My SRT's Showboard/Show Setup - Opinions Please :)

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:11 pm

Since my car is mostly a show car and the general public has minimal knowledge of SRTs I made a showboard for it last year. However with the major changes the exterior underwent I had to change the showboard for this coming year. I figured I'd post last years and this years and see what you guys thought.

I'm by no means a professional graphic designer, but I thought they came out pretty damned good. I don't use Photoshop for them even though I have V9 CS2 because I'm not that familiar with it yet. They were done w/Microsoft Photodraw.

2007 16"x20"

2008 20"x30" This one is being printed right now and should be here next week.

Though the font on the new one may seem tough to read, in person the smallest parts are 25 point. The other things displayed with my car at shows are my photo album of the paint job start to finish, and my newspaper article, a couple pink panthers, my 70 AAR model and after next month a small magazine feature as well.

For those of you with boards, what do you display them on? Should I get an easel instead of displaying them this way?

Opinions/commentary welcome

kornholio788 · Post by **kornholio788** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:18 pm

Board looks great.

My show set up sucks. I really need to get a good board made up. I plan on it very soon. Yours looks really nice. Love the pink panther dolls. IDK. Maby just a smaller stand. I think an easel would be too big imo. What that stand could be? I dunno. Maby just get the easel and cut it down.

WHat my plan is to do a couple ones but smaller. One for the exterior outside the car. One for the interior inside. Then one for the trunk and stereo set up sittin in my trunk. And have 3 with pictures of each on them. I think that would be cool. I wanted to get mine etched in plexi but I can't find anyone to do it. Cuz then at night shows you could light it up and that would be tits.

Here is my latest. It had just rained so I just quickly set it up. I REALLY need to get a nice one made.

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:26 pm

ha, well i was going to make you one for doing my eyelids too! Glad i didn't now

My HONEST HONEST HONEST opnion as a graphic designer.... It's way to cluttered, too hard to read, has way to much going on and too many elements to deal with. Your eye doesn't know where to go first or what path to even follow. Honestly if I was walking by the car, I'd check out everything around your car but the board. It just seems like it'd be an eyestrain.

I DO however like that you kept everything flush left and used an easy to read font. It could be stretched up a bit taller, but it works.

One rule we have at work though is, if you have to use a stroke, then you need to re-design the page.

Using a stroke around the letters means there's another element that's over powering what you're trying to get across, and that you need to tone that element down a bit. We got bitched at alot for trying to use strokes.

I'm not trying to be an asshole, but give my honest to god opnion. I know if I ran this by my manager he'd tear me a new one.

But, it helps being in the field for a few years to catch onto little things as well.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:28 pm

I was thinking of doing that with the easel. Cutting the legs off of it so at least I could pull it away from the car. I never display my trophies with my car though, I keep them home. Some shows with judges by me dislike that practice and make it known when they see it. Plus the less stuff I lug around the better.

My board took me a few hours to make, just to get everything lined up, choose the photos I wanted, etc. And it costs around $16 to print a 20x30. And since I don't have a trunk setup I only have one board. Nothing in the trunk its boring ha ha

I do like your setup though, and I may have to hunt for a cheap easel at walmart or something. Hmmmm....

Opi: Yeah I'm by no means a designer. The MAIN issue I have is that I can't get everything to fit without it looking cluttered. And I really can't leave anything out. Theres too many subtle changes that people who don't know the car wouldn't notice (like the interior pillars/headliner, caps, etc.) I tried to make one with just one picture of the car and everything around it, and failed miserably. I sucked at PS. I admit it. But I can take pictures!!!!

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:27 pm

My opinion...

1) Difficult to read because of photo background. Why do you need photos of the car if people are already looking at it?

2) Performance mod list too short!!!!111!!one!!

DouglasSXT · Post by **DouglasSXT** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:50 pm

Your car is way too hot to have it be a prop to hold up your boards... lol I think once you get something you could put out in front of the car it'll work out better. People can actually look at that before they get a closer look at your car.

The boards are kind of hard to read because you have all the pics of the car in the background... I'd like to actually see them in person to really get a better idea... But I'm sure the judges give you better points for having the boards out for display.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:38 pm

In person (because they are so much larger) they are actually very easy to read. The pictures of the car in the background is similar to what everyone around here does for their showboards. I took a bunch of new pictures today that I have to edit, so we'll see if any of those give me enough room to have just one HUGE picture of the car and the mods on it.

Oh and the judges do love it, it breaks down what they are looking at very precisely so they don't need to ask too many questions.

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:51 am

LilSparkPlug wrote:

I love the climbing pink panther!

2007 board looks good!

