Signs With Design Errors

[74/171FAN]

The Dr is a bit off on SR 608 in Fairfax County.

SR 608 NORTH NEAR ALLIANCE DR AND COSTCO PLAZA DR by Mark Moore, on Flickr

[vtk]

I guess Mountain Road in Hillsboro, VA, according to this sign on VA 9 is now Mountain Road Road doing its best Campfire Song Song impression.

VA 9 WEST .75 MILES EAST OF SR 690 by Mark Moore, on Flickr

Also, that sign is entirely in Clearview. The only things on that sign that should be in Clearview, if any, are Mountain [Rd] Rd and Hiddencroft Vineyards, and those should not be in all-caps either way.

[kphoger]

I see in GSV that they've wrapped up the project on the northeast side of San Angelo TX, and that the overhead signs have black borders on the square shields:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/htj7zk8wKJHeVZLR6
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u3AUEBWMLDQwPV5R6

[WillWeaverRVA]

I see in GSV that they've wrapped up the project on the northeast side of San Angelo TX, and that the overhead signs have black borders on the square shields:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/htj7zk8wKJHeVZLR6
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u3AUEBWMLDQwPV5R6

I think they look better that way, actually.

[kphoger]

I think they look better that way, actually.

I don't know about "better", but I've always like them that way too.

[Scott5114]

rule of tincture in shambles

[kphoger]

rule of tincture in shambles

Well, I had thought about adding, no matter what Jonathan has to say about the rule of tincture, but then decided against it.

The rule of tincture is overrated.

[Scott5114]

rule of tincture in shambles

Well, I had thought about adding, no matter what Jonathan has to say about the rule of tincture, but then decided against it.

The rule of tincture is overrated.

Like most rules in art, following it will generally keep you from stumbling into making something that looks awful. (Rule of tincture will keep you from putting black text on a green background.) But there are situations in which you can break it and get away with it. The trick is that you generally need a fair bit of experience (or very good natural intuition) to know when you can and can't get away with it.

I think it's fair to say we shouldn't expect most highway engineers to know when they can waive the rule of tincture, so it would probably be better to pretend it's a hard and fast rule.

[kphoger]

Like most rules in art, following it will generally keep you from stumbling into making something that looks awful. (Rule of tincture will keep you from putting black text on a green background.) But there are situations in which you can break it and get away with it. The trick is that you generally need a fair bit of experience (or very good natural intuition) to know when you can and can't get away with it.

I think it's fair to say we shouldn't expect most highway engineers to know when they can waive the rule of tincture, so it would probably be better to pretend it's a hard and fast rule.

Does white on white violate the rule of tincture? 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/AKaLcLeTiuUNzqU36

https://maps.app.goo.gl/A8cQQyP1Aa3HL1sx8 (old)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GCqE8KTgZPccFXQ19 (new)

[kphoger]

Most minor nit-pick ever?

A pair of kilometer markers that, at first glance, appear to be identical.  But the one on the right side of the road has a capitalized Km instead of an all-lowercase km.  GSV imagery from three years earlier shows that it didn't use to be that way.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4gPSomkaPvj5mxBx8

[The_Ginger]

Most minor nit-pick ever?

A pair of kilometer markers that, at first glance, appear to be identical.  But the one on the right side of the road has a capitalized Km instead of an all-lowercase km.  GSV imagery from three years earlier shows that it didn't use to be that way.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4gPSomkaPvj5mxBx8

I don't think it's a minor nit-pick. One of these days I'll post a few signs around here with improper kerning and incorrect corner radii.

[kphoger]

I don't think it's a minor nit-pick.

Then you've leveled up in roadgeekdom.

By the way, that's not necessarily a compliment.

[Max Rockatansky]

I don't think it's a minor nit-pick.

Then you've leveled up in roadgeekdom.

By the way, that's not necessarily a compliment.

In Mexico you're lucky to have a sign at all let alone two.

[The_Ginger]

I don't think it's a minor nit-pick.

Then you've leveled up in roadgeekdom.

By the way, that's not necessarily a compliment.

I wouldn't say it's an insult, either! 

[kphoger]

In Mexico you're lucky to have a sign at all let alone two.

At least where I travel in Mexico, kilometer markers are pretty reliably posted on the federal highways, even if not so much on the state routes.