Tips & Tricks
Have a tip to share? Be a part of SignCraft! Share your favorite shortcuts, gadgets used in your shop and other time-savers. Email… Read More
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Remembering Mike Lavallee
The world of pinstriping and vehicle graphics has had its share of pioneers—those who developed a style or technique that seemed to become… Read More
Is the lettering big enough?
Not all the lettering, mind you. But is the first and most important message getting the size (and contrast) it deserves? It’s the… Read More
Making a new old sign
One of the very cool things that a sign maker can do is to create a new sign that looks 50 years old—weathered… Read More
Put the background to work
One of the things that can create visual interest and draw that critical “second look” that gets the sign’s message read is to… Read More
CNC routers mean new opportunities
Sourcelist These companies offer products for CNC sign production and reach sign pros through SignCraft: CNC equipment AXYZ CAMaster Industries Gerber Scientific Products… Read More
Design & Price: Boat lettering
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
Designers at work: Ralph Toews and Sons
When he was about 15, Ralph Toews rode his bike to the sign shop of John Henry Friesen, an outstanding sign painter whose… Read More
Joe and Sandy Paffoon
Shop name: Boardwalk Designs Shop size: 5000 sq. ft. Staff: 10 Age: Joe is 69 Graphics equipment: Two HP latex printers Two Gerber… Read More
Kevin Woolbert
Shop name: Second Wind Signs Shop size: 2000 sq. ft. Age: 54 Graphics equipment: Roland printer ShopBot CNC router 24-in. Graphtec cutter Online:… Read More
Letters
Forty years of lettering vintage locomotives In 1979, when the California State Railroad Museum needed someone to hand paint the original graphics on… Read More
Shop Trucks
Send us a photo of your shop truck today at signcraft@signcraft.com or to SignCraft, P.O. Box 60031, Fort Myers, FL 33906. Read this… Read More
Lines, Harleys and blues in Durango
On his Facebook page, Kirk James’s subtitle says, “Plays blues guitar, rides Harleys and pinstripes hot rods!” That pretty well sums it up…. Read More
Tips & Tricks
Get our Trade Secrets e-letter You’ll get even more great tips in our free Trade Secret e-letter each month. You can sign up… Read More
How does your sign business compare?
A couple of weeks ago, we asked Trade Secrets readers to tell us a little about their work and their sign businesses. The… Read More
What’s it cost to letter this vehicle?
Materials: Two yards of black intermediate vinyl film, with application tape: $6 CDN 6 sq. ft. of digital prints, with laminate: $54 CDN… Read More
You did their sign. How about their T-shirts?
Next time you’re in a store, take note of all the printed t-shirts on the people around you, many advertising local businesses. Printed… Read More
Matt Beckner
Shop name: Ion Graphics Shop size: 2400 sq. ft. Age: 42 Graphics equipment: Roland VersaCAM 300SP Graphtec 6000 Series cutter Summa 60 cutter… Read More
Shop Trucks
Chris Bryant, Bryant Signs, Puyallup, Washington “A long time ago,” says Chris Bryant, Bryant Signs, Puyallup, Washington, “while at a coffee shop near… Read More
Pinstriped panels for fun and profit
In my free time, and in an effort to make extra cash, I use panels as a nice experiment in color and designing… Read More
