Signs With Design Errors

[roadman]

The kerning is perfectly fine. What's wrong is that they didn't bother to make sure the numbers fit in the damn shield!
I'm gonna kick this one over to the Worst of Road Signs thread, because come on.

Looks to me like a classic case of using a SignCAD design verbatim instead of correcting the letter height of the route number.

[Scott5114]

I'm pretty sure H.B. wants states to have the right to post signs done in MS Word 97, complete with WordArt text and system-default clip art, because he feels the state's rights are more important than either form or function.

Just because they have the right to, doesn't mean they will.

Every right you grant to state DOTs gets granted to OkDOT.

Yes, yes they will.

[jakeroot]

I'm pretty sure H.B. wants states to have the right to post signs done in MS Word 97, complete with WordArt text and system-default clip art, because he feels the state's rights are more important than either form or function.

Just because they have the right to, doesn't mean they will.

Every right you grant to state DOTs gets granted to OkDOT.

Yes, yes they will.

[hbelkins]

I'm pretty sure H.B. wants states to have the right to post signs done in MS Word 97, complete with WordArt text and system-default clip art, because he feels the state's rights are more important than either form or function.


Fig. 1: This sign would be perfectly OK with H.B., as long as the Feds had nothing to do with it.

If you're going to pick at me, at least do it using a city in Kentucky, not southern Indiana. 

[Scott5114]

I'm pretty sure H.B. wants states to have the right to post signs done in MS Word 97, complete with WordArt text and system-default clip art, because he feels the state's rights are more important than either form or function.


Fig. 1: This sign would be perfectly OK with H.B., as long as the Feds had nothing to do with it.

If you're going to pick at me, at least do it using a city in Kentucky, not southern Indiana. 

I'm pretty sure I picked the right city.

[J N Winkler]

Looks to me like a classic case of using a SignCAD design verbatim instead of correcting the letter height of the route number.

I had the same reaction (I have probably hundreds of sheets with the same error), but I also wondered how they could get the number to "bleed" out of the shield without creating a lot of extra work for themselves in fabrication.  My rather naïve idea of how signs are manufactured (I just collect the plans and make my own designs for fun, and don't actually make real signs) is that the numbers are put on a cut-out shield using process ink, and the shield is then direct-applied to the sign background.  Numbers bleeding out of the shield would seem to require at least one additional step to apply the bled-out parts to the green background, taking care to ensure they are aligned with the parts inside the shield.

[MNHighwayMan]

All my experience with signs (just collecting and observing them) suggests that black digits are usually cut out from vinyl that has adhesive on the back. These would then be applied over the top of whatever else was printed beneath–in this case, shields that were printed too small for the intended digits.

[formulanone]

Crazy Eight(s) on LA 182 in Sunset, Louisiana:



(There was a second one ahead of this for the JCT sign.)

[paulthemapguy]

It's not even a diagonal intersection...why did they slant the symbology


20160412_082013 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

[tckma]

It's not even a diagonal intersection...why did they slant the symbology

My guess is they printed it wrong, as if it were a rectangle sign, and didn't want to mount it as a rectangle sign since it should be a diamond sign.

[tckma]

What's up with the mixed fonts on this sign?

[paulthemapguy]

New Lenox, IL doesn't understand how signs work.  HOW CAN YOU HAVE 'BETWEEN SIGNS' IF THIS SIGN IS IN THE MIDDLE 


2017-03-18_10-27-39 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

[roadman]

Looks to me like a classic case of using a SignCAD design verbatim instead of correcting the letter height of the route number.

I had the same reaction (I have probably hundreds of sheets with the same error), but I also wondered how they could get the number to "bleed" out of the shield without creating a lot of extra work for themselves in fabrication.  My rather naïve idea of how signs are manufactured (I just collect the plans and make my own designs for fun, and don't actually make real signs) is that the numbers are put on a cut-out shield using process ink, and the shield is then direct-applied to the sign background.  Numbers bleeding out of the shield would seem to require at least one additional step to apply the bled-out parts to the green background, taking care to ensure they are aligned with the parts inside the shield.

