Sizing of text for signage at a distance

[trucks1948]

I have a customer who is going to use telephone poles for uprights and for the cross piece across his driveway.The top of the cross piece will be 14feet high .The width will be 22-24 ft .He wants about 12 feet of design in the middle.my question is how big do i need to make the designs so they look right and are able to be seen from a reasonable distance? He wants the designs to set right on top of the pole.Thanks for any help.Jim

[weldor2005]

I am just taking a stab at this one...

There are two things to think about. What color will it be, and will that color contract well with the back ground from multiple if not all viewing angles.

Then as for size, If it is lettering I would compare other signs around you, measure the height of the letters, and then walk away from it until you can no longer enjoy/read the sign. If you need more distance in your mind then make bigger letters than that one.

I could have sworn there was actually a legit formula for this somewhere in physics, but I have no clue.

Side note, Be sure to engineer for strength, that is a long span for something like this, and include ideas like wind, or if it will get ice building up on it.

All I can offer.

[Stout]

I get a picture of where any design will be installed along with a measurement for reference. The I drop the design onto the picture and resize it until the customer says "That's exactly right.". Not much guesswork anymore.

[trucks1948]

Thanks guys that was my idea drawing it to scale in corel and setting it up till it looked right.

[AnotherDano]

Thanks guys that was my idea drawing it to scale in corel and setting it up till it looked right.

Try to find a font with the fattest letters possible.
My customer picked out a font that I didn't agree with, but went with her choice.
Sure enough, from just a short distance the lettering disappeared.

Dano

[tnbndr]

Along with size a very important consideration is material thickness and stiffness. This sign will be 14' in the air exposed to every weather condition possible, wind, rain, tornadoes? It needs to withstand a lot. How you fasten to the support poles will be important also. Remember and consider metal fatigue, a little bit of movement over the years can result in disaster.

[trucks1948]

Thanks for all the ideas

[BrianMick]

Here is a chart done by the california institute of technology....I think it comes in quite handy
Brian

[Marty]

Thanks Brian

I also learned that some cities or counties have codes for height of address numbers in an address sign...i called around then stuck with the largest spec....6 inches...at least for address numbers...I also standardized in backing the address sign with white acrylic, epoxied to bare metal on back of the address plaque......contrast is our friend:)