When you are creating a sign, adding graphical elements can make the sign much more attractive. By adding these graphics, you are increasing the overall appeal of the banner. When you take this step, you can be assured that more people will see and actually read your sign.
There are several different considerations that you will need to keep in mind when you are adding graphics to your banner. The most important consideration involves understanding how your sign will be viewed by the public.
How People Process Information
People usually process information in one of three ways, auditory, visually or pictorially. You can rule out the first one, which means that you can focus on the other two. In order to appeal to both methods of processing information, it is important to include these two elements on the same sign.
For example, someone who prefers to process information pictorially will spot a graphic before they see text. In order to attract this type of person's interest, it is absolutely necessary to include graphics on your sign. For people who spot text before graphics, it is important to make sure that you have enough text on your sign to attract their attention as well.
This creates the need for a balance in your sign. Balance is another important component in a well designed sign. When a sign is not balanced, such as when there are too many graphics and not enough text, or the elements are not arranged properly, this actually creates a visual disturbance in the viewer. Their first reaction will be to stop looking at the sign.
When you are combing text and graphic elements on the same sign, it can be very easy to lose sight of this important point. It is a good idea to start with your text, using this as the anchor for the rest of the sign. Once you have centered your message, the graphical elements can be used to support this message, instead of detracting from it.
The colors that are used for the graphics on your sign can either match the text colors, or you can use contrasting colors. If your graphics are simple line-art images, they can be displayed in just one color. However, if you have a complicated logo or a graphic that needs several colors to display properly, you may want to consider going with a full color banner.
By using graphics in the same color as your text, the viewer will automatically associate them with the rest of your message. However, in many cases, you will need to go with a contrasting color to make sure that the graphics display properly. Try out several different colors with your graphics until you find the one that showcases the image to its utmost best.