signcraft

Signs We’ve Seen – December 2021

Check out this creative sign work by SignCraft’s readers! We’re always interested in seeing your work or photos of great-looking signs you’ve seen…. Read More

A closer look at the results of our hourly shop rate survey

Digging a little deeper into the results of our recent reader survey on hourly shop rates provides some interesting insights into how shops… Read More

Window splashes sell cars

Car dealerships depend on marketing and promotions to bring buyers in, and signs are a very affordable way to do that. Compared to… Read More

Get the most from single pole mountings

Every sign need not stand on its own two legs—sometimes one is enough. A single post can make an effective mounting that adds… Read More

Tips & Tricks: Need weathered wood in a hurry? Here’s how.

Weathered wood posts and panels provide a great contrast against smooth letters and faces. RT Signs Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, uses this contrast in… Read More

2021 Reader Survey: What’s your hourly shop rate?

“So what do other shop owners charge for their hourly rate?” We often hear that question from users of the online Sign Pricing… Read More

Letters – November 2021

The Sign Pricing Guide online calculator is up to date! We recently updated it and were surprised at the price increases for so… Read More

Design & Price: Graphics for a small fleet of dump trucks

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

Profile: Alex Kurakake

Shop name: Smart Alex Signs Age: 29 Shop size: 1000 sq. ft. Online: https://smartalexsigns.com/ Instagram: @smart_alex_signs When Alex walked into Los Angeles Trade… Read More

Step by step: Making a replica of a vintage glass sign

A few years ago, the local public library contacted Duncan Wilkie of Comsign in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. While going through their vault, they… Read More

Tips & Tricks: A background outline adds to the 3D effect

Flat letters and graphics look great on CNC carved or textured backgrounds but adding CNC cut letters over the base letter can really… Read More

Put a curve on that monument

One of the factors that contribute to a sign failing to draw the reader’s eye is visual monotony. And since most signs are… Read More

Profile: Richard Flint

Shop name: Flint SignsShop size: Approx. 1000 sq. ft. Age: 65 Graphics equipment: FlexiSign Pro software 24-in. Gerber Plotters Chisels and quality lettering… Read More

Step-by-step: Building monument cabinet signs

Have you ever had a customer who wanted more than a 4-by-8-ft. plywood sign mounted to a couple posts, but didn’t have the… Read More

Profile: Cam Sauder

It wasn’t long after Ray Sauder opened Raynbow Signs [Palmerston, Ontario, Canada] in 1993 that his younger brother Cam started helping out around… Read More

Step-by-step: 3D sign for across the pond

A while back, our friend Peter McCullen, see profile, sent us photos of a collaboration between him and Jeff Lang. Peter was in… Read More

Sign layouts seem weak? Doc Guthrie has a solution.

Doc Guthrie: A basic approach to sign layout In his first class with each group of new students in the Sign Graphics program… Read More

Signs We’ve Seen: October 2021

James Dobson, Revolution Signs & Graphics, Lake Macdonald, Queensland, Australia   Nothing quite shows the difference that a new sign can make like… Read More

Moving beyond the flat sign

Flat signs are everywhere. High-end 3D signs and channel letters are out there, too. But in between is a level of dimension that… Read More

Danthonia Designs: 20 years of sign making

Twenty years ago this month Danthonia Designs sold their first handcrafted signs in Australia. In those early years, SignCraft featured articles with photos… Read More