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While traveling down the interstate today I saw my fair share of obnoxious lettering ...not that I think I'm God's gift to the lettering world...I have pictures that I proudly display of my early, not so hot lettering ...but I think I've done a lot of learning since then and I like to think my work shows that.
In my mind what I think separates a "Letterhead" from the "hey I'm a sign person" is the ability and the desire to learn the true “craft” of lettering.
Today while drivin' I was thinkin' it may not hurt to list some tips here, that may help any newbies and such, that may be lurking here, learn some "dos" and "don'ts"...thus...bettering the look of the world while traveling down the highways and byways.
*Don't purposely use Brush Script(bs) for script at any time...specially all upper case in an ark ...I don't think bs is considered a font by any true Letterhead.
*Don't use white as a shadow color...Typically a shadow is a darker version of whatever the background color is. I saw 2 or 3 red trucks today with black copy and a white shadow.
*Don’t use black copy on red and vice-versa...Very rarely does this combination work.
*Don't do a yellow letter with a white outline or vise-versa...a local sign shop by me has a yellow letter with white combination outline/shadow on their window...can’t read it at all.
*Don’t use a dark color on a window...unless it has something like light colored blinds directly behind the window...design for a window as if the window was black...vehicle or store front.
*Don’t use a medium to dark color letter with a white outline...you want the letter itself to be the most dominate part of the design not the outline...this seems to be the norm with most digital printer/non-designers in my area.
I could probably go on for a while here...but I won’t...these just seem to cover what I saw today that bothered me.
I didn’t think up the following advice on my own…it was passed on to me.
*Do buy a book to learn about layout/design...like...Mike Stevens’...Mastering Layout.
*Do subscribe to a lettering magazine...like...SignCraft magazine.
*Do pay attention to and learn from lettering you see that you think is appealing and legible.
*Do show someone your layout/design that doesn’t know what it’s supposed to say...if they can’t read it instantly...you have more work to do.
*Do visit (or move into) Letterville...go to a Letterhead meet...ask questions...absorb as much knowledge as you can.
I’ll stop now and hopefully some others have some tips based on something they have seen recently that they could improve on.
I will close with this thought...I do believe that lettering isn’t for everyone...there is more than one local sign person here that doesn’t get it...they continue to produce work that is just as hard to read as they did 2,4,10 years ago...The toughest thing about this to me is...their repeat customers keep goin’ back to them for more non-legible lettering.
Want to be a “Letterhead”...keep learnin’ all you can...I’ve been at this 25 or 26 years...and I like to think I have tons and tons more to learn.
Best of luck Jeff
-------------------- Jeff's Lettering Lisa,Luke,Dara, and Jeff Spradling 5742 Shattuck Rd. Belvidere, Il. 61008 815-544-0167
Surviving another day. Posts: 626 | From: Belvidere, IL USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Jeff, I'll elaborate a bit on the black on red thing. I purposely used black on my red truck for the phone & town only. Reason: It's there if ya look for it, but doesn't jump out at you or detract from the logo.
Subscribe to A Magazine About Letterheads
Buy "Gold Leaf Techniques" Helps to read it a few times too.
After ya've read the Stevens book, read it again. Repeat sporatically.
Not all signs have to be rectangles.
Do a search and find the chart of letter height to readability distance. Print it, copy it, use it!
Asking questions is great, but don't be afraid to experiment on your own either. Research and watch the basics, but you'll learn more by experimenting than by someone telling you step 1, open paint can. step 2, stir....
Never quit learning.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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never use red on blue or blue on red. makes your eyes do funny things.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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*Just because you can buy a plotter it does not buy you talent *Always respect those who went before you (even when they are salty...they can still probably paint circles around you) *Just because a font comes with real fancy caps doesn't mean you have to use em...if it has plainer-looking Lower Case with it, means you're supposed to mix it up *Most die-hard painters don't call em fonts anyway...they are ALPHABETS *Don't forget to allow breathing room around your design! *You can get a cool natural shadow by adding a few drops of black 1-Shot to Tinting (not UV) Clear...get highlights by adding white to it *Don't be distortion-happy (another scumputer fad) *The measured center of the side of a vehicle usually differs from the optical center....trust your eyes *Buy good sign books, by all means, but DON'T become a cookie-cutter of them...always add a bit of yourself * Practice....Practice...Practice *Leave your ego at the door *Dedicate to memory a good thick & thin, a good script, and a fun casual...ya never know when you'll have to whip out a last minute layout BY HAND *Attend a live meet whenever possible And most inportantly! I O A F S Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I just did a phone number on a white coroplast For Sale Sign. The number is 3+ inches X 18+ inches. I did a Red outline with Black numbers. The sign already had a Black outline around the area and I left a little White space. It's probably a No-No, but it looked good to me and the customer. It is easy to read, even at a distance. I admit I am a wanna be sign maker. I subscribe to 3 sign magazines, have the Mike Stevens layout book, several videos about sign making, ask some dumb questions on this board, read a lot of questions, answers, tips on this board, and I try to learn from every source that I can. Tips, advice, suggestions are always appreciated.
