to offer. At the same time, it cannot be restrictive to the point where people fail to understand anything. A 3D animated logo, despite the short duration, can still effectively represent the company’s identity and personality.
Memorable message
A concise message is an essential element of an effective 3D logo animation. Remember that even a short message can be compelling if it is catchy and easy to remember. Also, a message doesn’t always have to be explicit. You can use visuals, like colors, shapes, and text, to say something about the company. When people remember your 3D logo, they instantly recognize it the next time they see another. Using a unique 3D logo helps achieve the goal, but thread carefully not to cross the thin line between uniqueness and weirdness.
Uniformity across platforms
Since 3D logo animation is essentially a video, it is best used on digital platforms. You cannot animate a logo on print media, such as business cards, brochures, and flyers. Despite the differences, a 3D logo should appear identical across all platforms. Every 3D logo comes with an icon or a symbol, which can be used effectively in digital and print media or products to represent a brand.
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Sometimes, it is impossible not to follow the trend. As appealing as a “trendy” 3D logo is, it will not likely stand the test of time. You can remake the 3D logo animation as often as you want. Still, frequent changes may lead to confusion among consumers, and brand consistency is essential when making a lasting customer impression.
How Cad Crowd can help
If you have decided to hire a professional 3D graphic designer to create a 3D logo design for your company, Cad Crowd can help! Cad Crowd’s network of 3D logo designers are experienced and skilled in photorealistic rendering and will use their expertise to ensure that your company’s logo will stand out. Contact us for a free quote!
