Full Version: Books or online examples of award designs
From: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#1]
27 May 2004
To: ALL
Hi everybody,
I'm looking for some examples of designs that are used on award plaques with color or b/w ink jet sublimation. Can any of you point me to either books or online resources for getting acquainted with some styles/designs that are used in the industry. I am interested in pursuing business in the awards area but must admit that everything I know about it comes from having seen some so you know I don't know much. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#2]
30 May 2004
To: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#1] 30 May 2004
Gayle,
Your request may be too general. I'm not sure anyone can tell that for which you are looking.
Do you mean clipart? Do you mean layouts? Do you mean software?
Possibly the first tip would be to tell you that a huge percentage of trophy people use CorelDRAW as their main graphics software. It comes with a few thousand pieces of clipart that can be used directly on award/sign/nametag products.
Climbing the learning curve? Consider joining http://www.ara.org
Consider subscribing to industry trade journals: A&E, Engravers Journal, GraphicsPro...
HTH,
From: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#3]
30 May 2004
To: Pedaler (ROYBREWER) [#2] Unread
I guess what I'm looking for is just ideas of how award plaques might look in their finished state. For instance, someone mentioned that in general the name of the recipient of an award is featured prominently but I know that I have seen a lot where the name of the company and/or the name of the award is most prominent and the name of the recipient takes second or third place. Since I am not engraving but doing dye sub I'm interested in the kinds of colors and backgrounds other use -- just to get an idea of what the purchasers of awards might be expecting to see.
I have looked at some websites where awards are offered and that is giving me a pretty good idea. I have lots of clipart available to use if it is appropriate.
From: UncleSteve [#4]
30 May 2004
To: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#3] 31 May 2004
Have you gone to a few awards companies (retailers) in your area and just walked around and looked at their samples on display?
You will see what is the usual and may get some "out of the box" ideas also........
From: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#5]
31 May 2004
To: UncleSteve [#4] 31 May 2004
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#6]
24 Jun 2004
To: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#3] 24 Jun 2004
Hi Gayle -
My first suggestion would be to contact Bob Trogman at rtrogman@dc.rr.com. You would get a good start from him if he has the time to help you set some perimeters for yourself when doing set ups. He might also have some samples he could fax you.
I have an art background, so many times that saves me from "overdoing" the layout with too many curlicues or other "stuff". I have seen some horrendous setups from new engravers and from plaques that come in for repairs from other shops. Too large of type, mixing too many fonts on one plate, shouting in caps, too much, too little - it is a fine balance. Time & experience, making notes when you see something at a show that you like, taking photos at shows to take back with you, all this will help you learn what looks good and what looks bad.
I find a suggestion of Bob's, which I've been using for years, but when he wrote this in an article I said to myself - yes, that's exactly right - is to pick a font that matches the purpose or occasion of what you are engraving for. For example, a plaque for a wedding would have a font that "went" with a wedding theme. I would probably use something scripty. But you wouldn't want to use a script font for a plaque for a man. I use a lot of true type fonts for engraving because they let me match themes better, and to be honest, I am just tired of seeing the same engraving fonts over and over after 18 years.
I've seen some of the sample pages, like in the ARA book that has the supplier & retail listing for the year, and although they are OK, they are kind of boring to my eye.
Burnishing on brass or aluminum will give you a better look also.
A rule that I've lived by that I learned early on in my engraving life is that the largest font should not exceed a .3. There are exceptions of course, but this rule has held good over the years.
Good luck and let me know if I can help further.
Cindy
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#7]
24 Jun 2004
To: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#3] 24 Jun 2004
Gayle - sorry - I should have read further to see you are not engraving.
There are books you can purchase for sublimation that have set ups on discs. You just purchase the set of discs, and pull up one that is appropriate for your project - enter your info and off you go. They are in multiple color layouts. One of the shops here in town has this set and I think they got it from, is it Steve?, Spence, who does a lot of sublimation seminars. He can probably get you set up if you contact him.
Cindy
From: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#8]
24 Jun 2004
To: Cindy (CINDYM) [#7] 24 Jun 2004
Actually, your first reply was helpful because, even though I'm not doing engraving, I did want to get some ideas on making award plaques since that is done by sublimation also. With the color capabilities of dye sub, you can add some design that you probably wouldn't or couldn't do with engraving, I would think that when doing awards that you would not want to stray too far from traditional styles as far as setting up the wording, using fonts, and that sort of thing. With a color photo or design as the background and the fact that the words aren't engraved, the design is going to look a lot different anyway and it just seems like it should have some aspects that still look familiar to most people.
So thanks for both answers.
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#9]
24 Jun 2004
To: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#1] 25 Jun 2004
Gayle,
This is just an addition to the help you have already received. I have a book that I purchased over 10 years ago called "Plaque Talk, Mastering the Language of Awards". It is approximately 75 pages of what to say on a plaque. There are 3-4 sayings on each page. I frequently hand this book to my customers when they come in and tell me they don't know what to say. I suggest they take a sentence or 2 from the book and then add their own thoughts. I don't remember where I bought it but there is an order form listing a phone # of 718-634-1089 and a FAX # of 718-318-0173. I have also copied suggestions of wording from the Tropar catalog. Our customers seem to relate to their wording style. While these are aimed at engravers the wording would apply to your uses.
Dee
From: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#10]
25 Jun 2004
To: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#9] 25 Jun 2004
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11]
25 Jun 2004
To: GayleFromTx (GAYLEOPIE) [#10] 25 Jun 2004
I feel your pain. I am just setting up for vinyl cutting and feel like I am groping in the dark.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#12]
25 Jun 2004
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11] 26 Jun 2004
Harvey,
Please! No more details.
From: JHayes55 [#13]
26 Jun 2004
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11] 28 Jun 2004
Harvey
If you have any questions that I can help you with drop me a line. We have been doing vinyl graphics for a number of years - still don't feel I know it all by
any means.
Joe
EDITED: 26 Jun 2004 by JHAYES55