Spraying on primer today, waiting on coats to dry... goofing off.
If a vehicle is traveling at 10 mph, it covers 14.66666...ft per second right?
If there is allowed 5 seconds to read a sign, that would translate to 73.333...ft traveled in a 5 second span @ 10mph.
Therefore, you would need copy which can be read, by the average person, at 73.333 ft away, if traveling at 10mph, as he/she will only have 5 seconds or 73.333 ft before passing the sign.
Using one of the distance/readability charts, could this be used to help a customer decide what size of sign he needs based on the average speed of the traffic passing his proposed sign?
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
The USSC has done the research on this ... I guess ... I'm not a member so I haven't seen it. Available here... http://www.ussc.org/publications.html Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks Mark, That would be interesting reading.
What prompted me to wonder about this was a recent job. The customer( a municipality) had some 4'x8' signs but wanted sandblasted HDU ones and wanted them smaller. They specified 3'x5' so I sent them two designs: one 3x5 and the other 48''x45''which I told them was the same square footage. The 3x5 was just copy and the 48x45 has a silhoutte graphic on it, and a fancy shape. It pretty much had to be close to those dimensions to accomodate the graphic. When I gave them the prices, they went for the 48x45 and told me that was all they were budgeted for. So I made the signs. Meanwhile, sometime after I started production, I noticed this humongous landscaping had been placed where the signs were to be located. Til then I had not even been told where they would be installed. Seems another department had gotten an engineering firm to design the landscaping etc. and were counting on a much larger sign. The lady from the 'sign committee, who ordered the sign, then came to me and wanted to fuss about the size of the sign. I told her that it would have helped me finacially and that I would have been glad to make her a bigger sign.
I was just looking for a way to prevent this scenario from happening again.
Posted by Bill Cosharek (Member # 1274) on :
Wayne,
Since this is for future reference, then we can speak freely here, right? I think there are more things to consider here besides how long it takes someone driving by to read a message on a sign in say 5 seconds. I haven't read the articles by the USSC but if anything here is in there, that's purely coincidental.
Sign size isn't going to make it instantly readable. And not all copy has to be read from the same distance. What I mean is that while the main message can be read from a greater distance, if the sign is pleasingly attractive, then that will hold someone's attention until they drive closer in approach to read the finer print. Our job as sign designers is to use what we know of layout design and color theories to make that happen; without causing traffic distractions.
The initial shape of the sign (its perimeter) will be the first thing seen by an approaching motorist. Will the shape capture their attention or will it blend in with the rest of the clutter? I know that code restrictions can play havoc with intended designs (& some codes are really stupid), but work-arounds can usually be found. That may not apply here but thought I'd mention it anyway.
That was a good observation about the driving distance covered per second. Yes, that should help, but don't forget about design theories which lead the viewer through the intended message as effectively as possible.
As for the size discrepancy between what you were told by the committee and what the engineering firm did, it would seem you already know the answer; learned by this experience. Get all the facts first.
Now go eat! BURP! (excuse me)
Posted by Camille Norvaisas (Member # 501) on :
A while back I heard (and I forget where) that you get 10ft of visibility for every inch of letter - that is if you're moving. Did anyone else here of this?
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Bill is right on with the keeping to design basics as the MOST important factor about readability. Distance and speed is just part of the factors. Color,letter style,reversing panels,etc.are to be included in the formula! Spacing between letters,use of the negative space What if you are a poor reader? Color blind?