-------------------- Robert Richards Southern Ad Specialties Carrollton, GA 770-830-1501 sasga2000@a0l.com Posts: 138 | From: Carrollton, GA | Registered: Sep 2002
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Grab the sense of wonder and awe you experience when you see someone else's work that makes your mouth drop open, resolve to make your work look as good, and then, when it does begin to look better...never, never think you have learned it all. And if your work ever makes someone else's mouth drop open, put your arm around their shoulder and say, "Lemme show you how I did that."
Jack "Did I spel that write?"
-------------------- Jack Keith Keith Signs and Graphics 12400 Stemmons Drive Cabool, MO 65689 Posts: 131 | From: Cabool, MO | Registered: Feb 2004
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If the question ever enters your mind: "I wonder what would happen if I did this?" Don't be afraid to TRY IT OUT, and see for yourself exactly what might happen. Some wonderful things sometimes result! There will also be those times when you won't get the result that you thought, but at least you've had the courage to EXPLORE and find out for yourself. Innovation and Originality don't happen when you stay on the course where others have worn a pathway. They result when someone chooses to venture off the path, where others haven't gone.
Sometimes you'll find that the tried and true pathway is there for a good reason, and there were pitfalls that others were avoiding. Questioning those with experience will reveal those for you, but if you have an IDEA that you think might work, don't be afraid to make the attempt. To stick only to the "tried & true" will virtually guarantee that your work seldom has that spark of originality or creativity.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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The only way I use black on red or vs is to outline with white or a real light color.
If anyone still does showcards...you can do a real nice shadow on lettering by using matte varnish. It darkens the showcard enough that it makes a real natural shadow.
Never use All Caps on Old English, Cursive/Script alphabets or Old World Gothic. The real SIGN of an amatuer.
Dont use a drop shadow on the whole sign, unless its one word or number.
-------------------- Rove Gratz Gratz Signs 342 Walden Station Drive Macon, GA 31216 rovegratz@aol.com Home Page: http://rove-342.tripod.com Posts: 861 | From: Macon, GA 31216 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Besides what has already been mentioned, I can also think of:
Don't use too many different fonts on the same sign, especially fancy ones. Two or three maximum. Plain ones for secondary text.
Don't leave negative space in the optical centre of the sign. I sometimes see this, first line on an arc, second line straight, leaving an empty spot right where your eyes hit first.
posted
On any panel/board/sign always leave more space at the bottom than the top. In any line of text the space between words must never be larger than the left or right margin.
When an onlooker says, “You must need a steady hand for that job,” just feel honoured that they feel the need to communicate with you and they are totally unaware that you hear the same thing fifty times every day. When an onlooker says, “I can tell you weren’t on the beer last night,” just feel honoured that they feel the need to communicate with you and they are totally unaware that you hear the same thing fifty times every day. When an onlooker says, “I knew an old fellow whose hand shook like a jelly in an earthquake till he’d had his first pint of day,” just shoot ‘em between the eyes.
-------------------- Arthur Vanson Bucks Signs Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England arthur@buckssigns.co.uk -------------------- Posts: 805 | From: Chesham, Bucks, England | Registered: Mar 2002
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In the 60s a new guy started doing signs in my town.
When doing a wall sign, he just started painting...no layout or anything. The same thing when he did cut-out lettering. he just cut them out, with no layout. His stuff was terrible and he never improved, though he was in business for about 6 years.
He must have been color blind, he would do a medium green letter with an orange shade or a dark blue background with red or purple lettering.
I also worked with an illustrator up until the 90s whose style was stuck in the 50s...he learned so much and used the same style forever.
One should always try to improve on everything by trying new techniques or products any time the opportunity arises.
[ July 17, 2004, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: Rovelle W. Gratz ]
-------------------- Rove Gratz Gratz Signs 342 Walden Station Drive Macon, GA 31216 rovegratz@aol.com Home Page: http://rove-342.tripod.com Posts: 861 | From: Macon, GA 31216 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Practice. Find brushes that you are comfortable with. Practice. Got to live meets. Practice. When you see a sign or vehicle that attracts you, note why it does and learn from it. Practice. Color theory is always a plus. Get a color wheel. Practice. Read the labels on cans for proper useage and mixing directions. Practice. Never believe you can't improve every day.....you can.
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...not that I think I'm God's gift to the lettering world...I have pictures that I proudly display of my early, not so hot lettering ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
...but I think I've done a lot of learning since then and I like to think my work shows that.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
...I don't think bs is considered a font by any true Letterhead.![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
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