D. Sign Design: Design of signs should ensure that: E. Such features as size, contrast, color, shape, composition, and lighting or Shape, size, colors, and simplicity of the message combine to produce a clear meaning. Legibility and size combine with placement to permit adequate time for viewing and response. Standard, General Purpose Reclamation Signs: Standard, general purpose signs used on Reclamation lands should be either square or rectangular. Elongated rectangular signs, usually decals on posts, are acceptable. However, reading elongated text is difficult. Messages must be clear and concise. Except for elongated signs, where corners are square, all corners will be slightly rounded. 1. Traffic Control Sign Shapes.-The Federal Highway Administration and each State Department of Highways have standardized certain shapes for specific purposes. These shapes should not be used for other purposes along highways where they would cause confusion. a. The DIAMOND is used for most warning signs. b. C. The RECTANGLE, with the longer dimension vertical, is used for most The PENTAGON, with point up, is used only for School and School d. The PENNANT, with the longer dimension horizontal, is used only for f. g. The EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE, with the point down, is used only for The ROUND shape is used for Railroad Advance warning signs and for 2. Colors. Two different color definitions are used in various portions of this manual. These systems are based on the two most common color reproduction systems used in the printing industry, which are centered on the ubiquitous Pantone Matching System (PMS) of colors. The first of the two systems would be used for signs that utilize only a few individual colors in their design. This system is based on Pantone spot color definitions, where several thousand different colors have a specific and unique number assigned to them. In this system, every color in the palate can be described and ordered by using this number. Different colors are achieved by mixing a limited number of standard colors which when combined form the desired color. This color is then applied in a solid coat. This is the technique generally employed to produce the thousands of colors available at retail paint stores. If a color is defined in this manual by a PMS number, such as PMS 607U, that definition is based on this palate and the color would be achieved by mixing base colors at a paint supplier. The second of the two systems would be used for signs that utilize many different colors in their design. This system is based on the Pantone system of process colors, where every color in the design is made up of a mixture of four process colors, all of which are applied in different percentages at the same time to the design. The four process colors are: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and this method of reproduction is often referred to in shorthand form as the CMYK. With the exception of silk screening, this is the system used when mechanical or electronic production methods are used to produce signs. Generally, it is not intended for signs designed to be hand colored using individual colors of paint. If a color is defined in this manual using CMYK percentages, then the definition is based on this palate, and the color would normally be achieved by using mechanical or electronic reproduction instead of mixing colors at a paint supplier. The two palates are related, and colors can normally be translated from one system to the other, usually with good results. All of the colors in the Pantone spot color book can be mixed fairly accurately using combinations of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, plus white (remember this system was originally developed by the printing industry where white paper is generally used). Conversely, colors that are described with CMYK values can often be matched closely with solid colors from the Pantone spot color palate. a. Standard colors for most Reclamation signs shall equal the PMS. Care should Table 3.-Pantone, CMYK, and Old Pratt and Lambert Comparison Chart Pratt and Lambert, Deep Charcoal, B755A Deep Charcoal, 2236 b. C. Special purpose posters that rely heavily on illustrations rather than words to send the message (e.g., fire prevention posters) may use other colors. Colors used in the Reclamation emblem are: d. Ultramarine blue Certain colors have been standardized by the Federal Highway Administration for certain traffic control purposes. These colors should not be used on other signs along roadways or close to traffic control signs in ways that would cause the viewer to confuse the nontraffic control signs with the traffic control signs. The principal colors and their uses are: RED - Stop or prohibition BLACK - Regulation WHITE - Regulation ORANGE - Construction and maintenance warning YELLOW - General warnings BROWN - Recreational and cultural interest guidance GREEN - Indicated movements permitted, direction guidance F. Agency Name: Agency name should be centered at the bottom of the sign. Typeface should be Helvetica Bold or another chosen letter style. Both Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of the Interior will be the same font size, and both should be set in all capital letters. However, Bureau of Reclamation may be set in lowercase, if desired. In other instances, such as office signs, Bureau of Reclamation may not be in larger typeface than Department of the Interior. Agency names should not be used on fire prevention regulatory signs, on elongated signs, or on special purpose posters. When used, the name will be set out in one of the forms shown below: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION or UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR or U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR or U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR G. Vendor ID: Vendor IDs should not be permitted on the face of any Reclamation signs. H. Reflectorization: Road and motorized trail signs and other signs intended to be seen at night will be made to reflect the same shape and color both by day and night. Image and portal signs may also be reflectorized if night visibility is needed. Use engineering grade reflective sheeting for most Reclamation signs. Consider high intensity grade sheeting in unique situations where atmospheric conditions and other factors indicate a need for additional reflection. Message Formulation: In formulating the message, use standard (approved) word messages, where applicable. Word legends should be brief, but clearly convey the intended message. The use of symbols on signs is encouraged, provided they clearly convey the intended message. Under normal driving conditions, there is little time between being close enough to read the sign and passing the sign. Consequently, messages must be short. They should be confined to the essentials (for example, destination or direction). 1. When composing a message, consider the following Guidelines. a. b. C. Use no more than four words per message, except where the proper name of a destination is more than four words long. Use a minimum number of word lines. Use no more than three lines per message, except where a proper name of a certain size requires more than three lines. d. Keep message short by using certain commonly recognized abbreviations Pedestrians and those on bicycles and horseback have time to pause and leisurely read sign messages unhurriedly. The rules given above, therefore, do not apply to trail signs. However, the wording of trail signs should be concise. Descriptive text should be relevant and contain only information of general interest. a. Planning: A sign is a communication tool. It is one of several in a resource specialist's grab bag. Others are brochures, news releases, websites, direct discussions with a customer or client, radio ads, talks before interest groups, and flyers. These tools should only be used following a communication planning process that identifies both the messages and the intended audience. (1) Audience and Message. Decide on the audience and the information the audience needs at that particular location. (a) A visitor to a recreation site might wish to know: Length of stay allowed Fees, if any Types of services offered If reservations are needed If pets are allowed Location of trailer dump station Open trails for hiking, horseback riding, or ORVS |