Papryus Watch

Papyrus in Australia

2010-02-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

I just got this excellent collection of Papyrus sightings from Australia.

Hi Papyrus Watchers!

I seem to keep bumping into Papyrus everywhere I walk here in Australia. Here are 4 more sightings, one from the back of a car belonging to some kind of IT / communications business, one in the window of a flower shop, a "naturally good" one on the packaging of some banana chips, and finally as a heading on a high tea invitation.

Regards,

Matt
Australia

AVATAR

2010-01-30T14:03:00.000-08:00

I put off adding this movie until I saw it for myself. I can say from first hand experience, Avatar has enough Papyrus to turn you blue in the face. The Logo, the subtitles and just about everything else are all done in Papyrus. I want to know why they would spend millions of dollars to make some of the most amazing visual effects, but then go with an overused font like Papyrus.

Silk Road

2009-09-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Methinks we have a new contender for the title of "Most Photoshop Effects", which is currently held by
"Fishes of Georgia". And, as Thom Yorke might say, those are some weird fishes.

But here we have a new submission, found in "The Compleat Strategist" gamestore in New York. I think if you added another Photoshop effect to the title block of Silk Road, that might just be the straw that broke the camel's back. Get it? Camel!?

Let's do a head-to-head matchup of photoshop effects, Fishes of Georgia (FoG) vs. Silk Road (SR)

Inner Bevel: SR has a nice inner bevel going on here, but FoG has it cranked to the max.
Winner: Fishes of Georgia

Outer Glow: They're both about the same, but the outer glow on FoG seems a little bit softer. The hard edge of the glow on SR looks intense.
Winner: Silk Road

Drop Shadow: FoG has a solid drop shadow, with nice distance, making it feel like the text is floating above the fish, or perhaps swimming by it. However, what the drop shadow on SR lacks in distance, it makes up for in blur and intensity. That thing is X-treme.
Winner: Silk Road

There it is ladeez and hipsters, the new winner of "Most Photoshop Effects" is...
SILK ROAD!

Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: A (For Asian-European Trade Routes)

MaryAnna's Summer Sweet Tea

2009-07-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

What reminds me of summer more than sweet tea? The beach you say? Well look, there's a picture of the beach right on the bottle! And there's even one of those old vehicles that I can't remember the name of, with what looks like wood panels on the side, that people who live at the beach sometimes drive! Although I've been to the beach quite a few times, and I've never seen one. But someone used to at some point! And it's driving toward what looks like some large red thing! And maybe that's a person standing next to it. I can't tell.
From the looks of this picture, the bottle is almost as big as the tree behind it. You might say, "That tree is really far away." But no, they're right next to each other. That is one massive bottle of tea.

Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: B (for Beach)

Original recipie

2009-06-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

This page started back as early as January 2008, as you can see by checking the dates on the archives. Later that year, another website with the same name started up. I think it's cool that there are other sites doing the same thing that I am. And I doubt that they knew my page existed. So, just to put the record straight, I checked their domain's WHOIS data, and it was created on July 2008. So... I can rightfully claim that this is The Original Papyrus Watch! :-D

Fishes of Georgia

2009-05-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

From Hogchokers to Rosyface Chubs, this site has it all. As long as all you're looking for is fish in Georgia. You may have a watershed moment when you read this page.

This logo is crawling with Photoshop effects. Let's see, we've got a Drop Shadow, nothing new. But, check out that Inner Bevel! That may be a first for this site. But it doesn't end there, it's also kicking the Outer Glow! I don't know if you can fit any more effects onto that text.

Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: A (for Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)

Little Black Dress Boutique

2009-04-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here's one that was found in England! The sighting was made in Stow-on-the-Wold, which is described as "a quant little town in the Cotswalds." Even on vacation, there's no escape from the Papyrus!

Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: A (for Apparel)

Thai Restaurant

2009-01-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

This submission was found in a Thai restaurant in Lake Tahoe, CA. Do they think Papyrus makes the sign look more authentically Thai? I've been to Thailand, and not once did I see Papyrus anywhere. This sign is a pretty nice example of italicized Papyrus. It's also a pretty bad example of proper leading. Look at the line spacing on that thing! They certainly aren't leading the way with that line spacing!
Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: B (for Bangkok)

FROG TAPE

2008-10-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

I've got to stick it to these guys for using Papyrus on their tape.

