So you want to use a logo that you found on the web, but it’s poor resolution, and you want to put it on a blimp. What you need is a vector version of the logo! So let’s do it.
For this tutorial, you’re going to need Photoshop full-version. While you can create vector objects with Elements, this tutorial will not cover that process.
For this tutorial, I’m going to use the Twitter bird logo.
(Just for the sake of this tutorial, I’m making the background pink, so that my Anchor Points will show up.)
Open your logo file in Photoshop.
Now you’re going to sort of trace the outline of the image using Photoshop’s Pen Tool.
I say “sort of,” because you’re not going to be doing a kindergarten trace, but a more adult tracing. Let’s have a look.
From your Toolbox, choose the Pen Tool.
Next, have a look at the Options Bar at the top. Choose Path and Combine Shapes.
BTW: As with anything in Photoshop, there are at least three ways to make this path. I’ve chosen the Pen Tool for this tutorial, because I think it gets the best results with the least annoyance. Your mileage may vary. You may prefer to give it a go with the Curvature Pen or convert your points after you drop them, using the Convert Point tool. This is the method I’ve used in my Love Your Pen Archive Tutorial.
Now click at a handy start-end point. I’m beginning at the end of his top feather.
Click there and then lift your Pen. Your next step depends upon if you’re proceeding into a curved area or a straight section. If it’s a straight section, click at the end of it.
If your next section is curved, as mine is, you’ll click in the middle of the curve and drag just a wee bit, in the direction you’re headed.
And, when I’m done, I have this. The green circles are areas that are not quite good. You can zoom in at this point to get more precise with this.
Now to touch it up. You can do this with a nice keyboard shortcut. While you have the Pen Tool in your hand, hold the Ctrl key and it will change into the Direct Selection Arrow.
Use the Direct Selection Arrow to touch up your Path. First, move any Anchor Points that are not where they belong, by dragging them where you want them.
Next, fix your curves, using the Anchor Point Handles.
If you have extra Anchor Points, you can delete them, by clicking with the Direct Selection Arrow and then hit your Delete key.
If you have an Anchor Point that is
a curve Anchor and it needs to be a corner Anchor, you can change that with the Convert Point Tool. Access it by holding the Alt key, when you’re close to the offending point.
Here is my logo Path looking pretty fine. Now we’ll test the Path.
In your Layers Palette, click the Create New Layer icon.
Fill the new layer with an appropriate background color to test your logo. I’m using white. Now make another new layer. This is where you’ll put your logo.
At this point, you should have 3 layers: the original logo, a layer of background color, and an empty layer which will be where your new Logo will be.
Click the Logo Test layer to select it.
From your Color Picker 
, choose a color for your logo.
Next, click the tab to take you to your Paths Palette. It should be nested behind your Layers Palette.
Click your Work Path.
To do what you’re about to do, you need three things:
- Layer active
- Color picked
- Path chosen
Now hit the Fill Path Button at the bottom of your Paths Palette.
Click the Work Path to make the blue Path line disappear.
Et voila`!
Now you can go back to your Path and edit it as necessary to make your logo perfect.
Now that your logo is in vector path format, you have scalability! Make it larger or make it smaller, and you’ll still have the beautiful crispness!
For a slightly different take on this process, plus how to make this into a Custom Shape, have a look at this tutorial.