Some photos are not only about what's inside the frame but also about what's outside of it. They ask you to let your imagination loose and fill in the gaps yourself.
To show you how fun this task can be, we at Bored Panda put together a collection of images with very specific signs, clearly suggesting that they have interesting backstories behind them.
I mean, if a cafe warns you that its syrups aren't hand sanitizers, there must've been something that made them do it.
Continue scrolling to check out the list and upvote your favorite entries—let's see which pictures prompt the most vivid interpretations!
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Seen At A Local Fest
Hikers Are Warned
However, if you want to make a sign for your garage sale or even business, you need to consider more than just getting your point across.
Adrian Geach, who has been a signwriter since 1980, told Bored Panda in a previous interview that, "a good sign should be eye-catching, easy to understand and not too wordy with enough negative space around the text or logo, and have a good color scheme."
Geach lives in Wales but can take his brushes anywhere to work on a project. He left school at 16 to undertake a five-year signwriting apprenticeship and said he was lucky enough to be taught by three master craftsmen steeped in the skills of a brush and a pot of paint.
After learning the trade, Geach set up a signmakers business specializing in exhibition and display graphics and embraced the new vinyl and large format technology that was just coming to the forefront.
No Bears?
This Sign On My Parents' Road
My Local Library Has This Sign On Their Drop-Off Slot
When in the woods, I tend to yell "I am not a deer," but for different reasons.
Adrian has been successfully involved in all areas of signage and graphics for decades but not that long ago, he went back to his roots and now concentrates on traditional signwriting.
With the current resurgence of interest in signwriting and hand-rendered work, he utilizes his skills to offer clients a more personal, unique, environmentally friendly, and organic signage solution using old-fashioned materials and techniques.
"A sign might only be looked at for a few seconds so it needs to leave an impression within this time frame, hence the less is more approach," he said.
"There are many factors to take into account when designing a sign but the most important thing is to make sure it doesn't get lost in its surroundings," Geach revealed.
Sign Recently Erected In My Neighborhood
Do Not Walk On Rocks
Nice To See Some Pushback On Insane Parents From My Local Sports Complex
So many parents absolutely rely on sports as a college savings plan for their kids, and by the time the kid is ready for college, they are burned out on sports. College is supposed to be about education, lest we forget.
Had to remember some parents in kindergarden about that a few years ago - while there was a sack race between 4-5 y/o. Tough here (germany) sports aren't even connected to sholarships. ||| Exeption: that child is aiming for a career in sports. And then it would take great marks in school & outstanding performances in some kind of sports club --- fellow germans, correct me if I got it wrong.
Load More Replies...Let kids be kids and enjoy playing sports for the fun of it - even if they aren't very good, fun is fun, don't ruin it!!
I played little league baseball when I was 12. I was one of only 3 girls in the entire league. I wasn't very good in the beginning, but all the other parents cheered me on and any minor victory on my part was treated with standing ovations and cheers all around :) I have great memories of that.
Load More Replies...Can people who complain to the ref, coach etc and make a scene on the sideline, not see that it will, if anything, only reduce their kid's prospects?
My nephew is 10 and is amazing and baseball, but absolutely hates it now. His parents have completely burned him out from it. Hes constantly either playing a game or being made to practice.
I'm sure entitled parents still yell at everyone on behalf of their precious angel.
When my son played basketball, there was on young man that was very good. His father would rage at him from the stands. Telling him what to do, screaming when he didn't. He was horrid to his own son. The guy got kicked out several times. I used to dread seeing him walk in, I don't know why they just forbid him from going. Not long after graduation the young man died from an OD. Such a horrible loss.
Load More Replies...Reminds me of a story I read where there was no ref for a soccer game, so a 9 year old stepped up. A parent legit started screaming at the kid for a call they made. Like wtf. that is a child, you are f*****g full grown adult.
If that parent knew better, why didn't he step up???
Load More Replies...That's my city and my health network! Love the sign; it really speaks to the crazy parents who are living vicariously through their kids. Let the kids be kids and encourage participation and good sportsmanship instead of the "always have to win' mentality.
Guy I work with was asked to stand in for a rugby ref (UK) for a friendly under 10's. He didn't feel confident and asked a young teen to help out. Some mum started yelling at the kid for a decision. Kid holds up red card and puts the mum in time out sin bin. My friend says he laughed so hard.
In high school there was this one parent who would always stand up and shout angrily at his daughter if she didn’t do something right in a basketball game. His voice carried above anything else and he called her by name. I always felt so bad for her. I also feel bad for the kids who play for their schools, but also play for these other traveling teams that parents pay to get them on. I mean you can get scholarships for your preformance in academics as well.
An elderly umpire's nose was broken by a coach in a little league game just the other day. Great example for the kids.
A Sign At A Windmill Restoration Site In Mykonos, Greece
Similarly, writing about signs that raise more questions than they provide answers, my colleague Jonas had a talk about common signage mistakes with Lisa McLendon who is the William Allen White Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and the coordinator of the Bremner Editing Center at the University of Kansas.