Overall Rating: C (for Clean Crisp Edges)

RIVERCUT

2008-08-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

That fish is jumping right out of this typeface, after swimming in a river made of Papyrus. It almost looks like the fish is made of Papyrus. At first I thought that the fish is caught on a line, but then decided it could be some sort of fish/chameleon hybrid waving around its tongue. Those folks at Rivercut could be just that wacky.

Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: B (for Bass)

B•R•A•S•S • B•E•D

2008-08-10T00:02:00.000-07:00

Lay, lady, lay. Lay down on this big "Faux-pyrus" sighting. (Sorry, dumb joke) Check out how these guys added a thin white line inside each letter for an extra decorative touch. And to top it off, they felt the need to use bullets in between each letter. Nice try, but even that won't save this blatant use of Parchment.
Thanks for the submission!

Overall Rating: B (for Bullets)

Florida Online Park Guide

2008-03-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

There is Papyrus all over this page. And none of that "faux-pyrus" Parchment stuff either. This here's the real deal. Thanks for the submission!

Overall rating: A (for "Aquatic")

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Faux-pyrus!

2008-03-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

There's been an impostor lurking around lately. It goes by the name of "Parchment". It looks a lot like Papyrus, but don't be fooled. It's easy to tell the difference if you know what to look for. First of all, the size. Parchment is much smaller in comparison. Papyrus seems to have thinner lines running horizontally. Also, the "E" in Parchment has a shorter top line, and a longer middle line and Papyrus is opposite, with a longer top line and shorter middle line..
Known users of Parchment (aka. Faux-pyrus):
Timberlan Parc
Wolf Creek
Cobblestone
Edible Arrangements
A slightly modified version is on the movie poster for Serenity

And, it's hard to tell, but I think we have a new submission of faux-pyrus:

City Gate Trading Company
I had to really look at this one to make sure. But what made me decide was the top of the "G". Look at how it widens slightly at the end. I hate to say it, but that looks to me like bona-fide Parchment.
Remember: Accept no imitations!

Overall rating: B+ (for "Burt's Bees")

Ezine Articles

2008-02-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

(compare) (original)

This is a great sighting of the rarely before seen "Papyrus at symbol". Notice however that the "@" has been squashed and stretched more than a Tex Avery cartoon character. I only wonder why they didn't use Papyrus for the whole logo, considering the possibility of the use of the prominent "E", one of Papyrus's defining characteristics.
Thanks for sending it in!

Overall rating: A (for "At Symbol")

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2008-01-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

Iwokrama International

Rainforests. Trees. Paper. Papyrus. It all goes together. When I see Papyrus, I feel like I'm actually in the rainforest.
Thanks for the submission!
Overall rating: A (for "Acclimatise")

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Ssn Jose Flooring & Cabinets

This one is noteworthy because of its use of the hyphen as a decorative element. As if the font itself isn't decorative enough. I was "floored" by this sighting.

Overall rating: C (for "Cabinets")

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River City Beads

Nothing "beads" Papyrus! hahaha... sorry.

Overall rating: B (for "Beads")

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2008-01-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

MarCom Awards

What better way to award someone for great design than with a statue emblazoned with the Papyrus font?

Overall rating: A (for "Award winning")

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Office of Greenways & Trails

Thanks for this submission of the OG&T's webpage all about Florida's "1,500-mile sea kayaking paradise".
Nothing says, "Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trails" like the Papyrus font.

Overall rating: A (for "Ambitious kayakers")

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Scotland

FRASER & SUN

Here's one sent in from Scotland! The Papyrus font looks majestic next to that glowing sun. The guy on the roof must wonder why he's getting his picture taken. If only he knew...

Overall rating: A (for "Aluminium solar panels")

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Jacksonville, Florida

TIMBERLIN PARC

Southside Blvd. Jacksonville, Fl

Here's one I've driven by ten bajillion times, but never noticed until now. It looks pretty good, what with the brick, and the flowers, and the trees and whatnot. But someone should tell them that you spell 'park' with a 'k'. Seriously, that bugs me about as much as signs that spell "shops" with like five extra letters, like "shoppeeess".

Overall rating: B (for "Bad Speller")

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WOLF CREEK

Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, Fl

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VILLAGES of Baymeadows

Baymeadows Rd. Jacksonville, Fl

What the heck happened here?
(Update: This is actually not "Papyrus", but a knock-off font. We'll call it "Faux-pyrus")
Overall rating: F (for "Freakin' what the heck?")

