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Dan Ashlin
07-06-2010, 11:06 AM
I'm looking for a good source of Hi Res images for state and federal seals. we have a local army base that wants some plaques engraved on it and our local courthouse wants a plaque with the PA state seal, but I can't find any good images. There has to be a place that has these right?

Scott Shepherd
07-06-2010, 11:33 AM
I haven't found them. I've found bits and pieces around, but for the most part, all the state seal work I have done, has been very poor graphics supplied to me. I even quoted some work done by the state graphics department and they had clearly used a trace program to trace a bitmap image. It had leaves all around it and the leaves were all choppy, as if traced, and poorly traced, and that was the graphics department supplied file.

If it's out there, I haven't found it.

James Terry
07-06-2010, 11:52 AM
Here are some that you can draw from. Government (http://www.webglider.com/laser/art/Government.rar) State (http://www.webglider.com/laser/art/State.rar)

And I could use an expansive dog and/or animal library.

Larry Bratton
07-06-2010, 11:55 AM
I have some high res logos- Dept of the Army, Navy, Marines and the like. Would any of those help you. I bought them on a CD- Organization logos I think it was called. I don't think it has any states though. I'll look.
Here is a vector for Pennsylvania
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seal_of_Pennsylvania.svg

Dan Hintz
07-06-2010, 12:00 PM
Wiki has been a surprisingly good source for me of vector artwork seals...

Larry Bratton
07-06-2010, 12:07 PM
Dan, sometimes the most obvious is the best. I am amazed with Wiki also, lots of good stuff to be had there.
With that new CNC, you'll soon be putting them on wood and all kinds of stuff. Congratulations again on the win..lucky dog!

Dan Ashlin
07-06-2010, 12:28 PM
I haven't found them. I've found bits and pieces around, but for the most part, all the state seal work I have done, has been very poor graphics supplied to me. I even quoted some work done by the state graphics department and they had clearly used a trace program to trace a bitmap image. It had leaves all around it and the leaves were all choppy, as if traced, and poorly traced, and that was the graphics department supplied file.

If it's out there, I haven't found it.

Yeah, same here. Parts of it are even drawn in what looks like microsoft paint. Im usually all for the customer is always right, but i'm not putting my name on something thats going to hang in the county courthouse for the next 100 years with that on it. Thanks for the sources guys, those will do the trick i'm sure. i'll post pics of the DA plaque when its done, should be pretty cool if it all goes as planned.

Martin Boekers
07-06-2010, 1:19 PM
Here is a list of a few places I go looking for shields;

http://www.defense.gov/multimedia/web_graphics/

http://www.af.mil/art/

http://www.freeclipartnow.com/military/shields-and-badges/

http://www.defense.gov/specials/insignias/

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cliparmy.htm

http://www.usafns.com/art.shtml

A few other areas to check are;

The Army Institute of Heraldry.

Most bases have a historian on site they should have
shields, photos, history etc.

You may have to check with copyrights and usage. I don't believe there
would be a problem as long as you sell on base to the military.
Now if you wanted to sell items with shields on it at a shop or flea market
you may have to aquire permission to do so.


Marty

Mike Null
07-06-2010, 2:46 PM
Martin

Having spoken with each of the services I can say that in most cases it is not necessary to obtain permission to use symbols, shields etc. But the exception is the use of the dept. seals for all branches of service and for the DOD. There is no authorization to use any of those. Even a branch of the service should provide written authorization for their use.

Civilians or individuals have no right to the use of the seals.

Dan Ashlin
07-06-2010, 3:25 PM
You would think there wouldn't be an issue using the logos and seals for state and federal governments or the armed forces. Technically, I pay for them, so they're mine.

Mike Null
07-06-2010, 4:45 PM
My reference was to military and DOD and there is rare call for those seals. All branches have logos which they use on their web sites and advertising and there is no restriction on those as long as you are not disrespectful.

The govt. will argue that they are not yours, technically nor legally.

Martin Boekers
07-06-2010, 4:56 PM
Mike, I just wanted to make sure people didn't think that Government shields are in the public domain as they are not.

I'm in a bit different territory as most of what I do is official business.

I always recommend that if you use a logo, shield or emblem you should try to get permission (safer).

If I have a client that wants to use a shield in away I don't feel comfortable with, then I have a superior approve it first.

There are civilian companies that make patches, coins, pins etc that request permission to use these graphics, but even then there are strict guidelines as for material, colors, sizing etc that they have to follow.

If the use for these graphics is for military purchase, typically there shouldn't be an issue. Now if someone is making thousands of shirts to sell on Ebay, then they might run into a problem.

I will add this disclaimer though, these are my opinions and interprerations and those wanting to use these graphics should research and get permissions as warranted.

Marty

James Stokes
07-07-2010, 1:17 PM
If you want any state seal, here is where you can buy it.



http://mydrawingboard.com/library/symbol/states/

Dan Hintz
07-07-2010, 1:44 PM
Or instead of buying it, get it for free from wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seals_of_the_U.S._states

For example, click on the seal for Alabama... it gives you a vector-based SVG file.

Carl Sewell
07-07-2010, 2:19 PM
Did you try to open or import that file (Alabama) into CorelDraw? My X3 trashed it.

Dan Hintz
07-07-2010, 2:29 PM
Inkscape is my favorite freebie for SVG files...

Mike Null
07-07-2010, 2:52 PM
Carl

Mine did the same.