I am doing a sign that is 4X8 foot for a race track. They want the letters to be readible from 1/8 of a mile. Of course they want them to fit on this 8 foot wide board. I have lost my chart and I was thinking 1 inch letters are readible from 10 foot. Is this about right or what do you go by? I know these letters aren't going to be easily read but by the chart the letters would need to be 66 inches tall. They want their telephone number and another line of advertisement besides their name. How far do you think 20 inch letters would show?
Posted by Fred Weiss (Member # 3662) on :
The threshhold of legibility for Helvetica Medium, black on white is roughly 40 feet per inch of cap height. Any variation will reduce the threshhold. For example using a more condensed letter style.
1/8 mile equals 660 feet. 660 / 40 = 16.5 inch cap height for threshold of legibility at 1/8 mile.
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
At the 8th mile about all you can put onna 4x8 and still be readable is gonna be a name and number, and even then it best be a very plain and simple font.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Be sure to use red Commercial Script upper case with black outline and drop shadow condensed to 50% width. You could try arcing the company name over the Old English phone number, also condensed to get the 30" numbers on the panel.
You know, of course, that Joe Wino is bidding it this way.
Posted by GARY CULY (Member # 3130) on :
this isnt a high-tech way but ....draw your sign to scale and step back across the room and see if you can read it....it will become very obvious the adjustments to be made....dont make it rocket science dude...
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
I guess I should post a possibly helpful tip. I have used Gary's technique. One eighth of a mile is 660'. If you make your drawing in 3/8"=1'-0" scale, your drawing will be 3" long. If you stand just over 20' away (actually 20'-7.5"), you will be looking at an equivalent of your full size panel 660' away. You can then judge the legibility.
Posted by Arvil Shep' Shepherd (Member # 2030) on :
Why not just simply go to the location.......and take a look at what others did ????.....DUHHHHH
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They want their telephone number and another line of advertisement besides their name. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
How far do you think 20 inch letters would show?