Here is a sign I just completed. There is much I like about it and much I would change in the future… I welcome all critiques good and bad. I am a part time sign person with a home based shop. I have been to a couple of New England meets, so some of you may or may not remember me…
History and fabrication details:
My client requested a "4’ x 8' red, white and blue sign on a piece of plywood to be mounted on the side of his barn"… He owns and operates a small but growing dairy farm in NE NY. I proposed this layout with a detailed painted picture of a cow’s head and a field in the background on the inside of the oval on the sign. He preferred a cartoon look. The cartoon/clipart was cheaper. And in my opinion worked.
I also did magnetics and a black and white JPEG version for his letterheads.
The sign is 3/4" MDO. The shape was inspired from a past issue of Sign Craft. After projecting the shape with an overhead projector onto the MDO I cut it out with a jigsaw. I sealed the edges with Pelucid. 3 coats of KilzII primer. 2 coats of Oneshot Ivory for the background rolled on with a 9” foam roller and smoothed with the locked roller technique. 1 coat of Dark Brown Oneshot for the border painted with a 1” foam brush. The graphics are Aver HP vinyl. The “Mama’s Milkers” is cranberry with a grey drop shadow. I created the oval with flourishes from an oval and some modified pieces of clip art. The roses are modified clip art also. Burke, NY is cranberry too. The inner oval is white vinyl and the cow is black vinyl.
Most of the fabrication techniques were picked up from this BB!!
Observations (and things I might/would change in the future):
The name could use to be a little bolder. Reduce the negative space a little.
I would try some of the “shadow vinyl” available today for the shadow in the future. And make that bigger.
I’m not conformable with the white inside the oval around the cow graphic. I do need it inside the cow for definition.
I would eliminate the flourishes and enlarge the roses and expand them up and around the oval more. About to the top of the flourishes.
I would add a 1/4” to 3/8” brown or cranberry border inside the existing border. Possibly put Burke, NY in a banner and attach/incorporate it into the oval graphic somehow.
Ok, enough said.
How would you enhance this sign layout?
In your opinion, what works?
What doesn’t?
Do my colors work?
What colors would you suggest?
Have fun!
Ps – I’m thick skinned.
-------------------- Joe Abner Talisman Signs Middleboro, MA
"We are limited only by our perception of our abilities." Posts: 445 | From: Middleboro, Ma USA | Registered: Dec 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thick skinned or not, I think you're also talented, humble, and too critical!
I know practically nothing about layout and design: but I think this is a beautiful sign...I'll bet your customer was tickled!
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
Great job on the sign! One thing I really want to commend you on is your arched copy. So many folks seem to goof up on those distorted curves. Your's follows nicely! Love the shape of the sign, and your choices in colour.
Here's few things I think could enhance your sign further. Firstly, I think the cartoon cow works well, but, like you originally offered, I'd probably would have liked the "real" cow version abit more. The clip art you chose here is great tho! To liven this version up, and to get that cow to pop out of the picture abit more, I'd suggest making the background behind him a sky blue, or light robin's egg blue. Perhaps a slight gradient blend even.
I like your idea of trying the natural shadow vinyl on the letters, ... another alternative I have found to work on an ivory background was a light tan colour. Something a shade darker than the ivory.
A second inset border of white, or light pink or peach ( a lighter colour) may be a nice touch too.
The sign is great as is! I just threw out a few suggestions to consider here. hahaha... Mama's Milkers! Gotta love that name!
Janette
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
I like the colors and the text. Like Janette, I'd put some color inside the oval. Green to light blue, field to sky effect would be my first try. Then emphasize the roses outside the oval, like Ms Bossie is trying to get at the flower garden. That's why I like the cartoon cow's look. It's not too real and not too tooney.
posted
I agree with Janette on just about everything. To me though, the difference between the arch of the copy and the curve of the oval panel is too great - I think it would be better if the arch on the copy related more to it. Following it exactly wouldn't be good in this case, but a closer relationship I think... It also creates a bit of an awkward negative space on each side.
Also, I think the margins between the copy and the border could use more negative space too. I know it's very hard to tell customer's that sometimes smaller copy is more legible than larger copy crowding the borders.
These are small points, things that I watch out for in my layouts too. I think you did a great job. It's a very attractive sign!
-------------------- Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada
posted
That cow is to cool! I agree with all of the above. Definately the alignment of Mamas Milkers. Maybe change Mamas to script above. Conform Milkers to the oval using larger first and last letters? Milk and cows make me think earthy colors too....I think green and gold would have worked also; with a feild of grain or lighter green behind the cow. It still looks great!
-------------------- Linda Seymour Bundaberg, Q.L.D Australia
"DARE!" Signage of Distinction Bundaberg freeloner2001@dingoblue.net.au Posts: 94 | From: Q.L.D Australia | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for the constructive replies all!! And the kind words!
Jon the client was very pleased! He even came by and picked it up. No post holes to dig!
Janette, I considered a light sky blue for the inside of the oval but was not sure is it would go with the ivory. I don’t feel color theory is one of my strong suites… I have been trying to incorporate blends into my designs more and wish I had thought of it for this sign feature. Next time.
Santo, I agree that I could have put more emphasis on the roses. And as stated above, a gradient would have worked. I played around with it in my drawing program after I read these replies and really liked the look! I’m not sure if it is clear in the photo but the not too real/toony cow has eyelashes!!!!
Bob thanks for the “small points”!! I did not see the negative space under the ends of the main copy until you pointed it out. But there they are! Also I agree that the copy could have been brought closer the center and conformed a little more to the oval. That would have created more space within the border. I was probably trying at the time to “fill the shape” vs. having the shape complement the design… Great points.
Linda, I originally suggested a sign with incised carved letters (I’ve been learning carving) but it was not in my client’s budget. I would have loved to do the sign in deep green with gold lettering. The field of grain would have been great! I could have cut a “stamp” of grain out of rubber and “stamped” the field with tan/white/light brown!!! Nice!
Thank you all again for the learning experience!!! I will post my current sign job here soon to get feedback before I fabricate it!!!
-------------------- Joe Abner Talisman Signs Middleboro, MA
"We are limited only by our perception of our abilities." Posts: 445 | From: Middleboro, Ma USA | Registered: Dec 2000
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic