signcraft

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

Inbox | January 2022: From our readers…

SignCraft back issues for free, 2022 Sign Expo registration information, Mike Meyer’s Hand Lettering Workshop schedule, New Year’s Eve signage and a cool… Read More

Effective layouts begin in black and white

When starting a design, I forget about color—at least temporarily. There are too many other variables to keep track of. Your personality, the… Read More

Every job begins with a deposit

When they opened Lines & Letters Designs 38 years ago, Brian Schofield and Karin Levin decided they wanted to avoid one of the… Read More

Follow-up: Andy Bordi

Shop name: Bordi Designs Shop size: 450 sq. ft. plus the inside office area Age: 53 Graphics equipment: ShopBot Desktop Max CNC router… Read More

Signs and carvings from the golden age of circus

Once upon a time, circuses ruled the entertainment world. They were exotic, exciting and extravagant—especially when it came to graphics and signage. Detailed… Read More

Fabricating LED backlit PVC letters

A logo on the wall of a lobby or waiting area can create a very professional appearance and further reinforce the company’s brand…. Read More