Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 10:34:17 -0700
Reply-To: Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>
Subject: Re: List Stickers Opinion
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
OK, OK - had to jump into the fray...
I ordered about 5 complete sets of stickers. Variety of colors. Tested
many of them. Here is what I have found:
1. White sticker on my wife's BLACK Cherokee with tinted windows: VERY
VISIBLE!
2. Blue sticker on back window of my white Westy: NOT VISIBLE (very subtle)
3. Blue sticker on back of white pop top (next to Westfalia logo): VERY
VISIBLE
4. Yellow sticker on back window of white westy: VISIBLE, but ugly, IMHO
So you see, there are a lot of variables, and as Karl mentioned, these were
mostly all discussed before (and even tested by Karl, I might add)
If you want VISIBILITY - go with a white or yellow sticker on your back
window. Or, if you have a white pop-top, use a blue sticker on the front
and rear of the pop-top next to the Westfalia logo.
As the French say: "Chacon a son gout" (Each to his own taste)
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Davidson" <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2000 9:09 AM
Subject: Re: List Stickers Opinion
> Basically (without all the color discussion), all I'm saying is that what
we
> have is a sticker that is artsy and subtle...
>
> ...but it doesn't really stand out visually from a distance (or even from
up
> close for that matter)... And, as I remember, recognition from a distance
> was one of the main criteria for the sticker in the first place...
>
> Bill
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Karl Wolz" <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 9:34 PM
> Subject: Re: List Stickers Opinion
>
>
> > I'm certainly not taking this personally, but did feel the need to make
a
> > simple observation. That being that when the stickers were initially
> > offered for sale, it was noted that the blue stickers are not very
> visible,
> > but a nice low-key sort of thing for those who don't want to shout,
while
> > for those who wanted to be NOTICED, the yellow stickers were
considerably
> > more visible. The whites fall somewhere between. My wife's van has the
> > yellow stickers, and I can see them from a good quarter mile, and
possible
> > farther. If I were to take the larger of the stickers and put it in
front
> > of her rear view mirror, I wouldn't be surprised if I could make it out
> from
> > a half mile away.
> >
> > Thanks for the nice words about our work, by the way.
> >
> > Karl Wolz
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bill Davidson" <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 1:28 PM
> > Subject: List Stickers Opinion
> >
> >
> > > Volks,
> > >
> > > At the risk of being lynched, I have an observation/suggestion on how
to
> > > improve the stickers (gulp).
> > >
> > > But first I want to thank Karl Wolz for his great effort in producing
> and
> > > mailing the stickers out to us... as well as thank the entire list
> > committee
> > > and the artist (forgot his name)... a good group effort.
> > >
> > > I like the stickers. I put them on my Van today, and it's nice to be
> > showing
> > > that I am a member of the list community... And nice the think that
soon
> I
> > > will spot the rest of you out on the road.
> > >
> > > But this spotting you all is what has me concerned. After installing
my
> > > stickers, I noticed that they aren't real noticeable.... seems like
this
> > was
> > > one of the main selection criteria for voting on the stickers.... oh
> well,
> > > just cuz the most people vote for something doesn't mean things will
> turn
> > > out the way you expect.... (remember Nixon?).... :(
> > >
> > > Anyway, not to disparage the stickers because I do think they look
> good...
> > > nice clean design that does represent what we are all about... but
they
> > just
> > > don't stand out.
> > >
> > > I think the reasons for this are two fold: first, the lines are not
> bold,
> > > and second, there is no background color; the background is clear....
> this
> > > see through effect allows what ever is behind the sticker to distract
> the
> > > eye.... for instance, I put my large blue sticker on the upper left
> corner
> > > of my rear window... but the busyness of the curtains on the inside of
> the
> > > window distract and from the sticker design.
> > >
> > > So my solution was to cut a piece of white paper the same shape about
> 1/2
> > > inch bigger than the sticker and tape it onto the inside of the rear
> > window
> > > right behind the sticker. The white contrasts with the blue of the
> sticker
> > > lines and makes it pop... MUCH more noticeable.
> > >
> > > This is pretty much the same idea as why I choose to use the small
white
> > > sticker in the lower left corner of the front windshield... the white
> > > contrast with the black of my dash....
> > >
> > > Still, even with the contrast that I was able to achieve with the
above
> > > solutions... it seems to me the sticker could be MUCH more visible at
a
> > > distance (like on coming traffic or across a parking lot).
> > >
> > > An example of what I'm thinking of is the scuba diving sticker... red
> > > rectangle with a white slash... very visible for a long distance.
> > >
> > > So my suggestion:::: (gulp, this is where I get lynched)...
> > >
> > > Use the same sticker design with a bright and contrasting background.
> For
> > > instance, blue design and bright orange background... (of course other
> > color
> > > combinations are possible, but as highway crews and the Coast Guard
have
> > > found, colors like red and orange are the most eye catching)...
> > >
> > > With colors like this the larger format of the stickers would not be
> > > necessary... the smaller one with a bright orange background would be
> just
> > > as noticeable as the scuba diving sticker.
> > >
> > > Of course, the stickers are done and on the vans... and who wants to
go
> > > through all that again???...
> > >
> > > Well, if you want to try it anyway, just get some orange paper, cut it
> the
> > > shape of the sticker, and tape it on the inside of the window behind
the
> > > sticker... who knows, you might start a trend... and who knows, the
list
> > > members may like it enough that they request it when the next bunch of
> > > stickers are made up....
> > >
> > > my 2 1/2 cents... just had to get it off my chest :)
> > >
> > > And, please, those of you who worked on the stickers... please don't
> take
> > > this as personal criticism... I think you did a great job!
> > >
> > > Bill
> > >
> >
| 
