Signs for the Times

by Roy Winkelman

Normally in this space, I share a digital resource for students and teachers. Today, I’d like to share a resource collection that was originally created for students and teachers, but may prove even more useful for administrators and staff of schools and districts at this time.

The ClipArt ETC website includes nearly a thousand images of traffic signs. While these signs were, of course, designed for highway use in the U.S., many of them could easily be pressed into service as schools make frequent changes to both foot and vehicular traffic patterns to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Signs from the collection can be quickly printed as needed to implement changing protocols in and around school buildings. With so much in flux, a ready access to temporary signage could prove very useful.

For starters, I’ve gathered a small group of obvious examples below. Click any small image to visit the full page on ClipArt ETC.

When you view any of the individual pages on the ClipArt ETC website, you will notice options at the bottom of the page to download a full resolution TIFF image (for high quality printing) and three smaller GIF images (for on-screen use or for printing at smaller sizes).

Most of the images are also available in EPS (vector) format. One nice thing about the EPS files is that they can be easily modified in a drawing program like Adobe Illustrator. For example, I opened the EPS file of the “Two-Direction Large Arrow” sign, reduced the size of the arrow, and then twice added the child icon from the “Family Rest Room” sign. In less than two minutes to combine the images and add a one line of text, I hod two social distancing signs with text in both feet and meters.

If you like my sign, click on either the 6′ or 2m version to download the full-sized image. If you want something else, you now know the process for creating exactly what you need.

The complete sign collection includes just about everything from boat ramps to equestrian crossings. It would be hard not to find at least a few signs that you could immediately use in your school. Take a look at some of the samples below. Or visit the entire collection of 978 signs if you dare!