Clear Signals: The Impact of Readability and Contrast in Signage

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12/3/2023

Signs play a crucial role in attracting customers and conveying information. A well-designed sign can enhance your business visibility, establish brand identity, and communicate important details such as promotions or operating hours. Consider factors like readability and colour contrast to maximize their effectiveness.

Readability in the context of signs refers to how easily and clearly the information on the sign can be read and understood.  Factors influencing readability include font choice, size, color contrast, and the overall design.  Choosing a legible font, ensuring proper size for viewing distance, and using contrasting colours can significantly improve a sign's readability, making it more effective in conveying its message to people passing by.  For optimal readability, it's generally effective to use high-contrast color combinations.  Here are some classic contrasting colour pairs that work well on signs:

1. Black and Yellow: Offers a strong contrast and is often associated with caution or attention-grabbing signage.
2. White and Blue: A clean and classic combination, providing good visibility.
3. Black and White:  A timeless contrast that is easy to read from a distance.
4. Red and White: Commands attention and is commonly used for sale or promotion signs.
5. Dark Blue and Yellow: Provides a strong contrast, making the text or information stand out.

Remember to consider the surrounding environment when designing the sign — you’ll want to ensure there is sufficient contrast between your sign and the surface it is being mounted to.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly — you’ll want to ensure your contrasting colours align with your brand identity while maintaining readability.

If you’d like to chat more about signs, we’re always happy to help, give us a call at 587 391 SIGN (7446).

Best,

Emma and Dan

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