[Pythonmac-SIG] MacPython logo redux

[Bob Ippolito]

On Nov 4, 2003, at 5:16 PM, Jack Jansen wrote:

> Another strong point in favor of this logo is that it's the first 
> non-Monty-Python one that I would seriously consider:-)
>
> My reasoning is somewhat like this:
> - Having a snake would strengthen the connection between MacPython and 
> the other Pythons.
> - Having a beautiful photo-realistic snake would strengthen the 
> connection between MacPython and the Macintosh.

Same here.

> This image also has two important strong points: it's width and height 
> are about the same (making it easy to incorporate in other icons) and 
> moreover it wraps something (giving us yet another class of icons to 
> create).

That was the intent really.

It's only using part of an apple-like-logo, that was done from scratch 
and doesn't include the bite, so it's at least questionable (to me) as 
to whether or not we're really swimming in trademark waters.  Besides, 
http://apple.slashdot.org/ (and similar sites) use far more obviously 
close-to-infringing-Apple-trademark/copyright icons on its site, and 
AFAIK none of them pay royalties or have been sued.  If we get some 
sort of official request from Apple to put something else there, we 
certainly can.

This logo is for MacPython (or specifically, pythonmac.org if it's 
denied ubiquity), not for the launcher or IDE or python source files, 
etc... so the whole point of it is to say "Python on the Mac".  When 
it's sitting in a user's Dock, the snake will probably be wrapped 
around something appropriate to the action it's performing.. however on 
the internet, not everyone uses a Mac, so it's not immediately obvious.

> One technical issue is copyright: would the artist be willing to hand 
> over copyright to the PSF? In return I'd be more than willing to add a 
> page "the MacPython logo" to the website, with proper attribution of 
> the logo and a link to his website, etc.

Yeah, he should be cool with it, the logo was a favor for me.

> As to people afraid of snakes: unless a majority (or a sizeable 
> minority) of the people here agree that this is a problem I think we 
> shouldn't let this stop us (Sorry Kevin!!!). And: the snake isn't all 
> *that* realistic... Hmm, a compromise I'd be open to is if the artist 
> added Guido's glasses to the snake, would that be doable?

I think the glasses would make it even harder to work at small 
resolution.  Perhaps a different color treatment would make it 
friendlier, or removing the scales?

> As to that-type-of-christians taking offense (with the emphasis on 
> "that-type-of": 99% of the christians wouldn't, I'm pretty sure): no 
> problem, they're not using macs. See 
> <http://objective.jesussave.us/propaganda.html> for details. WARNING: 
> don't follow that URL unless you have a fair amount of spare time 
> available. It's addictive, and there's lots of good stuff on that site 
> and others near it.

That is such an amusing site, I've stumbled upon it before :)

-bob