"Don’t carve an error in stone. It’s embarrassing and expensive to fix. Proofreading before you produce, whether it’s stone or not, is absolutely necessary," McLendon said that we should take the time to look over our work before making any permanent decisions.
Lisa also noted that the font that we choose for our sign is incredibly important. "Choose your font with readability in mind. It should be clear and readable at a distance; you don’t want to make people puzzle through a swirly script," she said.
Blursed Worker
A Sign Outside A Off Strip Casino In Las Vegas. Talk About Pulling A Ferris
In My Local Church
Don't
For another Bored Panda piece about editing, proofreading, and kerning—the spacing between letters—McLendon said that word placement, typeface, and kerning are also crucial for effective, professional-looking logos and layouts.
"If it's just a few words, all-caps is fine, but it’s harder for people to read longer blocks of text in all caps. It’s also harder for people to read italic or highly stylized type, or type along a curve instead of a line,” Lisa then explained.
Found In My High School. I Would Not Like To Know What Necessitated This
The Fact That This Sign Is Necessary
Sign Posted In Every Booth At A Thai Restaurant In Fargo
How Many Karens Does It Take To Make A Sign Like This?
Furthermore, Lisa pointed out that we should look at all the ways in which our words could be misread or read out of order if they’re circled or stacked on top of one another.
If the kerning happens to be too tight, some of the letters could merge into different symbols and result in some (hilariously) embarrassing misreadings.
One example of this is writing the word ‘FLICKERING’ in all caps. If the kerning is too tight, the 'L' and the 'I' merge into a 'U' and you get... That's right.
No Danish
Home. Sweet Home
This Smoke Shop's Sign
House For Sale
Of course, you can always get a professional to do it. In fact, for the past few years, many places have been witnessing the revival of the handpainted sign.
Fed up with the chain culture that is slowly making all the streets look the same, city shops are trying to stand out with custom designs.
It's estimated that there are about 300 full-time signwriters working in the UK alone.
Behind Every Warning Label There's A Story
If You Only See Two Signs About A Raccoon Room Today, Make It These Two
This Sign Has Been Stolen Too Many Times I Guess
Stopped At A Gas Station And Saw This Sign On The Entrance Door
I high school, our track uniforms had pockets on the inside of the shorts, in the front. Many a McDonald's meal was paid for with shorts money.
And it's not just the experienced painters who may have obtained a now obsolete City & Guilds qualification. There's also a young generation interested in all things bespoke.
One of them, signwriting enthusiast Sam Roberts, told The Guardian, "This is a generation that has grown up with computers at the heart of their work and who are seeking to engage with the physical processes that go into producing letter forms."
Whatever you choose, have fun! As you can see, signs don't have to be boring.
I’ve Never Seen A Hotel Pool Sign So Blunt Before
Wonder How Many Times It Happened
There's a "road" near our place that GPS directs unsuspecting visitors down. If you want puddles, kanga tracks and mud, then you're welcome!
Blursed Rules
You Have To Wonder What Happened To Make This Sign On Your Door A Necessity
What Happened 64 Days Ago?
No Belly Laughs
When A Cat Runs To The Fridge Every Time It Opens, A Sign Is Necessary
Love this one. Even though this is a repost, still never gets old XD
There's A Story Behind Every Sign Like This
A Great Sign I Found At Auckland Zoo
The Fact They Even Needed To Put This Sign Up
When cemeteries were planned out in the 18/1900s they were designed as park areas to hang out, have a picnic and such.
Every Warning Label Has Its Story
Behind Every Sign There's A Story
I'm so glad they made this sign! I have seen many oreo cookie monsters roaming the aisles and they're a real pain in the butt to deal with.
There's A Story Behind Every Warning
Someone Must've Made A Terrible Mistake
Gas Booster...what an interesting energy drink. Propulsion, perhaps?
When You Thought You Look Cool But You Look Like A Garbage Can
Environmental Storytelling
That Happens Enough To Need A Sign
Is It Saying I Should Help The Hitchhikers?
Mistakes Were Made
What Happened Here
Important Hand Washing Rules To Follow
There Has To Be A Story Behind This
If We’re Doing Small-Town Bar Bathroom Signs, Here’s One I Saw Recently
There's A Story Behind Every Sign
What Happened Here
Note: this post originally had 89 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Bar outside Boston, the Hyde Park Pub - sign in the bathroom "If you are caught doing drugs in here you will be BANNED FOR LIFE" - not we will call the police, that wouldn't resonate...BANNED FOR LIFE...impactful.
My friend owns an eye glasses store. On the mirrored wall is a sign that says : 'this is a mirror '. Apparently people have walked into it before.
Bar outside Boston, the Hyde Park Pub - sign in the bathroom "If you are caught doing drugs in here you will be BANNED FOR LIFE" - not we will call the police, that wouldn't resonate...BANNED FOR LIFE...impactful.
My friend owns an eye glasses store. On the mirrored wall is a sign that says : 'this is a mirror '. Apparently people have walked into it before.