Need help dimensioning a sign

[BuickFarmer]

I am wanting to make a sign for my new building and need help in determining the dimension. I am hoping someone can take the picture below and determine the height to width ratio and tell me what the height in ft/inches would be if the width is 8 ft. I have tried using graph paper but need it to be closer than I can come by doing that. If you can share how you do it I can hopefully do it myself if I determine the size needs to be changed.
thanks in advance for your help

 

[My Old Tools]

The golden mean is always a good place to start for proportions....
http://www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/

 

[Homebody]

Do you want the blue as the final dimension or the cream lettering?

 

[Mitch1963]

I measured the height on my computer screen to be 2-7/8". The width was 3-1/2". So divide the height into the width gives me a ratio of 1.22. So if you wanted a 6' tall sign the width would be 6' x 1.22=7.32'. Hope that helps.

 

[Mitch1963]

Just reread your post. 6.56' or 6' 6-3/4"would be the height.

 

[Homebody]

^^ Yup, that's what I get in Illustrator. 6.56

 

[maxpower_hd]

I made a Harley sign a while back. I printed my image onto a transparency and then used an overhead projector to transfer it onto my sign. Mine was indoors so I just used a piece of sheet rock and the dimensions made themselves.

 

[eddesign]

here is the size

 

[Scottwi]

Divide what you want by you got.

The width is 3.5" and you want 96" (8 foot)
96 divided by 3.5 equals 27.4285714 move the decimal point over 2 to the right and round it to get your percent. 2743%

2.875 x 2743% (27.43) = 78.86125 (6'7")

 

[Mitch1963]

More than one way to skin a cat..

 

[larry_g]

If you right click on your picture and then on properties you will see your picture is 341x280 pixels. That is a 1.22 ratio.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[gazza]

All the information above is correct as far as the dimensions go but as a signwriter please choose a logo that is correct.
It frustrates me to see "reproductions" of logos that are reproduced incorrectly. I reproduce lots of motorbike decals and only copy existing stickers on tanks or new old stock items, not someones interpretation of what they think it should look like.
Here is an original logo, there is not much of a difference only the thickness of a few outlines but it does look better, it won't take any longer to set it out or paint it but then you know that its correct, not somebody's version.

Sorry for the rant, I just like to see things done as they were originally designed

 

[BuickFarmer]

The golden mean is always a good place to start for proportions....
http://www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/

I'll check that out, THANKS

Do you want the blue as the final dimension or the cream lettering?

Good question, for now I need the dimensions of the blue for the sign metal. Later if I go with trying to print out a template, I will need to figure out the white area. Thanks homebody

I measured the height on my computer screen to be 2-7/8". The width was 3-1/2". So divide the height into the width gives me a ratio of 1.22. So if you wanted a 6' tall sign the width would be 6' x 1.22=7.32'. Hope that helps.

Gotcha Mitch, thanks.

Just reread your post. 6.56' or 6' 6-3/4"would be the height.

copy that...

I made a Harley sign a while back. I printed my image onto a transparency and then used an overhead projector to transfer it onto my sign. Mine was indoors so I just used a piece of sheet rock and the dimensions made themselves.

Yep, That's one option I'm considering, thanks maxpower

here is the size

Thanks eddesign

Divide what you want by you got.

The width is 3.5" and you want 96" (8 foot)
96 divided by 3.5 equals 27.4285714 move the decimal point over 2 to the right and round it to get your percent. 2743%

2.875 x 2743% (27.43) = 78.86125 (6'7")

Cool thanks Scottwi

More than one way to skin a cat..

Always Mitch, always

If you right click on your picture and then on properties you will see your picture is 341x280 pixels. That is a 1.22 ratio.

lg
no neat sig line

I had noticed the pixels while editing this from the original old sign that had additional wording on the bottom wondered I'd perhaps that could be converted. Thanks for pointing out how to do it.

Thanks EVERYBODY for your help, I really appreciate it!

 

[BuickFarmer]

All the information above is correct as far as the dimensions go but as a signwriter please choose a logo that is correct.
It frustrates me to see "reproductions" of logos that are reproduced incorrectly. I reproduce lots of motorbike decals and only copy existing stickers on tanks or new old stock items, not someones interpretation of what they think it should look like.
Here is an original logo, there is not much of a difference only the thickness of a few outlines but it does look better, it won't take any longer to set it out or paint it but then you know that its correct, not somebody's version.

Sorry for the rant, I just like to see things done as they were originally designed

Hey gazza, I can appreciate your frustration of " "reprodudtions" of logos that are reproduced incorrectly". BUT I assure you I am trying to be as authentic in this build AND with the creation of this sign as is practically possible. I am very familiar with Buick signage from the early years and the logo I used for this sign is the upper portion of one of the oldest Buick Motor Car ads I know of (with the early Buick logo of "If It Isn't Valve in Head, It Isn't A Buick" . My Buick Sales and Service Garage build is designed around buildings typically seen in the 1920s, some generating from old livery stables. Therefore I used an old ad from 1915 for the base of my sign. Signs of that period were often hand painted directly on buildings and varied quite a bit from the actual dealership signs purchased from the motor companies. Some of the signs were painted by local sign painters with the owners names included etc. I feel very comfortable using the one I am using and it works for me. Just so you know I did investigate and seek out the most original style that would work for me I'm also posting a few others I considered taking from, and did not just grab the first repro from ebay I came across.
I have a great appreciation of sign painters and "signwriters" and realize it is a dying art. As I said I appreciate where you are coming from but hope you now realize where I am coming from also.

