Tims Photo Fix

Thousands of thoroughbred pedigree horse sale signs hand painted by several Lexington Kentucky sign companies 1970's through the 90's. They were so common I never thought to take pictures of them. I did my share! Bill Fitch Signs, Jim Johnson Signs, Post Time Signs and ThroroGraphic signs. There may have been some others. This one was unusual for the sales. I don't know where it was displayed. I remember taking a sign painting quill brush and trapping the hair with masking tape to make it stiffer, more like a calligraphy pen. I liked the challenge.

I like cool cars. Original was a pencil sketch, redrawn digitally with Corel Draw. No Ai.

Corel Design Suite used by many worldwide - nationally for sign and wraps. Serious software. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is the most commonly used. Having used almost all design programs I find Corel's one time buy (renewable every year) to be my cost effective go-to. Work and hobby. I find many Adobe users are convinced Corel is a "less than" design program. Prejudice runs high if a person has only worked in one program.

Interior signs for Champs Rollerdrome hand painted. The old Champs was on Clays Mill Rd., Lexington Kentucky. Did a lot of skatn' and paintn' in the 80's. Produced at Jim Johnson Signs, Stone Road. We did a lot of horse sale and farm signs. Had a great time and I really enjoyed the work. Early 80's. Photo enhancement, bitmap editing - and vectoring to make my posts. I'll come clean and say if I use ai.

Hand painted banners for Thorographic Signs and Popeye sign companies Lexington Kentucky.
Beatles banner stolen later after use. Stampede banner for music group.

Sign on Main St. Lexington KY. Hand painted. It was there for years. Next to Magee's Bakery. (Remember that?) No...the top sign not the seasoned wood sign.

Unusual truck wrap. Repurposed police SWAT truck!

Customer supplied basic art to be redrawn/revised and made ready for wrapping the back 2/3 of the truck.

For me...lotsa bitmap editing for the divider. Placements and color checks. Leopard, flowers with polka dot pattern. Van already had the teal and magenta swirl from a previous vintage clothing vendor.

I could have never come up with this combination. Got to love diversity of styles! I understand the customer was very happy. Expect to see it at Kentucky events and festivals.

Pencil sketch colorized, lines and lettering cleaned up - just a little.

Not all wraps are originally my concept or design. Some like this one - had ai logo started. The lettering needed modifying and antique "old timey" effect was added. Quite a bit of revisions and photo editing work to make the horse, cabinet and spray gun acceptable for full size print. Sold, printed and installed by the awesome Kentucky Wraps Dave Millsap owner and install guy!

Designs for 3 sign & wrap companies.