NeonBluSXT · Post by **NeonBluSXT** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:00 am

This was my first attempt at this but I use an easel with mine that I got at AC Moore craft store. I got the table top version cause I wanted something lower to the gound that hopfully the wind wouldnt catch plus I have a larger board like you have. Here is a pic of it in use. Its about 12.99 in the stores but Ive seen them as cheap as 5 bucks as well.

It isnt the best of course and I dont have nearly as much done as you but I already had the poster frame and pics so all I did was add a list of mods and got the easel to put it on. It didnt fall over once Im happy to say lol. I watched from a distance and noticed a lot of folks stopping to look at it so... Hope that helps

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:55 am

Mine falls over ALL the damned time!!! I'll have to check out AC Moore by me and see if they have anything once I finalize a design. I found another picture that I'm going to try to use instead of the one I already had printed. So its less "busy"

Jenni: Thanks! I had a tough time finding Pink Panther's and the climbing one was one of the only ones I could find at stores by me. It sucked lol, but he ended up working out in the long run.

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:04 pm

I like the board, Im sure its much easier to read in person, but if you are going to re-do it, I guess that s cool too.

Personally, I think you should get an easel or something. When I look at a car at a show, I always like to see the front wheels when looking at an angle, and the way you put the board covers one of them up. Its just not doing it for me.

And please do not put a huge system or anything in that trunk!!!

-Jacob

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:19 pm

Oh I have no intentions of putting a huge system in my trunk. Systems do nothing for me. I would however, like to have some better upholstery work done in there eventually so its not so boring. This is all after I finish the interior (long project).

I do agree with the wheels also. I'll go by a few places today and see if I can find an easel. A little one at least.

Izero · Post by **Izero** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:48 pm

It kinda looks a lil cluttered if you ask me... I'd say give the columns a little more space between them... like split them into sections just a little bit just to make it easy to read and look at.... b/c you and I both know Judges wanna be able to just kinda glance at certain sections to see what is has and doesn't have ya know? other than that I love the picture setup you have goin on in the background

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:13 pm

LilSparkPlug wrote:The pictures of the car in the background is similar to what everyone around here does for their showboards.

Best reason to not use pictures, IMHO. Even little things like that can help set your car apart from others. Not that it really needs help there, but still...

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:20 pm

Well it came in today, heres a picture of it in its new frame, and a closeup to show you just how easy it is to read. It looks much better in person:

I may still make another one using another photo where it just has one picture of the car

WickedJester · Post by **WickedJester** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:27 pm

Looks a lot better bigger like that but my eyes still have a hard time adjusting with all the different pics in the background.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:58 pm

For some reason in person it doesn't have that effect. The local company that makes them like this starts theirs at $220....for only a few pictures and minimal text, its insanity.

FuzzyWuzzyBear · Post by **FuzzyWuzzyBear** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:36 am

I can understand why you would want to put pictures of your car as the background, but for me it doesn't work aesthetically. It's like making a Powerpoint and having massive images for all the backgrounds, with superimposed text over them. Too cluttered.

If you are dead set on having images as your background behind the text, try at least making the pictures as dark as possible or darkening the asphalt in the pictures so your text pops out more. What you could also try is making softened black shapes behind your text, creating a nice solid background to read the text on without totally scrapping the pics of your car. Also, this way you could lose the outline effect on the small font and just make it all white, reducing the clutter further.

The best posters, ads, etc., IMO, have a very straightforward style with only one or two fonts to really pull the eye in.

Edit: I've been to car shows that have board styles that you use, and yes, they certainly are readable if you get close enough, but I think they are more effective without the extra fluff. If you really want to get serious, vector graphics are great for stuff like this.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:48 am

I do value your opinion, my only issue is I don't have the Photoshop skills to do something like that just yet. The picture that was used for my signature will be used for another board, so there is just one small image of the car, and the text will be to the left of it. Its big enough that it "should" work. We shall see. I haven't had a chance to sit down and go through it all yet though. As for vectors, I know what they are but wouldn't know the first thing to do with them lol.

I did however pick up an easel for the board, I've gotta get one more. It looks much better pulled away from the car. I also have to get another frame and re-do my newspaper article as well.

Don't mind the fog machine it was going off in the booth next to me.

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:48 am

Here's my go at a showboard for ya

If you like it then WOOT! I'll fix up a few things and send you a high res PDF file to send off where ever you'd like for print. The board is 16x20" 300DPI. I had to do some minor photoediting to get it up to that size, and then i adjusted some colors and what not..

If you don't like it, then no sweat! It kept me busy for a hour at work

But, this is my thanks for doing the eyelids for me. Actually, if you do like it, i'll have a poster sent to your house, paid 100% by me. How does that sound?

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:48 pm

Too many mods.

Looks good though!

I like Opi's the best. Very clean. You don't have the writing over the car, which happens to be PINK!

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:00 am

That was EXACTLY what I had planned to do with it! It looks badass!! Thanks Opi! I'll have to catch up with you on AIM later.