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EUROPEAN STREET CAFE

(Several locations in Jacksonville)

This ad is just a hint of the Papyrustascticnessification of "E. Street". It's a great place to eat, but just be warned that Papyrus will surround you.
When you enter the cafe, you see Papyrus on the menus, the aprons, everywhere you look practically. I think somehow they even slip some Papyrus into the sandwiches.
Don't let that keep you from eating there though. As far as the actual usage of the typeface, it's your standard all caps with left sided justification.

Overall rating: C (for "Coupon")

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Orange Park, Florida

COBBLESTONE Condominiums

C.R. 220. Orange Park, FL

Another use of all caps, but this time the size of the first letter has been increased. The flowers and palm trees create a nice surrounding with the Papyrus font as the centerpiece.

Overall rating: A (for "Association fees")

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I had a few more sightings over the weekend. I saw a majestic display on a neighborhood entrance off of Beach Blvd. I'm going to try to make it back over there to get a photograph.

Jacksonville, Florida

Edible Arrangements

Southside Blvd. Jacksonville, FL

The red boackground of the bottom letters really grabs the attention, while the white outline of the top letters almost looks like an aura. Notice how the lower-case letters have been increased at least four or more point sizes, so they tower over the capital "E".

Overall rating: B (for "Baskets")

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St. Augustine, Florida - (Papyrus Gold Mine)

I was giddy when I got pictures of not one, not two, but three Papyrus sightings this morning in St. Augustine. Actually, I saw a fourth one on a bumper sticker, but it got away before I could get a picture of it. It seems like the mixture of tourists and semi-retired people makes St. Augustine a perfect place for Papyrus to flourish.

PANACHE Salon

A1A. St Augustine Beach, FL

This was the first one that caught my eye at St. Augustine Beach. It's the standard use of the font in ALL CAPS for maximum effect. The letters are freestanding and sit several inches away from the building to give it an X-TREME shadow effect. I was content at the time with just finding this one, but I was unaware that I would keep finding more for a "Papyrus three-for-all".

Overall rating: A (for "ALL CAPS")

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Jasmine's Coffeehouse

US-1. St Augustine, FL

I missed this one on the way into St. Augustine, but it caught my eye on the way out. They have added a drop shadow to make it appear as though the words are hovering above the white background. They only wish they could achieve the mighty shadow cast by the letters of PANACHE. Also, for some reason, they decided that the apostrophe was not high enough, so they raised it up so high that it looks as if it is about to escape to the heavens.

Overall rating: C (for "Coffee")

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ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE

US-1. St Augustine, FL

This one completed the trifecta of the St. Augustine Papyrus sightings this morning. This time, it's been altered almost beyond recognition. I drove past it and thought, "That looks like Papyrus, but the 'E' looks wrong!" So, I u-turned, and took a shot of it, thinking I would double check when I got back to my computer. Not only does the "E" not have the trademark high middle line, but the "Q" has a misshapen crossing-line-thing and the whole font has been stretched way out.
This is one of the worst abuses of the font I've seen.

Overall Rating: F (for "Furniture")

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Orange Park, Florida

Gibbs N.Y. Style Subs & Salads

Kingsley Rd. Orange Park, FL

This was my first sighting of the Papyrus font in its natural habitat. Notice how it gives this New York style sub shop a hint of an eastern feel. Also notice their special on "Buffalo Chickn" (It's only funny when the Chick-Fil-A cows spell it that way)

Overall rating: C (for "Chickn")

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Emmaus Road Church

C.R. 220. Orange Park, FL

This was an elusive specimen which was difficult to capture.
I had to drive by it a few times before I could get a good picture of it.
The nearby school's crossing guard looked at me funny after seeing me make a couple of u-turns.
Notice the lower-case letters have been enlarged about one point size.

Overall rating: C (for "Crossing guard")

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Other Sigtings:

Movies

SERENITY

Movie Poster

The use of the Papyrus font is acceptable here because Serenity was a good movie.
Notice the first and last letters have been enlarged around one point size, and the whole word has been flattened slightly.

Overall rating: A (for "Alliance")

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Websites

Monergism.com

Tons of interesting information on this site makes up for the recent font-tastic redesign of the site.

Overall rating: A (for "Amillinialism")

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SF Browncoats

This is a Serenity/Firefly Fansite, so the font is also acceptable here.

Overall rating: A (for "Also acceptable")

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