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Hi! I've been meaning to re-do my shop truck since last winter's dead time. Everything I designed for myself looked too beezy or like I was trying too hard. Twice, I messed around attempting a new design, but it just didn't feel "right". I got the new signcraft the other day & perused Bob Behounek's article about the trend towards minimalization or going smaller & more subdued with colors. Then I saw a photo of David Showalter's shop truck. I recalled seeing Mike Duncan's truck & Jeff Lang's van last summer. They have teeny-tiny graphics. Something clicked. Don't ask me why, cuz things are no longer dead...I'm busier than a cat trying to cover sh** on a marble floor! But a new logo just kinda fell out of me while I was working on somebody's stickers yesterday. It's small, tasteful, and totally nothing like what I'd normally do. I scanned in a font I call "Tinker" from Strong's book of Designs for the main part, then used "Gradl"(which is I think a Windows font) for the secondary stuff. I used leftover vinyl from old jobs, so other than my time, it was free! My truck is a dark metallic teal Chevy X-Cab. I used a minimum of teal and more smoke grey metallic HP vinyl. I'd paint it, but it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind & much easier to peel off vinyl!(well maybe not that easy) My old logo was pink & holographic chrome and screamed "I'm from Butler County!!!" It had a naked lady and way too much information. Less is definately better! I am so pleased! I rarely get a job that goes exactly as I'd pictured, but this was it! In 20/20 hindsight, I'd have made it a wee bit more minimal...but all in all, I strongly suggest trying this design technique. This is one instance where I'd rather have something smaller! love- JILL
------------------ Jill M. Welsh
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Jill, in the custom world it has been said by many the "less is more"
I do most of my work complimentry towards the substrate rather then contrast and I feel alot stronger in my opinion to do so.
Many use colors that jump out so to speak and thats alright if the substrate calls for it but for a vehicle to look right there is more to do then just putting a sign on it. Persons have to want to look at the vehicle so everything must go together both in signs and accessories........... Maybe when you have extra time you can check out my stripe site at the link below and find out exactly how I capture vehicles.........
------------------ HotLines Joey Madden,45 years in the Classic Art of Pinstriping $42. a month electric bill here in Grants Pass, Oregon Big Sale deadline May 15th. http://members.tripod.com/Inflite
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Hi Glenn... Well, Ya See...I don't have the Internet at home. I have NO will power & would be on it all day. I go to the library to do the deed. I was thinking about scanning some photos & putting 'em on a floppy, but dunno if the library will let me! Mebbe I will send the before/after pics I took to Steve-N-Barb & see if they will be so kind as to post them...Love- JILL
------------------ Jill M. Welsh
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I was really impressed by Bob Behounek's article, too. I just re-did my truck signs, making them smaller than I ever would have thought of. I'm really pleased with the result. It seems like customers are usually so concerned about their sign "standing out" that I tend to forget about this way to see it. I'll post pics soon, gotta run, I'm buzy!
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I just went smaller on my truck too! I didn't see the article....but mine is definately small. dark metallic blue truck, white "signs" raspberry for 'byCheryl' with imitation gold and sky blue. I will get some pics of it too.
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Congrats Jill!! Simpler is most always better. It took me about 20 years to figure that out. A sign doesn't need to look like a Turkish carpet all the time. But, hey, when the job calls for it...it is fun to "elaborate".
------------------ Louis A. Lazarus Milt's Sign Service, Inc. 20 So. Linden Ave. #5B 650-588-0490 fontking1a@aol.com
Posts: 560 | From: El Granada, CA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I just did a new van for a local high-end house painter; it's his personal work truck. In the past I've done his vans big and colorful, but on this one he wanted it "small, clean and tight" (his words). His logo is two crossed sash brushes, and he's never been 100% happy with how they look, so we sat down and fussed with them on paper for a couple of hours after work. The finished job was "CYR PAINTING" in SignGold with a hand-painted deep burgundy outline, his crossed brushes on a burgundy oval with a hand-laid gold outline, and his name beneath that, also in SignGold. I also gilded the ferrules on the crossed sash brushes. The entire image less than 30" wide, on the rear panels of a brand-new dark metallic blue Chevy van. He didn't even want a phone number; everything about the job whispered quality, class and exclusivity. The next day I got the new SignCraft with the less-is-more article - this may be an idea whose time has come. Best part: $650, and a twelve-pack of very tasty Bass Ale as a tip. Thanks, John.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jill, Nice to hear about your new design. Thanks for the compliment on my truck. For theose that don't know I have a 1998 candy apple red GMC extreme step side with all the decals and emblems removed.
I used a color matching vinyl - cranberry I think, just one contrast darker than the paint. Then I cut 1" eurostyle bold L E T T E R C R A F T S I G N S with spaces. This took up 30" of the 36 inch door just above the lower panel line at tire height.
Before applying I used the accudome product to raise the letters for a 3D effect and it creates a natural shadow.
Then I added a 1/2" x 10" slogan: Imagination Running Wild in Dark Charcoal underneath. Nothing else, No Phone number, Nothing. Same for the tailgate.
I get a kick out of people doing double takes at the door when they notice the embossed look in the door. If it's parked I always have to wipe fingerprints off from people touchin' it.
I too would post pictures if I could. I did this 2 years ago and was surprised that it's come into fashion now. Go Figure...
Jill, what you didn't see.: I pull a 5 x 8 hallmark trailer with the Biggest Damn Letters you ever saw on it HAHAHAHAH! Tis True.
My community doesn't allow company lettered vehicles to be parked there (Homeowners assn. AKA Knuckleheads) So I showed them!
------------------ Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Alexandria VA
From here on down, its all up hill.
Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Mike, I'd like more info re: embossed look. What and how did you do this?
Do you remember years back when an article came out describing really embossing the letters on truck doors? I remember Alicia from LA did it and it was stunning!
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Oddly enough, I too started a new design for my truck's tailgate using the "less is more" idea. I decided to give it a shot based on Joey Madden's post in the "Favorite Color Combo" thread, using colors that compliment the substrate instead of contrasting it. I do like ALOT of contrast, it really adds some excitement.. Anyways, after I started this one, I got the new SignCraft and saw Bob's article.. who's settin these trends anyways?
Here's my new design.. I also made a version of this one using the same tribal art, but making it bright orange with a thin white outline.. I like that one alot too..
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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