Video: Illustrator for sign design – the Rectangle/Square tool
Adobe Illustrator has long been a helpful tool for designers and sign makers. It’s vector based, which makes it a natural for cut… Read More
signcraft
Tim Beyer: 3-D signs in a small Midwest town
Shop name: Red Rock Signworks City: Harvey, Iowa Age: 41 years old Shop size: 4500 sq. ft. shop Graphics equipment: HP 560 printer… Read More
Make sure your 3-D letters are legible
If we do black 3D letters that aren’t super thin, we also paint the edges gray. If not, from an angle the letter… Read More
Design & Price: Box truck graphics
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
12 cool ways to put the background to work
In sign design, most of the attention tends to get invested in the lettering and the graphics. And the border. And the mounting…. Read More
Tips & Tricks: More help on installing large graphics
Having read Randy Brunette’s excellent article, “Making application of large cut vinyl graphics easier,” but not wanting to try to teach anyone how… Read More
Put a curve on that sign face
Among all the flat sign panels along the street, a curved sign face really stands out. Peter Poanessa [Keene Signworx, Swanzey, New Hampshire]… Read More
Download this flyer and let customers know you can help with their branding
Many customers don’t realize that a sign company can help them develop their brand—creating a logo, their signage and collateral materials, and helping… Read More
10 ways to escape the ordinary sign look
You don’t have to scroll very far down Greg Scott’s Facebook page before you realize that this is not your ordinary sign work…. Read More
What’s it cost to produce four 2-by-3-ft. sandblasted signs?
I did my first sandblasted signs back in 1973 at Cal Neon in San Diego, the first sign shop I worked in. I… Read More
The magic word: “No.”
Doc Guthrie has been in the sign business for over 50 years and was also the instructor for the well-known Sign Graphics Program… Read More
Video: Clean up your images for maximum impact
Background clutter can really distract from photos of a great-looking sign. In this brief video, Mike Jackson shows how to quickly get rid… Read More
Pricing Survey: What do others get to letter a truck like this one?
Routine truck lettering jobs like this are common in most sign shops—just a company name and phone number in a pleasing layout. So… Read More
Tips & Tricks: Don’t let your paint skin over
One of the handiest tips I’ve come across over the years is to put an arrow on the lid of a new can… Read More
Tips & Tricks: Try this router bit for acrylic sheet
There’s a router bit that we’ve been using lately that is really incredible: the 3/8-in. single flute, up spiral Vortex router bit #5640…. Read More
Put shades, shadows and outlines to work
Back in sign painting days, the most common way to add some appeal to lettering was to add a shade or shadow. Customers… Read More
Bill Mann: Boat lettering on the North Shore
Like a lot of sign makers, Bill Mann found his way into the sign business through a different passion: boats. A long-time competitive… Read More
Business Cards: February 2022
Business cards are an important and inexpensive marketing tool. They have a way of lingering on desktops, staying in pockets and wallets. They… Read More
Design & Price: 4-by-8-ft. real estate 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
Painting wall graphics the old school way
If you look at photos of cities and towns from 100 years ago, there are always plenty of signs on the old buildings…. Read More
