I’ve seen several instances where people have gotten really cool images off the computer to make signs for there layout. I model in the mid '50’s, could someone explain in simple terms how to do this? I think the vintage signs really add vivid color and interest to buildings and scenes.
Do a Google images search for Signs, vintage signs, antique signs, bill boards, etc…
Download them, resize them with a graphics program. I like Inkscape. It’s free and EZ to use. Then print them out. The larger the image file is, the better quality it will be. Small 17k files don’t have much detail.
Look for antique sign web sites too. There’s a bunch of them out there.
Yes, indeed, Google is your best friend.
Go ahead, waste some time. Go to Google, and click the “Images” button at the top. I usually try to be specific, like “Campbells Soup sign” or “Circus poster.” “Coppertone advertisement” might work, too.
I print most of mine on decal paper. When I apply them to a brick building, they look like old-time ads that were painted on to the wall. I also put them on wood plank fences like this. Because the surfaces are rough, the decal gets “instant weathering” and looks like it’s been on the building for a long time, particularly after a blast of Dul-Cote to seal and protect the decal.
These days, the constant competition for attention leads advertisers to change their campaigns and images frequently. Back before things got so frantic, though, a corporate icon like Coppertone’s little girl with the dog tugging on her swimsuit, or the Campbell’s Soup kids, represented the product for many years. As such, these images were burned into our collective subconscious, and they now really help set the era for your railroad.