The Menu items and what they do:

When you launch The Logo Creator, you'll find helpful (and important) elements by pulling down the menu items.

The FILE Menu

New Logo
This opens a blank Canvas. You can choose this option if you want to start from scratch. (However, it's not really necessary. The Logo Creator was created to start you off with "jump off" points to your creativity. It's not really intended to be used with a 'blank canvas' as programs such as Photoshop or PaintShop pro are. Although, this option is here if you need it. )

Open Logo
Opens a previously saved ".tlc" file (created from the Save menu item). This option does not open "jpegs" or "gif" files. It only opens ".tlc" documents.

Display logo thumbnails
Heads you back to the logo library thumbnails. You can also use the "templates tab" to do the same thing:

Save
Saves your modified Logo as a ".tlc" file. No other program will read ".TLC" files. To get a logo into your webpage, you'll need to EXPORT it as a Jpeg or Gif (see "Export" menu below).

Save As...
Create different iterations of your logo. Save various layouts. Create and save dozens of slightly different features from the same logo! Great if you're showing different variations to a client.

Save Template
New in version 5.0! You can now create your logo and save it as a Template. Once you do, you'll see your new logo under the "Logo Libraries" pull down menu (to the left of the canvas). This is great if you're saving dozens and dozens of logos.

With the Save Template feature, you can create different logo 'sets' for yourself or others. Create your logos in saved Themes. Once this "theme" area is complete (you've created 42 "Surfing Logos", you can simply rename the "My Templates" folder. Rename it to "Surfing Logos" for example. You'll need to do this manually however. The My Templates folder is located inside the "Logo Libraries" folder that resides inside "The Logo Creator v5" folder on your hard drive.

Import
Imports any image from your hard drive. The Logo Creator accepts Jpegs, Gif, Bmp, TIFF and PNG formats. The PNG format is the best for The Logo Creator.

Online Corporate Identity Creator
(visit the official site here for more tips and information)

This menu option takes you to a new software program from Laughingbird Software: The Corporate Identity Creator. You can use your new logo and create Business Cards, Letterhead and Envelopes! Print them with your own printer, or use Laughingbird's printshop (partnered with VistaPrint!).

Tip: For best results, create your logo with The Logo Creator. Under the Export menu; choose "PNG With Transparency". This will export your new logo with no background (clear). Then, use The Corporate Identity Creator to create your corporate identity (Business Card, Letterhead and Envelope) ... and import your new PNG logo!

Print

Print Full (low rez)
Prints a full page logo (preview purposes. Prints low resolution)

Print Letterhead
Creates your logo at the top and center of an 81/2 by 11 sheet of paper.
Better to use The Corporate Identity Creator for this.

eMail your logo
You can eMail your new logo creation to a client or friend. Overlay the logo with a watermark (with the click of a button) before sending! Great for getting approval from the client before finishing the work.

The MODIFY Menu
(This menu will change occasionally, depending on what has been selected on the canvas).

Undo
Undoes your previous change. Up to 60 levels of Undo!
Click "CTRL+Z" (Windows) or "COMMAND+Z" (Mac)

Redo
Redo an undo!

Bring to Front
Brings any logo element (Text or Object) to the front of all other elements.

Bring Closer
Brings the selected logo element to the front step by step

Send Farther
Brings the selected logo element to the back step by step.

Send to Back
Sends a selected logo element to the very back of the canvas.

Group
This is a key feature for "Grouping text". You can group items together if you want to move them together. See the tutorial on Grouping for a step by step explanation.

UnGroup
Releases the grouped objects.
Select your grouped object. Choose Ungroup. Click anywhere on the logo canvas. Now you can successfully move the individual elements separately.

Lock Element
Use this feature if you don't want an element to move (A background photo for example) while you're moving and sliding other images around the logo canvas.

Unlock Element
Unlocks the locked element.

Lock All
Nothing moves!

Unlock All
Everything moves!

Hide Element
Choose this item if you want to quickly hide an element that's in your way (rather than deleting the item).

