4 x 12 sign layout

[Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?]

I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to vintage design, so here's my effort for a 4 x 12 panel layout. I don't particularly care for the color scheme. I'm thinking a blue seal and ribbon might look nice and pop a little more on the brown, but red looks luxurious, so I went that direction. Any ideas to liven it up or make this better? Is the ornamentation way over the top, or is it subtle enough to add interest without being overbearing? I think it's nice to be able to use a blackletter font and get away with it, but then maybe it looks more like a cigar label.

 

[Gino]

The red area needs to pop more. You have lotsa attention spent on the border, maybe a little too much.

The arch has an odd slant and I can't figure it out, yet. Seems it slants one way, then straightens out and then slants differently again.

 

[Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?]

Yeah, the color scheme is muddy at best and I can't seem to figure out a color combination that will give me the sophisticated look without being too loud and obnoxious. Color theory is not my strong point and it shows.

 

[HDvinyl]

Maybe something like this?

 

[Marlene]

is this a sign panel? if so having the 45 years with the 2015 will be dated really fast. is this for an event o will it be their sign? if you go with the red, make it a tomato/orange red it looks better with the other warm colors

 

[BIG EASY DOES IT]

The red area needs to pop more. You have lotsa attention spent on the border, maybe a little too much.

The arch has an odd slant and I can't figure it out, yet. Seems it slants one way, then straightens out and then slants differently again.

Maybe this is what your seeing. Not everything lines up quite right. I was noticing it too so thought I would grid it. A little too far to right and a little lop sided.

 

[TimToad]

I'd have to agree with most of the comments already made. I think one way you could easily help your primary text is to change the outline color around it. That midtone brown is too close to all the background colors to help pop your main message off the background even with the drop shadow.

That font has some irregularities that are causing the arc of your baseline to appear off.

Unless, this is a sign intended for one years use at the most, having a double "timeline" message will quickly render the entire sign obsolete after a year or two at the most. Seems like a lot of space taken up to timestamp a business.

Did you look at any other type of traditional or historical font choices before settling on the blackletter?

 

[OldPaint]

1ST THING.......caught my eye......the last letter "s" is not on the same level line as the D.........that tends to make it look lopsided
the background looks to fake...........with the lettering being so detailed, the background looks like "something you just added". why do you need 45 years so predominate? take off the 2015.......and just go with SINCE 1970.

 

[Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?]

Maybe something like this?

I don't know why I didn't think of that. I kept thinking in my mind that it had to be so much brighter to contrast and it would take away from the rest of the layout, but that is the perfect tone and color. Thank you.

 

[Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?]

is this a sign panel? if so having the 45 years with the 2015 will be dated really fast. is this for an event o will it be their sign? if you go with the red, make it a tomato/orange red it looks better with the other warm colors

It's for a sign that will go inside their shop to commemorate their anniversary, so it's mostly just for the workers, as well as customers and others who tour the facility.

 

[Marlene]

It's for a sign that will go inside their shop to commemorate their anniversary, so it's mostly just for the workers, as well as customers and others who tour the facility.

wonder if they would be better off with a "since 1970" as 45 years is an odd number as usually it's 50 years that you usually see but that's just me thinking out loud. the sign looks good. I like the the details in the the brown and the yellow looks nice too. just warm up the seal with another shade of red

 

[shoresigns]

You can go two ways with a "wood" background like that. Either make it look 100% realistic or dumb it down so it's obvious that it's a mocked up drawing to represent woodwork. You're kind of halfway in between with all the elaborate detail and no wood grain texture or realistic lighting.