Would you please give me your comments and critiques on this design. Everything in yellow will be carved and gilded. The graphic in the oval will either be a digital print or a painting of beautiful blue skies and white clouds.
The sign will be in front of a very large Victorian house with a large (5 acres) expanse of yard surrounding the house.
Also any suggestion on other mounting methods would be appreciated.
The sign will sit parallel to the road.
Thanks in advance!
Steve
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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No, it doesn't have to go on a fence. The only problem with a single post and bracket is that it will sit parallel to the road and for some reason that type of install doesn't feel right to me. If it were perpendicular to the road then absolutely.
I also thought about a two post install with perhaps some fancier build-outs around the bottom of the posts.
btw - Cam is doing a bracket for me for another sign. He does great work!
Thanks, Steve
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Here’s an update based on your suggestions so far. - made the “O” in calico bigger (Thanks William!) - thickened the outline on “skies” slightly (anon, but well know master’s suggestion – Thank you!) - removed the black outline on calico (anon) - more space between letters in calico (anon) - tightened the kerning on “Est. 1998” (anon) - alternate 3 post mounting (anon and thanks to #7 in SOTM)
Further suggestions / criticisms welcome.
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
I'd like to see the word Calico bigger Steve. I'm concerned that once the skies is gilded it will be overpowering. I'd also like to see it stretched a tad horizontally, I'm having trouble mentally discerning between a circle and an oval, perhaps to the proportions of the inner oval. I'd also like to see the O capitalized to balance the C. Have you thought about some subtle ornamentation on the inner oval frame? If it is going to be on a large property I think the fence will help ground it. How big will it be? It looks like it will be beautiful.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I was going to suggest more space as well for easy reading I dont like gold for an outline on Calico outlines should always add contrast,not take away from it Skies is going to way over-power the word Calico I also would do away with the over lap on the 2 words...not because it doesnt look good..but because you are carving it...it will be difficult to define the edges of the letters why not carve and gild Calico and then add a thin prussian blue outline You will get a lot of interesting facets when you carve using that font
posted
Oooops - we must have been typing at the same time. But...I liked the black outline on Calico
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I don't normally get into suggestions on the board, but being you are fron NJ, I agree that an elongated oval would look better. Skies could be opened up and extended. Last but not least, the entire background as a beautiful sky sounds great.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Updates Made sign more oval, made calico bigger (thanks Kelly), used capital “O” (thank Kelly and William) Made outline blue (thanks Mike) Added black inline in large oval (me) Looking for ornaments for oval. Will repost when I find some I’m happy with…
Kelly – the sign will be quite large (whatever looks most proportional to an 8 ft section of fence – probably about 3x4ft - IF we can get it through the historic commission. Currently the largest house marker allowed is 2 square feet which is much to small for an estate this size.
New design Made entire background sky and clouds (thanks Randy) Stretched skies (thanks Bill Riedel – long live New Jersey! ) Now that the entire background is sky I need to do something different at the top – maybe add some scrolls around the “Est. 1998”???
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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Looks very nice ol Buddy!! If I can throw in my 2 cents....
The 1st "C" looks confusing?? When I first read it I thought it said "Galico". Kept comparing it with the other C and still thought it was a G. It's the swirl at the bottom that makes me wonder what letter it it.
With that said, KILLER DESIGN Steve!!
I really like the background as you have it now.
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
I know what you mean about the first C. But the lower case C is a little weak in my opinion to be the first letter. Maybe i should node edit the first C to get rid of some of it "G-ness".
How's your carving?
Thanks for the kind words!
CJ taught me the basics of airbrush back in January - i may have to call him back to help with the sky.
Do you like the full sky background better?
Thanks, Steve
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Steve, I was gone all day so I couldn't contribute my 2˘. But I love the final design! The blue sky background makes all the difference. Love....Jill PS I'd suggest "Flying M" looking swooshies by the date but that would be too tacky!
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Almost as if you painted everything on glass and held it up to the ski. Very appropriate!
Your designing skills are blowing me away!!
Still carving, not as much as I'd like though. CJ gave me the Wizzards DVD on basic Pinstriping for Christmas (watched it like a FIFTY TIMES), so I've really been focusing on striping. I feel it will help me with all the other stuff I got going (like carving)!! And.. I'm actually starting to do it and having a ball!! Really cool!!
I think everybody oughta go out and by like a hundred copies of Steves video (there's my plug for the Wizzard).
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
posted
Oh yeah Steve, I too like that all-sky background. Cleaner.
I was working on something earlier to show you and got called away. This has more of the original white background. I put my date on top too, but I didn't think mine (or yours) needs any additional embelishment around the date. I also kept the text all one typestyle, except for the decorative Cap "C", in case the script "Skies" was a bit casual or mod against a Victorian architecture. Anyway, you may as well see it.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Joe hit it right on the head. The Stevens script is too modern for this type of sign. I like Joe's rendition.
I was working on one, too, but decided I needed to eat greek food more. Sorry.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Bruce - I always have trouble picking the right fonts. I spend lots of time going thru all my fonts looking at the word and still have trouble. i hope i will improve over time and learn from you guys.
I also like the way Joe's design starts white at the bottom and turns into the sky.
One question though, although Joe's picture shows up fine, i thought i would need an outline on the gilded letters against a white background so they would show up better?
Thank you! Steve
[ March 30, 2005, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: Steve Racz ]
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Personally, we have done outlines on just about every gilded carved sign we have done because we like the way it makes it look finished.
I really like Joe's rendition. Each I look at it, I see another little touch. If I was doing this job, I would steal that one! hahahahahahaha! Well, at least creatively re-adapt the design...
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Steve, that font is called "Poor Richard". I'm pretty sure it's something I downloaded online, don't remember where.
As for outlining, there are some colors gold just doesn't show up very well on (mostly middle tones), but we have found that it actually stands out nicely against pure white. Being a residential setting I don't think I would take the additional time to outline, enjoying the rare occasion where a bit of subtlety is appropriate. Here's an example of a gilded V-carved letter against white, or maybe cream, I don't remember. I think whatever it loses in contrast is made up for by the mere fact it's understated:
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I like Joe's rendition of the sky very much, and the typeface is classier. Does the design seem a little "left heavy" to anyone else?
The kerning between the K and I seems wide, even though the letters are pretty much touching. Beyond that, the word SKIES seems to beg for more action. Maybe it's the all upper case that I'm not comfortable with.
I think it's definately moving in the right direction with Joe's changes.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I see what Joe says about the Gold and the White.
Looks like top $$$$$ without an outline on the White background! Thanks for the other sample Joe!
When using vinyl, I found White with a Chrome outline looks fantastic!! At first I didn't think it would work until I just went ahead and did it. Makes for a KILLER DECAL.
This sign is really comming together Buddy!
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
quote:Now that the entire background is sky I need to do something different at the top – maybe add some scrolls around the “Est. 1998”???
Just thinking...do you really need the sign to be oval? Sometimes we try to make something fit into the shape we have chosen when we'd be better off to make the shape fit the text we have chosen. When I look at your last design, I can just see another shape emerging.
Not trying to complicate things I like the full sky background and Joe's version is very nice, too.
I know what you mean. The oval evolved because i think i will be mounting it on a fence and the oval seemed to fit (see my first post).
I pulled out many Victorian shapes from my two Mike Jackson CDs and was going to try some of them but i just haven't done it yet. Once i saw Joe's design i said OK That's IT!!!
Thanks for your help! Steve
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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