Banner Design

[mdengraver]

I was asked to design a banner for a design contest in my drawing club. I thought it would be a good exercize in designing to improve my drawing skills for engraving. Here it is attached.

Also, I have a question when engraving complicated scenes how often does one do proofs of their engravings as they progress? Do you use a mirror to see how the image looks in reverse? What is the method of choice (smoke pulls/inking the engraving, etc? I wanted to ask this question. Wanted to know how to avoid any unwanted surprises in my work.

[Marcus Hunt]

One of the best books on banners you can get is in the Dover Books range. What you have to remember with banners and all their folds is that the top and bottom edge should be parallel and this runs on through the folds or spiralling. I would definitely recommend studying this book and you'll see how you can improve your banners. You are on the right lines but could make it much better. However, I do like the background hills and road.

[sam]

I think it's a good effort but difficult to read, which should be a very high priority.

[mdengraver]

Sam, I made some improvements after I sent it. I clarified the "N" in the word unique and in the "r" in perspective. I'll send the latest version. Marcus thanks for your input I'll look at my Dover books more closely. I noticed many of the banners are very stylistic and thought I saw some successful banners that seemed to break many of the rules.

See the revised lettering in the new attachment. Let me know if this is better.

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi mdengraver.

Banners need to have consistent width throughout. Think of it like a very long ribbon that is all the same width. It can taper at the ends but not in the middle sections. If you lose that consistency then it stops looking like a banner or ribbon.

Your curves need to be consistent. If curved at the top..........your bottom curve needs to be the same.

Get a piece of ribbon and try it out. I've drawn very roughly some ideas for you to work on. Try to visualize what it will look like when stylized a bit.

Your lettering is unreadable because of the style you have used. Go for a very plain style that is readable. Block or Roman will do it. Avoid styles like you have used like the plague.

You are on the right path........you just need to refine it a lot better. Start with the outline (same as a scroll) and get the basics right. Leave the coloring in part till the absolute last thing you do.

Cheers
Andrew

[sam]

Good advice from Andrew. A common error with computer illustrators is being so decorative with fonts that the design is difficult to read. A nice Roman type will look much better imho. Remember that it's not what you draw/engrave that makes a great design, but what you don't draw.

I'm in Tucson and saw a sign on the way from the airport where the designer used a script typeface and used all uppercase letters. Obviously he/she is trying to be fancy and decorative, but rendered a sign that's impossible or extremely difficult to read. It's a really large and professionally made sign and not something someone made in their garage. Andrew's a signwriter by trade and certainly knows more about this than I do.

Readability is an absolute must. The only exception I can think of are the gothic monograms where the letters or names are cleverly 'hidden' in a complex array of closely intertwining letters.

[KCSteve]

Andrew

Would it work to draw the top line of the banner and then use a compass to mirror that top line for the bottom? I realize you'd still have to do a bit of it yourself, in some of the more fiddly bits but it seems to me that having the main bits drawn at the consistent width would help get them right too.

[mdengraver]

I guess many of those fancy fonts don't have too many practical applications.
Mr. Biggs, I appreciate your corrections. I will try to replace the type with a new mor legible font. I was going to hang the project up but I guess there's still hope if I clean up the project using your suggestions.
I'll see what I can salvage. Since the snow has me locked inside right now I have the time to devote to it. It's hard making corrections by hand. I know Illustrator marginally. I know Illustrator and Photoshop could take me to a new level. Mastering that program however takes a lot of time. I like working by hand but it can have it's limitations. It can be hit or miss. This is good I learn more from my mistakes and hopefully use this information to get to the next level.

[mdengraver]

I just purchased these books. Provided here for others interested in developing their banner and ribbon skills and getting ideas.

1 "Banners, Ribbons and Scrolls CD-ROM and Book"
Dover; Paperback

2. Ready-to-Use Banners
Huge variety of sizes and styles: contemporary, old-fashioned, simple, ornate, bold, delicate, etc. 32 plates. Author: Ted Menten ISBN:0486238997 ( 238997 ) ISBN13 ...

3. Banners, Ribbons and Scrolls
503 copyright-free designs of ornamental scroll-work form from authentic ... Victorian sources. Many styles, motifs, sizes. Author: Carol Belanger Grafton ISBN:0486244431 ( 244431 ) ISBN13: 9780486244433 0486244431 ...

[sam]

Originally Posted by mdengraver

I know Illustrator and Photoshop could take me to a new level. Mastering that program however takes a lot of time. I like working by hand but it can have it's limitations.

You are very close to having a solid design. Please don't fall into the computer trap. While it does make some aspects of design easier, honing your skills with a pencil will take you MUCH father than a computer ever will. Computer wizard designers who lack drawing skills are severely limited as far as I'm concerned. I was pleased to hear you're taking a drawing class. That's awesome!

Drawing Roman letters to fit your banners will be an excellent exercise that you will benefit from for years to come. You can do it!