# Forge Explore logo kit

Production variations of the supplied Forge Explore identity. The arch, star, custom FORGE lettering, and distinctive O detail are preserved. These are deterministic vector layouts, not AI-redrawn interpretations. Original logo: `../assets/forge-explore.png`.

## Choose a layout

| Layout | Use |
| --- | --- |
| `stacked` | Primary identity: game splash screens, title cards, posters and press kits. |
| `horizontal` | Symbol beside the two-line wordmark: website headers, email signatures, press headers. Best general-purpose wide logo. |
| `single-line` | Symbol and full name on one line: wide navigation, sponsor strips, trailer credits and banners. |
| `wordmark-stacked` | Original two-line name without the symbol: editorial credits and compact footers. |
| `wordmark-inline` | Full name on one line, without the symbol: footers, credits and narrow-height placements. |
| `symbol` | Arch and star, no lettering: avatars, launchers, app icons, watermarks. |
| `star` | A secondary accent for animation or decoration; do not use it alone where studio identification matters. |

The two inline layouts preserve the original glyph shapes, tighten EXPLORE's tracking, and align both words at the same cap height. The original stacked proportions remain available unchanged.

## File formats and colors

- `svg/`: 21 genuine vector files. Outlined lettering; no fonts, external dependencies, embedded bitmap, or background rectangle. Scale these for print and responsive web use.
- `png/`: 54 RGBA exports with true alpha transparency. Checkerboards are never baked in. Regular lockups: 1024 and 2048 pixels wide; inline lockups also have a 4096-pixel width. Symbols and stars: 256, 512 and 1024 pixels wide.
- `masters/`: traced symbol, star, FORGE and EXPLORE components with `currentColor` fill. Inline these SVGs to inherit CSS color; external `<img>` uses do not inherit text color.
- Black: `#000000`. Use on white, cream or very light imagery.
- White: `#FFFFFF`. Use on dark or strongly colored backgrounds.
- Ivory: `#FFF4DF`. Preferred warm studio treatment on dark backgrounds.
- Black/white PNGs have flat monochrome pixels; the supplied image's paper texture is not carried into these production assets.

These vector outlines were traced from the existing raster logo, with contour simplification under one source pixel. They preserve its distinctive geometry but are not an original designer-supplied vector master. For extremely large physical signage, review the contours at final size.

## Ready-to-use backgrounds

`ready-to-use/` contains opaque, correctly sized exports:

- `avatar-{dark,light,cream}.png`: 1024 × 1024. The symbol is centered with space for circular platform crops. Suitable as a source for app icons; no corners are pre-rounded.
- `splash-{dark,light,cream}.png`: 1920 × 1080. Centered primary lockup, suitable as a static game startup screen.
- `social-card-{dark,light,cream}.png`: 1200 × 630. Horizontal publisher signature for sharing and press use.
- `banner-{dark,light,cream}.png`: 2400 × 600. Single-line signature.
- `icon-dark-{16,32,48,64,180,192,512}.png`: square browser, touch-icon and launcher sizes.
- `favicon.ico`: a multi-size icon containing 16, 32, 48 and 64 pixel representations.

Transparent versions are in `svg/` and `png/`; the ready-to-use files intentionally include their backgrounds. The preview gallery is for selecting assets, not a public download portal.

## Basic usage

- Preserve the aspect ratio. Never stretch, outline, add shadows, or split the arch and star in the primary signature.
- Give the mark breathing room. The core exports include a small safety margin; in finished layouts allow at least one star-width around the visible artwork.
- Recommended minimum visible size: symbol 24 px high (use dedicated icons below that), horizontal lockup about 200 px wide, stacked about 120 px wide, one-line lockup about 320 px wide. At tiny sizes prefer the symbol; do not force unreadable lettering into an avatar.
- Use SVG on websites and in print tools that accept it. Use PNG where SVG is unsupported. Transparent PNGs are RGB assets; request a print shop's CMYK conversion rather than treating these as print-certified separations.
- The kit does not alter the website logo or either preserved startup animation automatically.

## Rebuild

From the repository root, run `scripts/build-brand.py` with Python, Pillow and NumPy, then `scripts/export-brand.mjs` with Node and Sharp. The latter accepts Sharp through normal Node package resolution (`NODE_PATH` can point to the bundled runtime). Finally run `scripts/package-brand.py` to rebuild the ZIP. The scripts regenerate the core assets and contact sheet; the gallery and this guide are authored files.