Kenny, a couple of thoughts here. If photoshop is a pain, all you have to do is go to Google Image for the sign you want (or go to a number of great sign websites like www.trainweb.org/tylick/signintro.htm in which you'll see a number of categories and dozens and dozens of signs to print out) and put the image in Word. You can then size them when you print it out. Easy.
Or, Google "Ghost Decals O scale" as SIRT suggested. You'll see some great water decal signs for sale very inexpensively. And they're already weathered and faded.
As far as the black sign with white letters on the Richters hotel, it will look great. I've used that idea many times and it always stands out graphically.
Hope this helps.
Jerrman
