Inbox: June 2022
New international magazine for sign painters Sam Roberts and Better Letters have just launched BLAG, Better Letters Magazine, a print and online magazine… Read More
signcraft
Signs that don’t shout
Most of the time you probably make sure that a sign’s message has plenty of impact. But not every sign needs to shout—sometimes… Read More
Don’t create a layout or legibility problem for yourself
Sign design can be challenging enough without creating problems for ourselves. Clients make demands, budgets are limited, deadlines are looming. Why make it… Read More
Ray Kinman – 45 years of hand carved signs
Location: Grass Valley, California Age: 66 Online: www.woodcarverguru.com On Facebook as Ray Kinman On Instagram as @woodcarverguru In Ray Kinman’s shop, the sound… Read More
Signs We’ve Seen: May 2022
Here’s a batch of impressive work by SignCraft readers. Don’t forget to send us yours! How about a raw steel background? Mike Leary… Read More
Using structural frames for high-density urethane signs
One popular method of strengthening high-density urethane (HDU) sign panels is to laminate the sign face to another substrate to get the structural… Read More
Profile: Scott Bouma
Shop name: Scott’s Signs Location: Grandville, Michigan Size: 5500 sq. ft. Age: 65 Staff: 5, including Scott Graphics equipment: FlexiSign software Roland SolJet… Read More
Saving traditional Irish shopfront signage
About two years ago, Dee Maher Ring realized that a beautiful part of the Irish cityscape—the traditional hand-painted shopfront sign—was at risk of… Read More
Moving from sign shop to marketing firm
Here at SignCraft, we frequently hear from sign makers who find their business changing. Some are seeing it start to happen on its… Read More
Even more ways to avoid the ordinary sign look
A quick look around most any cityscape will show you plenty of ordinary signs. The information is there but they lack the creative… Read More
Inbox – May 2022
T. ‘Dusty’ Yaxley 1936-2022 Dusty Yaxley, known by many for his workshops on carving and gilding signs, as well his passion for… Read More
How to start getting deposits
Recently in “Every job starts with a deposit” Brian Schofield and Karin Levin spelled out the importance of getting a deposit for every… Read More
Back in the day: Dick Haemmerle
Over 40 years ago, when SignCraft was just an idea we batted around while we were making signs in our own shop, we… Read More
Custom signs and graphics in Cancun Mexico
Shop name: Letreros Mamalones Cancun, Mexico Age: Carlos – 44 Graphics equipment: CorelDRAW Mimaki cutter Online: Facebook: Letreros Mamalones Instagram: @letrerosmamalones Facebook: Escenografia… Read More
Video: Illustrator for sign design – Polygon tool
Triangles, hexagons, pentagons, octagons—they’re all great for creating panel shapes and graphics for sign layouts and logo designs. And, they are all members… Read More
Design ideas from California’s wine country
Jim and Tami Lago moved their already-established sign shop from nearby Santa Rosa, California, back to their hometown of Healdsburg in 1990, more… Read More
Video: Illustrator for sign design – Star tool
Sometimes a starburst makes the perfect panel to hold some important copy. Or, maybe you need to create a gear graphic for a… Read More
Police cars – Check these out and send us yours!
There are a lot of police vehicles on the road—conservative estimates say around 400,000 nationwide. That explains why you see so many of… Read More
Video: Illustrator for sign design – Ellipse tool
The ellipse (usually called an oval in sign design) and the circle are versatile shapes that come in handy in sign layouts. They… Read More
12 more ways to avoid the ordinary sign look
Ever catch yourself wondering, “What could I do on this sign design to keep it from being just another ordinary sign?” Good news:… Read More
