I would like to name (rename) many of the structures, located on my layout, with new signage. In the past I would resort to using the signage supplied with the building kit. Not being a computer wizard, I am not comfortable using a complicated graphics program. Someone suggested I look into Adobe Illustrator. I checked on eBay, and was astounded by the high price! The CNE board would never allow such an expenditure. A recent article in either MR or RMC suggested using MS Paint. I tried this with less than satisfactory results. The next move was to purchase the Evan’s CD of railroad signs. Warning…this is merely a disk of clip art (I can get all of that I want - free - from Google Image). My task is to produce my own signs (simple lettering will suffice) using my own industry names. Any suggestions?
Gimp is a very powerful, open source, and free graphics editing software that is nearly as powerful as the full blown Adobe Photoshop. I use it at work sometimes. It runs on Windows, Linux, Unix, and MacOSX.
Otherwise, if you don’t like free, the $100 Adobe Photoshop Elements is also very good and more than capable of meeting your needs.
I have achieved very good results with Paint Shop Pro v. 4. They’re up to version 10, but you don’t need to spend big bucks on that program if you’re looking to create signs. Just Google PSP 4 (or however you normally search for downloadble software).
You can also use any of the MicroSoft programs like Word or PowerPoint (or equivellant). I use them all the time to produce simple signs in black and white to full color with additional graphics. You can get different fonts and size them appropriately.
Good Luck
Rick
I use MSPaint. It come free with Windows and is easy to use.
I have to agree with Rick, MicroSoft Word is what I’ve been using recently to create signs. The trick is to use various fonts and different size letters. Just click on “text properties” and you’ll be good to go. Be sure to note that you can have different background colors and text. I’ve used black as a background color and white as the text color. Also, to create a different color “frame” around the text, just highlight the line above and below and make it a different color. Be sure to add some of the “frame” color to the right and left of the text also, so the different color frame goes all around the text. A sign I made just last night had yellow text with a brown background and the “frame” around the sign was reddish brown. It looks great.
Once I print the signs on paper, I use a glue stick to afix them to stiffer cardboard or plastic for mounting. I also have some plastic billboards that I’ve afixed the signs to or you can make your own billboards out of plastic.
Hope this helps.
Mondo
I also get good results with MS Paint. The trick is to make the images big. Then, save the image and import it into MS Word (Insert - Picture - From File.) At this point, you can shrink the image down to the size you want.
The “Word Art” feature in MS Word lets you stretch and curve signs around. This usually works pretty well, too, but I’m not very good with it and sometimes I don’t like what comes out.
I go hunting with Google to find the fonts I want. The basic set is OK, but there are lot of others out there more suitable for making signs, etc.
I accidentally came across a free program download called “JARTE” that I really like, for doing anything involving writing out stuff in different fonts and sizes, plus colours (its meant as a word processing helper…and was purposely set up to cater to simpletons like me.) If you “save” anything there, it goes to your “my documents” area, and shows up as a “word” item, so if you wish to send it to anyone as an attachment, most people will be able to open it. Or, if you just want to do what I think you are after, you hit the icon of a printer, and VOILA! (The only drawback, being that it prints it out in FRENCH.)
{not really}
Many thanks…the forum has come through again. I have printed your suggestions and will try them all. Perhaps my pickle factory will finally have a sign. Regards.