As I consider my mega-venture, Pendulum Surveying, I realize that I've spent too little time really contemplating fonts.
Obviously my main goal is to select a font that reduces ink costs, thus maximizing profits. Since my business is targeted to the survey mill, producing as many surveys in a day as possible, I think this is going to be a more substantial issue than most would give credit.
Have any of the other unethical bast_rds on the board that operate under a quickie Dickie (whatever that is) business filosofy (I know it's spelled with two ph's, but look how much time and ink I saved by using an f instead), considered the costs associated with their font choices?
If only there was someone who had a knack for offering advice on minute, seemingly inconsequential details that could proffer some direction... Some will probably drivel on about legibility or something. Clearly I'm in it for the money (didn't you see the name of my company?!) so those concerns are trivial to me.
Shawn,
Use pen weight per color...use a different color per client'$ 'payability'...cheap surveys only get one stroke of the pen.
Font type is also client'$ payability...ROMANS v. ROMAND...you get the idea...
Personalize your text style to include your license number...
I use ROMAND, slant of 10d56' (my number); width 1.299 (my old partner's number)...
Looks like Ol' man Leroy is our draughtsman...
Hope this helps,
DDSM:beer::beer::beer:
Shawn Billings, post: 377873, member: 6521 wrote: As I consider my mega-venture, Pendulum Surveying, I realize that I've spent too little time really contemplating fonts.
Obviously my main goal is to select a font that reduces ink costs, thus maximizing profits. Since my business is targeted to the survey mill, producing as many surveys in a day as possible, I think this is going to be a more substantial issue than most would give credit.
Have any of the other unethical bast_rds on the board that operate under a quickie Dickie (whatever that is) business filosofy (I know it's spelled with two ph's, but look how much time and ink I saved by using an f instead), considered the costs associated with their font choices?
If only there was someone who had a knack for offering advice on minute, seemingly inconsequential details that could proffer some direction... Some will probably drivel on about legibility or something. Clearly I'm in it for the money (didn't you see the name of my company?!) so those concerns are trivial to me.
Minimalist North Arrows should be considered as well.
B-)
Loyal
That's brilliant, Dan. Effing brilliant.
I'll add a check box to my website order form for upgrade lineweights! I can charge a premium for bolder lines and text!
Loyal, post: 377881, member: 228 wrote: Minimalist North Arrows should be considered as well.
B-)
Loyal
I'm still trying to figure out how to incorporate the logo into the North arrow. You know, something classy though. I don't want it to look gaudy.
I realize the original post was tongue in cheek (and rather well done at that), but the topic is actually a serious one and efforts have been made to get people to switch to a font that is less ink intensive (true).
Bruce Small, post: 377885, member: 1201 wrote: a font that is less ink intensive
Bruce,
My Leroy scribe has a lead clutch for those 'back of the envelope' plats...
TGIF
DDSM:beer:
Serifs not only waste ink, but are only used to deceive the general public!
Jim_H, post: 377890, member: 11536 wrote: Serifs not only waste ink, but are only used to deceive the general public!
:gammon::beer:
[INDENT]Refuse to send anything out on paper! pdf only. Make the client use their own ink and paper! :-D[/INDENT]
Now you're bringing technology into it. Must be a whippersnapper.
Last thing you want to do is print to a pdf so the client can turn layers off. You have to be preserve the dignity of your plat. How else are you going to show that the "true" location of the corner is N19D15'32"E, 0.02' of the found dimple in a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped "Speed of Light Surveying & Geodetic Mapping".
Now wait a minute. If they have the pdf they'll be able to print as many as they want, won't they. Won't that endanger my recertification business?
Shawn Billings, post: 377873, member: 6521 wrote: As I consider my mega-venture, Pendulum Surveying, I realize that I've spent too little time really contemplating fonts.
Yes, while I obviously do not share your enthusiasm for "Pit & Pendulum Surveying" as a name, I do think you are onto something in the font department and should be encouraged. I'll bet that if you work on it, you'll be able to find the right variety of fonts which, in combination with a sufficiently decorative North Arrow, would enable a surveyor bent on building a profitable franchise operation to sell maps that are so incredibly fascinating that the actual paying clients don't notice that there is no evidence that any field work was actually done.
Can you imagine what a stunningly profitable business model this will be, particularly if you copyright the fonts and mesmerizing North Arrow design?
Well yeah, but......if i send all my pdf plats with a certification that's states only original if singed in blue ink and has my official raised seal, then no one has the original and I'm not liable, therefore giving me more money to spend on stickers for my truck instead of attorney fees.
Yikes. I didn't even consider the font for the truck stickers. Glad you mentioned that....
For the truck stickers, I'm not too worried about frugality. I'll need a font that says "No really, I'm a surveyor and I do this for a living and just because my given name doesn't appear in the business name you can still trust me... really... seriously... you can."
I don't know, the more I think about that logo in the North arrow idea, the more I think the minimalist approach will be cheaper.
We're not painting Mona Lisa's here anyway. It's not the Sistine Chapel. Am I right? The Title Companies and realtors will be wondering "where he got the time to produce an elaborate North arrow" and "how much did it add to the cost of the survey?!" Minimalist will fit my Quickie Dickie business model perfectly.
Shawn Billings, post: 377904, member: 6521 wrote: I don't know, the more I think about that logo in the North arrow idea, the more I think the minimalist approach will be cheaper.
Yes, I can see how you might fall into the trap of thinking that a clean, informative survey product would be something that could be turned out cheaply for maximum profit. Sadly, that flies in the face of experience. What you should expect to find is that the clean, informative survey product will not provide adequate cover for the franchise owner (as we like to call them) to exercise his or her creative powers to decorate the map with stuff that takes seconds, means nothing, but appears to mean something. This is the patentable business model.
Shawn,
I've got a North arrow that looks like a brass K&E plumbbob hanging from a red and white Gammon reel...the top sring loop creates a cursive N...
...now if I can only create a GIF or something that would play the Bob up and down the drawing...wow...talk about mesmerizing the client...
DDSM
(buy another round...we're onto something)
A GIF. Now I know that I am out of my depth with you, Dan. No way a plat reviewer is going to question anything on a plat with a dancing north arrow.
