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
signcraft
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
Let’s carve a moose head
Sign making is serious business—at least most of the time. But every once in a while, a job arrives that is anything but… Read More
Tips & Tricks: Paint 3D signs the easy way
A hard rubber brayer is the easiest way to paint the raised letters on a sandblasted or router carved sign. Before, it would… Read More
Clear coat hand lettering for maximum durability
As clear coats on vehicles became more impervious and lead was removed from lettering enamel, many sign painters began to experience problems with… Read More
Not your typical set of semi doors
Lane Walker [Solo Signs, Reno, Nevada] does plenty of semi-truck doors. His years in the business have earned him a reputation among area… Read More
Bill Kirnec: Still painting at 84
When SignCraft spoke with Bill Kirnec last week, he was getting ready to start lettering and pinstriping another new wrecker for Sandy’s Towing… Read More
Fabricating a projecting sign
There’s something cool about a sign that projects from the wall, not hanging from a bracket but somehow attached to the wall on… Read More
