The time-saving power of the Sharpie sketch
The customer who just walked in your shop may have only bought one or two signs in their life—or quite possibly has never… Read More
signcraft
Seven extra bold fonts for under $25 each
Most typefaces don’t work well on signs. There are tens of thousands to choose from, but since most were designed to use on… Read More
Braun Bleamer: Six partial vehicle wraps
With so many wraps on the road today, many customers assume that they need one on their truck, too. But a full wrap… Read More
Q&A: Source for wholesale T-shirt printing
Readers want to know: “I want to offer t-shirt printing to my sign customers and plan to outsource that. Can anyone recommend a… Read More
Get this hefty condensed font for free!
You can never have enough bold, condensed typefaces on hand for sign work. Most primary copy requires a bold letter style, and so… Read More
Seven tips that will boost your vehicle graphics sales
Few businesspeople wake up some morning thinking it’s a good day to spend $1000 getting some great lettering on the company truck. Rather,… Read More
Tools to create sign layouts that really work
“Design is everything. It’s what makes a sign work,” says David Showalter, David Design, Bryan, Ohio. David leans on traditional sign design principles… Read More
Turn the building into a sign
Sometimes it seems a sign isn’t big enough to get the job done—or it can’t be big enough, thanks to sign code restrictions…. Read More
Don’t let secondary copy steal the show
You don’t have to look at too many of his signs or vehicles before you realize Braun Bleamer [Jet Signs, Palmerton, Pennsylvania] is… Read More
Signs We’ve Seen: August 2023
Here’s a another batch of impressive work by SignCraft readers. Don’t forget to send us yours! Round-faced letters finished with 23K gold leaf… Read More
How to succeed in the sign business for 47 years (or longer)
Fifty years ago, David Showalter was a young housepainter. While painting a house next door to a sign shop, he mentioned to the… Read More
Design & Price: Pickup-truck lettering
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
Six tips for strong logos
For most small businesses, the primary use of their logo is for their signage. And since most signs are viewed by people passing… Read More
Q&A: How do you insure good paint adhesion on aluminum composite material?
A reader wants to know: “Has anyone found a prep and finishing system that works well on ACM? “I like the material because… Read More
Handling linear layouts
Back in the mid-1960s, my travels in and around the greater Chicago area were a source of inspiration and amazement. Right in the… Read More
Minimizing digital printing hassles—and lost profits
Digital printing goes smoothly when you create your own files, but that can change when you have to deal with a file that… Read More
Working with the customer’s layout ideas
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you don’t get much say in the layout of a sign. Customers get ideas in their… Read More
Q&A: How do you apply graphics above a Ford Transit windshield?
Readers want to know: “How do you set up to apply lettering above the windshield on a tall Ford Transit van? “I have… Read More
Outsource to grow your business without adding equipment or staff
Very often the customer who arrives at a sign company needs more than just a sign. They may need a logo design and… Read More
Fixing the “Jack’s Ridge” layout
Some signs do their job, but sadly, a great many fall short. It matters little whether they are big illuminated displays, gilded 3D… Read More