 

[rieferman]

Always a fan Buick Farmer!!

 

[four.cycle]

BuickFarmer, see HERE:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323354

You want to use an overhead projector - that's really the best method.

There are some other tips I posted there in that thread as well.

 

[BuickFarmer]

Thanks rieferman

four.cycle, thanks for posting that thread, I remember it but could not find it. I will certainly be reading up on the techniques you describe and possibly getting back with you for some pointers. I hope to be doing this when it starts cooling off a bit, say end of September, first of October. I am just now starting my search for the sheet metal and paint.

 

[gazza]

Hey gazza, I can appreciate your frustration of " "reprodudtions" of logos that are reproduced incorrectly". BUT I assure you I am trying to be as authentic in this build AND with the creation of this sign as is practically possible. I am very familiar with Buick signage from the early years and the logo I used for this sign is the upper portion of one of the oldest Buick Motor Car ads I know of (with the early Buick logo of "If It Isn't Valve in Head, It Isn't A Buick" . My Buick Sales and Service Garage build is designed around buildings typically seen in the 1920s, some generating from old livery stables. Therefore I used an old ad from 1915 for the base of my sign. Signs of that period were often hand painted directly on buildings and varied quite a bit from the actual dealership signs purchased from the motor companies. Some of the signs were painted by local sign painters with the owners names included etc. I feel very comfortable using the one I am using and it works for me. Just so you know I did investigate and seek out the most original style that would work for me I'm also posting a few others I considered taking from, and did not just grab the first repro from ebay I came across.
I have a great appreciation of sign painters and "signwriters" and realize it is a dying art. As I said I appreciate where you are coming from but hope you now realize where I am coming from also.

Hi again, I just spent a few hours going through your Buick Garage build, "WOW" is all I can say and let me apologize for my rant without knowing your background.
Keep up the research, great work and commitment to remember a great era of the motor car, you totally have this all sussed out!!
I will be joining your thread so I can keep up with the progress.
Gazza

 

[BuickFarmer]

Hi again, I just spent a few hours going through your Buick Garage build, "WOW" is all I can say and let me apologize for my rant without knowing your background.
Keep up the research, great work and commitment to remember a great era of the motor car, you totally have this all sussed out!!
I will be joining your thread so I can keep up with the progress.
Gazza

No apology needed here mate!! I fully appreciate your thoughts on poor reproductions. I see so many on eBay and other sites that are totally off in letter font and color etc. I assume it is to get by the copyrights or something. But we won't talk about that here.
Glad you liked my build thread and took time to read through it. I so need to spend time on updating it. Look forward to having you follow it and will appreciate any help you might offer re the signs.

 

[BBChevro]

No apology needed here mate!! I fully appreciate your thoughts on poor reproductions. I see so many on eBay and other sites that are totally off in letter font and color etc. I assume it is to get by the copyrights or something. But we won't talk about that here.
Glad you liked my build thread and took time to read through it. I so need to spend time on updating it. Look forward to having you follow it and will appreciate any help you might offer re the signs.

You so do Lamar.

 

[BFBOB]

BIGGER THAN YOU THINK

Think back to the last time you went out garage saleing. How many times did you see a garage sale sign you could read at city street speeds at a great enough distance to react - make a turn, for instance. ANY???
You want people to be able to spot your shop at a glance while driving by. Drive by other places and make a note of which signs are legible at the proper distance/speed, and measure them. Pay attention to line density. A word in letters a foot high can still be illegible at any significant distance if it's written in very thin lines.
Back to the garage sale - think of the commercially printed signs you've probably seen. "Garage Sale" printed in big, bold letters legible a block away with space below to write in the address, etc. All too often that crucial info is written in with a ballpoint pen, and can't be read much beyond an arm's length.

 

[BFBOB]

I am wanting to make a sign for my new building and need help in determining the dimension. I am hoping someone can take the picture below and determine the height to width ratio and tell me what the height in ft/inches would be if the width is 8 ft. I have tried using

6.4 feet, or 6' 4.8"

The ratio is 4:5. I recognized it immediately because 4x5" is a film size I used back in my photographer days - and the same proportions as standard 8x10" photo paper, but verified it measuring the image on my screen.

On second thought, I see that some of the examples posted by others have slightly different shapes - Yours looks slightly taller - more square - than other examples of the same basic sign. Indeed, the shapes of the letters are correspondingly different. I'm less confident of my assessment than I was originally - and also others' assessments. Even the pixel count - do we know for certain that the pixels are supposed to be square?

Since you're reproducing an existing sign, I agree with those who suggested an overhead projector. I've used this technique, and also projecting a slide (remember those??) onto the sign material. Just be sure to elevate/aim the projector so it is aimed precisely at the center of the sign, and that this line of sight is precisely square to the sign's surface, both horizontally and vertically. If your projector has a zoom lens, set it so the edges of the image are perfectly straight. (most zoom lenses have barrel distortion at the wide-angle settings and pincushion distortion at the telephoto settings. Somewhere in between there will be NO distortion.) Set it up properly and you'll get an exact reproduction. I'd regard the measurements of the sign's height as only an approximate value. Go by the projected size, 8' width and trim the height to fit.