posted
I am working on a carved sign project and the "designer" has stretched the bottom word horizontally so it lines up with the top wording. It looks terrible, so I altered it enlarged it and increased the spacing between the letters (I can never remember if that is kerning or leading) Anyway.. sent the new proof to clients "designer" and the sent it back corrected like it was originally" I am trying to convince them otherwise that it looks distorted, etc. She is calling it the brand look..... oh boy! I think after I finish the sign and take a photo I will photoshop the lettering so it looks good for my portfolio.
-------------------- Jeff Wisdom SignWorks info@oregonsignworks.com Posts: 450 | From: Oregon | Registered: Dec 2005
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Jeff, I can say 'me too' and only offer you sympathy...the 'designer' whose work I had to 'fix' used the pathetic excuse of wanting to make it look like old and faded stencil text, but the kerning and letter execution was terrible, and the lines were crooked- and they just did not do things as badly as her attempt, back in the old days.
Unfortunately the client also liked her garbage... I still fixed the kerning & execution before doing the billboards, as they would have been thoroughly illegible otherwise.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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I just went through a similar situation on a race car. The quarter panels HAD to be a company logo in VINYL (3 colors). I knew right from the get go it wasn't going to work, but it took having to cut it and prove the point before I was given the okay to paint some of it to avoid some guaranteed BADDDDDD wrinkling and bubbles.
The back of the car was also a case of horribly stretched lettering. Fortunately, there was some wiggle room on the font and I found one that better fit the area in a similar style.
There are times when you can point out these little things to a customer and they will see your point, but all too often they will ignore that your advice and stick to their "LOGO". I tend to throw the latter into the "customer is always right" bin, but once in a while I'll stick to my guns and push for the better version. That usually depends more on the customer and how good a working relationship we have. Once in a while I'll pass on the job, not because I didn't get my way, but because it's not doing MY reputation any good having the REALLY distorted stuff out there.
It's a balancing act we all get to perform sooner or later. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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I've got 5 custom built casual fonts that I use on tons of banners, and which version I use depends on the fit and how much stretching that particular version can survive before it is in danger of looking like what you're describing.
I love yer idea of photoshopping it into the final product.!!!
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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-------------------- Bob Noyes Digital Graffiti 310 Main St NE Mapleton, MN 56065 Posts: 130 | From: Mapleton, MN | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I don't know here ..but to me stretching fonts is fine maybe up to 1 1/2 times which is not alot of course after kerning has been done knows I've done this many times by hand vinyl is still new to me but already have done so although vertical poorly done looks like garbage but horizontal is easier and looks fine
posted
What drives me nuts is when the "designer" will take the same font and stretch it to fit on one line and squeeze it on another, and leave it natural on a different one.
Some fonts can be stretched to a degree without killing the aesthetics but if that is done, it should be done throughout. Few fonts can take much condensing beyond a few percent.
There are many typestyles that are designed as condensed or wide fonts. They should be used when space dictates, rather than turning some beautifully crafted letters into mutants.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5092 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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To me stretching is allowed on one and one only occasion - and that is to achieve what you want to achieve in terms of a visual end. That is - to achieve what you want it to look like - as a parcel with intent.
To stretch either horizontally or vertically purely for the sake of it to "fill" a space - is a no no. Find a different font, change the kerning, whatever it takes to achieve the intent without someone being able to say "that font has been stretched".
Now that sounds confusing... lol
Cheers - G
-------------------- Gregg Sydney Signworks (02) 9837 1198 Schofields NSW Australia Posts: 368 | From: Schofields | Registered: May 2007
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Great responses all. I think the big problem is that is there are two lines of text, both copperplate. The top line is fairly normal, 3 words long. The bottom is one word, enlarged and stretched to match up with the top line. The letter height of the bottom text was 4.3" and I pushed it up to 4.75" (without telling client) I also increased the width of the horizontal elements in the font so the balance out the rest of the letter, overall it looks relatively the same size, but now it doesn't look AS UGLY. Praying for the best that the designer doesn't notice, I just couldn't send it out that way.
-------------------- Jeff Wisdom SignWorks info@oregonsignworks.com Posts: 450 | From: Oregon | Registered: Dec 2005
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I think we could make an interesting new thread on tweaks we have done to improve layouts when we're forbidden to change much. I think I'll start one.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5092 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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