About Replica Transport Graphics

I've been interested in transport for a very long time, since I was a child. 

I own a vintage bus which I am currently restoring, it's a Bristol RE. Those who know me will not be surprised!.

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I used to work in a large Screen Printers, and spent 24 years there, working on either the printing presses, or in the Reprographics Studio. I realised many years ago, that I could combine my interests and work to produce replica self-adhesive graphics for my own restoration projects. As a result of this, I have a keen-eye for detail (you might call it OCD!). I strive to recreate artwork to match the original items as closely as is possible.

 

Initially, in the days before computers came into widespread use, I used to create artwork for the vinyls the old-fashioned way (some might still say it was better!). I was able to photograph some original signs that Bristol Omnibus gave me in a large-format reprographics camera. This helped to ensure that items were at the correct size and proportions. Items were developed and processed, the film was then duplicated and altered as needed to produced new versions, or at different sizes.

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Letraset catalogues were studied in depth, Letraset sheets were 'borrowed', with artwork being created on board, and processed on bromide paper. This then enabled final film positives to be created for printing. 

Amberlith and Rubylith were also used to create film positives, individual characters being cut to size and shape with the aid of a scalpel.

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Word soon 'got-around' that I could supply other preservationists with their requirements, this I gladly did as we were all in the same boat, needing vinyls etc to finish our projects. Some of the preservationists from those early days have remained customers to this day.

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The coming of the digital age has really helped the process considerably. Original items have been scanned, and output as files ready to print from. New items can be created from photographs, particularly if there are accurate sizes and colour samples to work from.

If you know of something that you'd like to see recreated, please email me at:-

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replicatransportgraphics@gmail.com