The Los Angeles Dodgers have introduced a new raised, 3D-printed logo on their batting helmets for opening day, and it's probably only a matter of time before someone at the college level tries to do the same.
Paul Lukas of UniWatch provided a few different views of the Dodgers new helmet logos yesterday afternoon, and offered the following explanation on what makes these unique.
The "LA" lettering projects outward only about three millimeters from the helmet's surface, but that's enough to create a noticeable sense of depth unlike anything seen on a typical batting helmet. Of the other 29 MLB teams, 28 of them use flat decals for their helmet logos. The Chicago Cubs use an adhesive embroidered cloth patch that provides a greater sense of texture, but it doesn't create the same 3D effect as the Dodgers' new headwear mark.
The idea behind the new logo actually came from football, where some teams (like this one from Michigan State) have used a raised 3D logo on the nose bumper portion of the helmet, according to Lukas in the piece.
The main challenge behind football possibly adopting this new technology is obvious: How would the logos hold up the the beating that helmets take? That's the same thing that the Dodgers equipment guys will be keeping an eye on early on.
I've spent most of the morning thinking of some of the coolest helmet logos in college football that would look great in the 3-millimeter raised design, some are more far fetched than others. Imagine the iconic winged helmets of Michigan popping out, or maybe Alabama or Penn State use the 3D application for the stripe that goes down the center of their helmet. The Florida Gator adorning the side of a helmet would also look pretty cool, but I think I'd put my money on Oregon using it on the "O" before any other program gets to it.
Any other programs you can think of that would look great with a 3D logo on the side of their helmet?
