There are a number of processes that a billboard goes through before it is ready to be hung for the public to view.
The first step is for the creative team to conceptualize the idea that is to be put on the billboard. This involves designing the images, coming up with the catch phrases and choosing the colors which depends on the company. If the company whose product or service is to be advertised on the billboard has its particular colors then the designer has to use those particular colors but if there no particular colors then the creative team carries on a tentative research to come up with colors that will best advertise the product.
HOW PHOTOGRAPHIC BILLBOARDS ARE MADE.
Design process
The creative team uses font sizes which are large enough to be clear and readable from a distance. However the creative team ensures the that there is less use of text; that is only the catch phrase, and more of images because not many people have the time to read the texts on the billboards.
Images
The creative team plays around with the image chosen for the billboard, choosing the background of the image, as well as the colors to be used.
High contrast is used in the images so that it can be visible from a distance. To do this, bright colors like white are used in the background, some creatives use white to make sure that the billboard copy is seen even during the night.
When choosing the picture the photographer has to be well-informed about what is being advertised so that he communicates effectively through the image(S). Computer design software’s used by the creative team aid in working on both the text and the image concurrently thereby making the work easier.
Printing process
After working on the images and the text, the work is then taken to the color-separator . Here the colors are separated to make the images better. The color separated are cyan yellow, magenta and black. The design is printed on a positive, which then placed on a plate, the plate is then fed into the color-separator.
The plate is blue, but when it is exposed it turns to grey. So the areas on the plate that are occupied by the image are not exposed so it remains blue while the empty parts turn grey.
After exposing the plate, it is put in a chemical known as fixer which helps to make the image permanent and then washed.
It is then fed back to a machine where the colors are printed separately using CMYK(cyan, magenta, yellow and black). This machines has four tanks which are fed with the above colors used, the designer then proceeds to the darkroom where the different color papers are put together to make the image that will appear on the image.
A piece of canvas of the desires size is then fed into the machines so that the information and image can then be printed on it. The canvas is then laminated to protect the image from rain and dust.
this is what is later mounted on the billboard.
example of how a well designed photographic billboard.
HOW PAINTED BILLBOARDS ARE MADE.
The materials used here include paints of the colors required and the sizes of brushes to be used.
The artist prepares the sketches of the images to be painted on the billboard. Then he transfers the image onto the billboard using a faint material. This is to deal with any mistakes if there are any and to make the required changes especially in size. When the image eventually satisfies the artist he then prepares the colors to be used and goes ahead to paint the image. The wind and sun work as drying agents for the painted image. All these can be done on the site of the billboard
example of a painted billboard by artist, Banksy.
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