Show Element
Brings back the element.

Hide All
Nothing shows!

Show All
Everything shows!

Replace image with your own
Select an image from one of the logo designs. An Orb for example. Choose "Replace image with your own" calls up a dialog box. You can choose your own object from your hard drive. You can also use the Import menu item to bring in your own image.

Remove white backing
This is great if you find an image on the net that has a white box around it. Choose this item to remove the surrounding box. However, keep in mind that this may not work cleanly if the original image contains non-white elements (like a drop shadow).

Center Object On Canvas
Shift click any, or all logo elements. Choose this item to center everything, or to center certain elements.

Duplicate Logo Element
COMMAND+D (Mac), or "CTRL+D" (Windows) does the same thing. This duplicates the selected item.

Delete Logo Element
Deletes selected item. The delete key does the same thing.

Set Canvas Dimensions
Choose this to set the canvas size.

Set Background color
Choose this to change the background color.

The EXPORT Menu

Set Export Resolution
If you want to change the resolution from the default 72dpi (great for web based images) to a higher resolution (200 to 300 dpi for printing).

Export Resolution - 72dpi (or your set rez)
Shows you the current resolution.

Use Default 1
Saves the logo to a preset default size of 100x75

Use Default 2
Saves the logo to a preset default size of 300x275

* the default items were left in from previous versions. The new "More Export Options" (below) does more. We left the Default items in in-case others had them set to pre-set sizes).

More Export Options (click here for these options)

PNG - transparent
Exports your logo as a PNG with Transparency. This is great for use with Photoshop or other image manipulation program. It exports the logo with a clear background. An Alpha channel for those who know what an Alpha channel is.

Use this item for the new Corporate Identity Creator!

PNG
Normal PNG file with background. Most browsers can read PNG image formats (think of the PNG format as an updated JPEG). However, some browsers can't read it! Use this PNG format for graphics programs ... not the web.

TIFF
A format used with graphics programs such as Photoshop and Paintshop pro.

BMP
A format used with graphics programs such as Photoshop and Paintshop pro.
Microsoft likes this format. Use BMP images for Word, Excel or Powerpoint presentations.

PDF
Exports the logo in the PDF format. Great for sending via eMail.

Jpeg-Full Size
Default Jpeg size (560 x420)

Jpeg-Quarter Size
A jpeg slightly smaller (280 x210)

Jpeg-Thumbnail Size
A small thumbnail (perhaps used as an eMail signature)
100 x 75

GIF - Full Size • Quarter • Thumb:
Same as Jpeg above.

GIF- Transparent
This setting allows you to select a color you'd like to be transparent. The background for example. This format is great if you have a multi-colored background on your website.

The Web Help Menu

Short Tutorial
Select this to view a short tutorial movie on creating logos and other images

Get the Manual
Sends you to this manual page.

New Version Information
When you update the software, you'll find information about the update in this section.

Hide Desktop
Choose this to hide your desktop. Sometimes, desktop clutter hinders the creative process.

Show Desktop
Brings the desktop back.

The Logo Creator Website
Takes you to: http://www.thelogocreator.com

Internet Tutorials
Takes you to: http://www.thelogocreator.com/tutorials.htm

Visit the Help Forum
Takes you to: http://www.logodesignforum.com/forums/
(Laughingbird Software's member forum. Over 6,500 users and growing!)

Online Corporate Identity Creator
Takes you to: http://www.cicreator.com for creation of Business Cards, Letterhead and Envelopes!

Get Clipart, Fonts and Photos
Takes to the photos and images resources page: http://www.thelogocreator.com/resources.htm

Trademark and Copyright help. Takes you to the main site. Links change. Please see site for details.

Check Internet for Updates
This will check the internet for updates. You should automatically receive updates when installing the software (the installer will check the net for updated files).

Register the Software
Registering (http://www.thelogocreator.com/registration.php) gives you the option of receiving updates, add-ons and new product information from Laughingbird software.

About The Logo Creator
Shows the release date (in this case version 5.0) credits.