Custom Facebook Timeline Cover for Business

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Tom
Custom Designrd Facebook Covers

Custom Designed Facebook Business Covers

Is your business on Facebook yet? If so, what kind of first impression does it make?  With Facebook’s new “Timeline” format, you have the opportunity to upload a large “Cover” image that can display the name of your company,  group or organization.  Let me design a business cover image for you. Just give me a few specifics- like the name, location and maybe how long you’ve been in business.  According to Facebook’s criteria, the cover may not contain:

  • Price or purchase information such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
  • Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
  • References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
  • Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

You may want to include a photo of your business or a logo if you have one.  Just remember that any photos or logos that are submitted should be large enough.  They can always be scaled down to fit, but not up without getting unsightly pixelation.
Email me at Tom@Signtech-RTA.com

Posted in Facebook, Web design | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Vinyl Pop Art

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Tom
Atomic Bomb Ring radio premium pop art

Atomic Bomb Ring radio premium pop art

Lately I’ve been experimenting with creating pop art à la Roy Lichtenstein using cut vinyl. This depicts a 1947 radio premium, the Kix Atomic Bomb Ring,  and is done on 18″ x 24″ x 3mm Sintra substrate.

The gradients dot pattern in the background were from a previous artistic experimentation session. They were created a row at a time- from very small, where they were barely discernible, up to the point where they completely merged with each other.

Posted in art | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Ampersand (&) as a Graphic Element

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Tom
Ampersand by Samuel Welo - 1927

Decorative ampersand by Samuel Welo - 1927

Although the ampersand has been around since the First Century AD, it really wasn’t used as an independent graphic element until creative signwriters began working it into their designs in the early part of the 20th Century.  They were no doubt influenced by the Art Nouveau  and later Art Deco movements of the time.

Vintage 'and' from an 1890's typography catalog

Vintage 'and' from an 1890's typography catalog

The typography of that era, for the most part, gave no special treatment to the ampersand, however you could often find the complete word and done rather ornately in printed brochures.  Many hand-lettered signs from around the turn of the century would also make use an ornate and.

Ampersand examples: between, beside and behind

Ampersand examples: between, beside and behind

An ampersand, when used as an independent graphic element in a sign layout, can be a totally different size, color or weight that the surrounding copy.  The ampersand can be placed between, on top,
underneath or alongside the relative copy as long as it reads correctly.  Try different combinations to see what looks best.

Be sure and check out the ampersand category in our symbols and graphics section.  Many are vintage and unique from old hand-lettered sources. If you’ve found a decorative ampersand you’d like to see added, please let us know.

By the way, although you see it done regularly,  it’s not considered good writing practice to use the ampersand in place of and in normal text.

Posted in fonts and typography | Leave a comment