My Sign for my Friends Shop!

[airlaw]

Here is a Sign I did for my Friends Shop! Pick it a part for me, I want to know what you guys think. Where I need to improve! Thanks!

[bigwater]

If this is for personal use over the door to his workshop or inside the shop, then it's great... but... If it's a supposed to be a functional advertising sign...

It's very nice art, but the functionality as a sign is questionable. There are a couple of problems with it. Depending on where it's located and how people will be viewing it, it may be hard to read. If it's on a corner on a post next to a stop sign, it'll be easy enough to study. If it's on a building 50 feet off the road with people whizzing by at 50 miles per hour, nobody will ever pick it up. (The golden 50/50 rule in signage.)

The other issue I see is "what the hell is Tom's Shop?" There's no information there as to what Tom does... Nothing to make me want to stop in Tom's Shop. Does he twist wrenches on Harleys, or make wicker furniture? Why should I be interested in Tom's Shop?

Again, if this is just a personal piece that's not for advertising his business, it's great... but it's not sufficient for advertising a business.

[airlaw]

Yeah, I forgot to mention its for fun in his shop! If it was for advertising I would of did it different and bigger! Just for fun!

[AndyW]

Nice art work, very effective

[airlaw]

The first 2 pics were without clear coat and the new have clear coat on them. My buddy was very happy with the outcome!

[JimmyG]

I'm merging 2 threads for ya Airlaw, as there is no sense in separate threads on the same "sign" topic....
most likely I'm gonna also move ya to the SignMaking Forum so we can keep a good reference for later and for others research looksees....


Here is a Sign I did for my Friends Shop! Pick it a part for me, I want to know what you guys think. Where I need to improve! Thanks!
I hope you are ready for further constructive critque, as Ron started in post #2....I see you replied as it's just for fun, but let's explore some design basics here....

Your background airbrushed images are well done, but when it comes to adding text on top of visually "busy" or complex backgrounds there needs to be further considers....
The yellow lettering of Tom's Shop is very mid-tone and really needs a black outline, perhaps better yet a dimensional outline with grey drop shadows underneath to help "oomph" the lettering away from the background, visually speaking....
Dimensional outlines require extra kerning for better readability and extra planning for drop shades which both ARE the main elements to "lift" the lettering off the background....

I'll give a signmaker's tip here....whilst in "design stage" print out an 8x10 picture of your design ready to airbrush, tack in on a wall and walk away 12 feet and view it...if the lettering is muddy to the background, the the finished product will be also unless you make design changes...just a scaled down version rule of Ron's aforementioned "50/50 rule"...

[airlaw]

Thanks Jimmy for moving my thread! Not sure how I missed the right place for it! Thanks for the info, cause I want to do this stuff on the side and its nice to have people give their ideas and ways of doing it! I appreicate it!

[bigwater]

Jimmy and I have been doing this sign thing for a long time. I started in '81, him surely before that. Between the two of us we've got a lot of experience in all aspects of the trade that we don't mind sharing. There are others on the site here that dabble in signs as well and will offer advice... so never hesitate to ask about anything.

[Carlos]

really like the bullet holes

[airlaw]

Thanks guys! My name has been getting out there a little bit and I have a guys Harley Davidson to paint this winter along with a Sign for a local Archery Shop. So I will be asking to for help and tech info from you guys on here!

[JimmyG]

Yep, we don't mind sharing info.....
any images that need carry a "signage" message need aforemost design consideration to be viewed from afar, beit 4 meters or 50/50....

[Strictly Attitude]

well exicuted love it