LOL Too many mods...more to come

Nutmeg · Post by **Nutmeg** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:16 pm

Opi wrote:Here's my go at a showboard for ya

If you like it then WOOT! I'll fix up a few things and send you a high res PDF file to send off where ever you'd like for print. The board is 16x20" 300DPI. I had to do some minor photoediting to get it up to that size, and then i adjusted some colors and what not..

If you don't like it, then no sweat! It kept me busy for a hour at work

But, this is my thanks for doing the eyelids for me. Actually, if you do like it, i'll have a poster sent to your house, paid 100% by me. How does that sound?

Wow Opi, you must be really good at your job.

01rtgurl · Post by **01rtgurl** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:37 am

I'll go searching online later, at my last job we had these plastic stands that you filled the bottom with sand or water.... the only problem is that then your board is a set size, and it's narrow x long.

I have to agree with Opi about it being cluttered and stroke. I was a graphic designer for about a year (lol).

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:58 pm

To be honest, you have to0 many things listed on your show board. You could easily take out 1/3 of what you have on there.

Theres certain things one does to the car, that doesn't need to be explained. People just don't really care to know about such mods, except mabe people that are neon enthusiats And to them, they would most likely point out the changes.

Its harsh, but heres what i think you could do with out...

Mabe things are different up here, but I've only ever seen a couple people with showboards, and most people tend to chuckle over them. Its almost like its trying to grab more attention then it requires, and in most cases has a tackey feel to it. I guess we feel a well done up car should be able to grab peoples attention without the use of props.

However.....Having said all that, I do like the idea of the photo album. I'm assuming it shows the progress and build up of the car, mabe some track photos? Those are always nice to look through at car shows, and its something that i'd like to put together myself.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:32 pm

I need a funny one made.
"Body work by owner, DE state guardrail, and early 90's Ford Explorer"

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:25 pm

sullygully wrote:To be honest, you have to0 many things listed on your show board. You could easily take out 1/3 of what you have on there.

Theres certain things one does to the car, that doesn't need to be explained. People just don't really care to know about such mods, except mabe people that are neon enthusiats And to them, they would most likely point out the changes.

Its harsh, but heres what i think you could do with out...

Mabe things are different up here, but I've only ever seen a couple people with showboards, and most people tend to chuckle over them. Its almost like its trying to grab more attention then it requires, and in most cases has a tackey feel to it. I guess we feel a well done up car should be able to grab peoples attention without the use of props.

However.....Having said all that, I do like the idea of the photo album. I'm assuming it shows the progress and build up of the car, mabe some track photos? Those are always nice to look through at car shows, and its something that i'd like to put together myself.

jeez y dont u just get a huge marker and draw an X across everything. those boards help out alot especially to people who dont know what thier looking at. people can stop and stare and not have to ask the owner a million questions. sure Its alot of mods but hey if i had that many mods, i would list them too. By the way nice car lilsparkplug

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:49 pm

I gave my opinion, and thats what she asked for.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:03 pm

Yes I asked for opinions and as I explained in the beginning of the post due to the types of shows I enter, EVERYTHING needs to be explained to these people and the judges. The car does grab people's attention on its own, but I'm sick of answering questions that are easily explained by the board. It helps me out alot and actually allows me to get away from the car during shows.

I find it quite interesting that you crossed off all of the powdercoating and stainless steel add-ons. You also crossed out window tint and the fact that I repainted my calipers (which came red from the factory and were hideous and took quite a bit of time to get right). And the hoodpins, etc. Things I have done to make it that much more "AAR". Little changes make a huge difference and to me hundreds of dollars in tint work, powdercoating and stainless steel DO matter to judges/spectators.

Another thing, if I didn't tell people, they would think my interior came the way it is, the fact that I put time and effort into changing it makes it different than other cars (or neons if I'm in a neon/SRT class) in my class. Things like this need to be explained to people who aren't as familiar with the car as I am or others may be.

The photo album consists of the entire tear down and paint job that I did myself. There are no track photos, its not a track car, its a show car. Tons of cars around here have showboards to explain all of their work to the people looking at the car. And as a spectator I like showboards, they explain things that I may not already know or understand about the car.

To each their own, I like it and get tons of compliments on it, not to mention people that want me to make one for them also. But honestly I could have done without the MSPaint getup, you could have made your point without it.

thttxboy: Thank you

sullygully · Post by **sullygully** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:14 pm

It was a lot faster to cross off the mods then to list them all. It wasn't done to insult you.

What awards have you won?

2GN.ORG

My SRT's Showboard/Show Setup - Opinions Please :)

My SRT's Showboard/Show Setup - Opinions Please :)

Re: My SRT's Showboard/Show Setup - Opinions Please :)