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.
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.
When I worked at Starbucks there was a lot of boob/crotch/mouth money. Sweaty money is gross.
ok but bra money is because we never get pockets that are useable. give us pockets!
I hate the lack of pockets for womens clothes. I bought a phone case with a small slot on the back to shove some cash into. It's convenient when I don't want to bring a purse, since my phone goes everywhere with me.
Load More Replies...I work at a big box thrift store so I've seen my share of women removing money from their bathing suits--the top part as opposed to the other 🙄
Load More Replies...That's so gross. If you think about it, even the money we carry around normally and receive normally likely has a past of being concealed in a less than sanitary environment.
One summer I worked at a gas station/RV park/ice cream place/outfitter/restaurant/anything that makes money, and it was next to a popular lake; we had this same sign. Even though we had this sign, we still had a clothes line behind the register to dry out money. Fun fact, money will mold super fast. Anyone that doesn't wash their hands after touching money, has never seen a stack of 1's grow a layer of grey fur like a mouse in 48 hours.
I worked for TSA for five years (very happy to leave that wasp’s nest of right wing paranoia), and had to do pat-downs as part of my duties. Before a pat down, the person is supposed to divest everything, including stuff like boob money, because it will be detected and, if they don’t remove it to show it isn’t a weapon or anything, they risk being taken aside for further questioning, meaning they’ll not only miss their flight, they’ll also be flagged as uncooperative. ***Note: Before I left TSA, there was talk of doing what I thought were way too invasive pat downs, meaning more time spent on private areas. While I realize those are prime spots for concealment, I voiced my objections to the invasiveness of them, since the vast majority of people will, to be concealing anything anywhere, including there, and we will be unnecessarily touching people in embarrassing ways (embarrassing for them and most of us, or at least me). Giving voice to that opinion did not make me popular. I had already put in my notice anyway, so never had to do it. I just hope public outrage made them drop that idea really quickly.
That's what those necklace-wallets for children are for. If you think it looks stupid/weird - people have their smartphones and f@nny packs dangling down their neck. Same kind of stupid/weird. ||| bp: why did you lot censored "f@nny pack"?
Probably because it means something ruder in British English...
Load More Replies...I can't believe people actually do that.. I thought it only happened in movies. it's disgusting both ways, for the person who receives that money for obvious reasons, but also for the one putting something as dirty and full of germs as money directly on their skin
It happens, I've refused to take it before while I was a cashier. I've had it all. I think the worst was the sweaty sock money during the summer
Load More Replies...I had a boss who kept everything in her bra: money, phone, sandwiches…
Now they'll just pull it out of their butt crack before entering the store
Now they accept cashless payments more often because it's faster and more hygienic
I LOVE THIS!! It's so gross we have to touch it immediately!!! And then sanitize the daylights out of them as soon as possible!
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
Got It... I Think?
What Made Them Have To Put This Sign Up?
Behind Every Sign Is A Story. Wicklow Town
Penguins Steal The Ice Cream
What if the penguin promises to wear clothes and not drink, smoke or swear?
How Many Times Did This Happen Before A Sign Was Needed?
I Wonder How Many Times It’s Happened, To Lead To This
Sign In The Bathroom At Girlfriend's Job. Every Sign Has A Story
Please Don’t
At A Museum Right Now. Wtf Prompted This Sign To Be Put Up?
This is dark but true. I had a relative who passed and had to have a closed casket funeral due to the nature of his death. The funeral home turned the casket reversed, with the hinges to the outside so people would not try to open it during visitation. THAT'S why the sign. It has happened before, many times.
Every Sign Has A Story
Americans Will Measure With Anything But Metric
At least it's not the one that can flush 50 chicken nuggets in one flush.
Elevator In Sweden. For This Sign To Exist, It Must Have Happened To Some Poor Bastard
There's A Story Behind Every Sign
Behind Every Sign, There Is A Story (Found At Work Today)
You Know This Sign Was Only Put Up After Someone Grabbed A Fistful Of Potato Salad. Seen In Waldwick, NJ
This Ride Only Stops In An Emergency
*a ghost posseses every child making half of them die while the others cry* “Crying ain’t an emergency so the ride won’t stop. Suck it up buttercup”
This Sign At A Car Wash
If Only There Would Have Been That Sign
This Is A Real Sign In Washington State
Do We Really Need A Sign For This
Sign Posted At Staples Office Supply Store
I Really Want To Know The Story Behind This Sign
The Fact That They Need This Sign
They Actually Had To Post A Sign
Just In Case You Still Had Any Faith Left In Humanity
I used to work at Menards. There was indeed spray paint sprayed on the white shelves in that isle by people testing the cans. :/
How Does It Get This Bad?
Every Warning Label Tells A Story
Each One Of These Signs Has A Story
Apparently, People Do This Enough To Warrant A Sign. Between 2 Buildings At Work
Continuing The Small Town Pub Bathroom Signs Theme
The Sign On The Shredding Machine Was Obviously Not Enough To Prevent People Putting Filing There
Can I put my fat in there? I'm up for looking shredded . . . Oh wait . . Lol
I Work With A Bunch Of Savages, Apparently
WHAT'S WRONG WITH PEOPLE......? All these signs are common sense ffs. Gosh....
The Car Dealership In My Town Had To Put This Sign-Up
This will be as effective as a DO NOT TOUCH sign in a public school.
Every Warning Sign Has A Story
As Opposed To What?
I'm Sure There's An Interesting Story Behind This Sign That I Don't Want To Know
This Was At An Optometrist's Office, So Maybe It Wasn’t Obvious?
I Imagine Some Angry Complaints From People With Sore Legs
Saw This Sign At A Check-Cashing Store In Philly. I Guess They've Had Enough
Why should it be anyone's business if a women is not wearing a bra? I'd be concerned about showing proof. I get it now.. pervs.
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.