By signcraft
Posted on Monday, August 8th, 2022
Not every customer can afford a 3-D sign, but most like the appeal of dimension. There are plenty of ways to create the look of dimension on a flat sign.
A customer may feel they can’t afford a custom 3-D sign, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stretch their budget for a custom flat sign. Braun Bleamer, Jet Signs Inc., Palmerton, Pennsylvania, often encounters clients who come looking for a 3-D sign then decide it is beyond their budget. He converts these sales to upscale flat signs that deliver a lot of impact for his customers.
“Often when a customer comes into the shop,” says Braun, “it’s because they’ve seen my dimensional work out in the field, and they want something comparable. I usually end up working up a price on a dimensional sign because that is what they believe they need.”
A lot of his dimensional signs are for country clubs and resorts who have more resources than the average customer. But when the cost of a dimensional sign is out of reach, Braun is ready with a price for a flat version of the same design.
“Instead of allowing a customer to possibly walk out the door disappointed and with nothing,” Braun says, “I show them how they can walk away happy, within their budget, and with the same design with plenty of impact.”
Bob Behounek, Berwyn, Illinois
Use a panel. Besides helping you manage the copy, a panel in a contrasting color can add a 3-D effect.
Ross Hastie, Ross Hastie Signs, Alloa, Scotland
Add a shadow. Experiment a little—try a heavy outline with an in-shade on the lettering or a cast shadow beside it. Or, a pale pencil thin shadow on the main copy. There are a lot of cool shadow effects to play with. The shadow can be on the lettering or on the panel or both.
Bob Stephens, Skywatch Signs, Zephyrhills, Florida
Try a border or layer. Add a little dimension simply by adding a cutout border to the otherwise flat panel. Or add a layer behind the main sign panel to create a border.
Russ Mills, Russ Mills Signs, Pineville, Kentucky
Use one element as a cutout. Look for one element that could be cut out and applied to the main panel, like the logo graphic.
Braun Bleamer, Jet Signs, Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Effects can help. Adding a convex effect to the primary copy or a chrome effect outline works well. Using a chrome or gold effect border on a panel does, too. Don’t go overboard, though. It’s better to use these effects sparingly.
Rob Cooper, Koh Tao, Thailand
Have something in the background. A fade, texture or graphic in the background can make the lettering appear to be raised and pushes the lettering toward the viewer.
RT Signs, Steinbeck, Manitoba, Canada
Cut it to shape. Use an interesting panel design, or maybe just slice off something to get away from the standard 4-by-8 format. Or, cut a 4-by-10 down to 3-by-10 to create a long narrow rectangle.
Peter Poanessa, Keene Signworx, Swanzey, New Hampshire
Mark Yearwood, Yearwood Design Worx, Tecumseh, Oklahoma
Ross Hastie, Ross Hastie Signs, Alloa, Scotland
Rob Cooper, Koh Tao, Thailand
Rob Cooper, Koh Tao, Thailand
