signcraft

Shop Trucks revisited: 2007 to 2009

When talking with a new customer, it’s a lot easier to make a case for quality vehicle lettering when your own shop truck… Read More

Cover Photo: The Rose Theatre – Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend, located on the remote northeast corner of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is a picturesque coastal town, nestled alongside the remote shoreline of… Read More

Design & Price: Two 3-by-10-ft. banners

In every issue, SignCraft gave a few sign makers an imaginary project. We asked them to do a sketch of the sign they… Read More

Pierre Tardif on faux lettering for vintage trucks

Not every classic vehicle gets restored to look just the way it did the day it rolled off the showroom floor. Over the… Read More

Cover photo: Flip Side – Randy Howe

As we all know, some designs come together really fast, while others are not so cooperative. There’s usually something, though, that gets the… Read More

Laser at work: More sales to your sign clients

The incredible precision of a laser cutter/engraver makes it a powerful tool for sign production. The laser gets used on some very creative… Read More

Learning from before-and-after photos

There are at least two ways to improve your sign layout skills. One is by instruction, where a skilled designer tells you ways… Read More

Cover photo: Bengtson Nursery & Garden – Tom Kelly

Tucking a simple silhouette graphic into one of the letters in the name is a creative effect that is both easy and cool…. Read More

Signs of Bozeman, Montana: Off Main

You don’t need to go far “off the beaten path” in Bozeman to find neighborhoods which have both maintained their charm and been… Read More

Cover photo: Old Wares – Dirk Rampling and Sonia Grothe

In the days before most everyone could read, the sign maker’s task usually included adding an image to a sign that represented what… Read More

Inside story: Fabricating three unique 3D signs

You can learn a lot about fabricating custom signs by hearing how others do it successfully. Peter Poanessa, Keene Signworx, Keene, New Hampshire,… Read More

Cover photo – Earth First – Braun Bleamer

Customers often bring a Pantone color chip or some other color swatch and want that color used on their sign. This can be… Read More

Lettering vintage trucks

If you do hand lettering, you’re going to get requests to letter vintage trucks. Many car collectors prefer the authentic of real hand… Read More

Cover photo: Paisans – Bob Behounek

Beautiful hand-painted signs—like good food—are uniquely appealing because they’re handmade. There’s something that just “feels good” about hand-painted signs and graphics and it… Read More

Design & Price: Double-faced 3D hanging sign

In every issue, SignCraft gives a few sign makers an imaginary project. We ask them to do a sketch of the sign they… Read More

Cover Photo: Tattoo Bar & Restaurant – Rob Cooper

When it’s time to redo a sign, it’s a great opportunity to make it more effective. Rob Cooper, Koh Tao, Thailand, has repainted… Read More

Bob Whelan’s unique gold leaf burling technique

Engine turning, or burling, gold leaf, is a popular traditional technique for enhancing surface, gold leaf, particularly on vehicles. It’s especially common on… Read More

Want the lowest-cost advertising going? Buy a sign.

When it comes to long-lasting advertising, an effective, appealing sign is hard to beat. Compare it to the longevity of other types of… Read More

Time-tested tips for succeeding in the sign business

Ray and Rose Grossi of Midwest Signworks in Morris, IL, have been established in their market for over 40 years. Early in that… Read More

Cover Photo: American Bud Beer – Mark Casey

Once upon a time, most beer was brewed locally—much like today’s microbreweries—rather than by big mega-breweries. Those breweries of yesteryear had unique names… Read More