Later versions of SignCAD include a function that allows the panel design to be sent directly to the sign shop's cutter.  So it is conceivable that the numerals were cut and applied exactly according to the SignCAD drawing, because that's the information that the sign shop used.  Another example of GIGO (garbage in-garbage out).

[Scott5114]

Good news, fans of this thread! Oklahoma is attempting APLs now!

[jakeroot]

"EXIT ONLY" really should be white-on-black. It's regulatory, not warning.

That said, not bad for a first attempt. I was expecting perhaps one too many arrows, maybe some wonky letters. 

[Scott5114]

Well, there are some wonky letters. Note the kerning in 'City'. And the right half of the sign isn't horizontally centered. Maybe it's a metaphor for the relationship between Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Unfortunately, the picture makes it difficult to tell that the sign is bolted on the gantry at an angle (one end of the sign is higher than the other).

Cleaned up, easier to see version:


Also of note: another recently-posted sign in this project, which I didn't take a picture of since I first saw it at night, features a diagonally compressed arrow. Ah, OkDOT.

[freebrickproductions]

Spotted these in Hartselle, AL...
Apparently this section of Kimbough Street was annexed by Australia:
Australian Two-Way Traffic? by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Australian Two-Way Traffic? by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

And then this one sign for this Recreational Center has "center" spelled as "CENTR", don't know why they didn't bother correcting it since all of the other signs have "CENTER" spelled correctly...
CENTR by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

[SignGeek101]

And then this one sign for this Recreational Center has "center" spelled as "CENTR", don't know why they didn't bother correcting it since all of the other signs have "CENTER" spelled correctly...
CENTR by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Maybe they were trying to spell "Centre" the British/Canadian way and simply forgot the 'e' at the end 

[freebrickproductions]

And then this one sign for this Recreational Center has "center" spelled as "CENTR", don't know why they didn't bother correcting it since all of the other signs have "CENTER" spelled correctly...
CENTR by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Maybe they were trying to spell "Centre" the British/Canadian way and simply forgot the 'e' at the end 

Well, all of the others are spelled "Center", but this is Hartselle we're talking about here, so...

[JJBers]

And then this one sign for this Recreational Center has "center" spelled as "CENTR", don't know why they didn't bother correcting it since all of the other signs have "CENTER" spelled correctly...
CENTR by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Maybe they were trying to spell "Centre" the British/Canadian way and simply forgot the 'e' at the end 

Well, all of the others are spelled "Center", but this is Hartselle we're talking about here, so...

Maybe they forgot dot at the end or Centr.

[Billy F 1988]

ban this sick filth


20170327_091406 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

Say what, now? Okay, I can get having NPZ pennants on major highways, but this? In a residential area? Bruh! A simple Do Not Pass would suffice better.

[cjk374]

ban this sick filth


20170327_091406 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

Say what, now? Okay, I can get having NPZ pennants on major highways, but this? In a residential area? Bruh! A simple Do Not Pass would suffice better.

Maybe there was a 2-for-1 sale on the pennants. 

[PurdueBill]

The pennant looks more like a yellow yield sign blank turned 90 degrees. 

Regarding black numerals being applied later to a sign, that could explain the sign on US 30 west of Upper Sandusky a few years ago that had a totally blank Ohio shield that should have had "37" inside it.  Must have left the shop without sticking the numerals on.....
Somewhere I have a photo of it.

[PHLBOS]

Cleaned up, easier to see version:

Use of Series E for numerals on the I-shields; something one usually doesn't see post-button-copy.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Well, there are some wonky letters. Note the kerning in 'City'. And the right half of the sign isn't horizontally centered. Maybe it's a metaphor for the relationship between Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Unfortunately, the picture makes it difficult to tell that the sign is bolted on the gantry at an angle (one end of the sign is higher than the other).

Cleaned up, easier to see version:


Also of note: another recently-posted sign in this project, which I didn't take a picture of since I first saw it at night, features a diagonally compressed arrow. Ah, OkDOT.

Looks like whoever created the infamous Craig County (and its companion Mayes County) sign is slowly...SLOWLY...learning how to make signs.