Articles

Minimizing digital printing hassles—and lost profits

Digital printing goes smoothly when you create your own files, but that can change when you have to deal with a file that… Read More

What sign people can learn from an old farmer

I worked for 35 years without making any money. Then this old farmer came along and helped me see the light. He told… Read More

Working with the customer’s layout ideas

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you don’t get much say in the layout of a sign. Customers get ideas in their… Read More

Q&A: How do you apply graphics above a Ford Transit windshield?

Readers want to know: “How do you set up to apply lettering above the windshield on a tall Ford Transit van? “I have… Read More

Outsource to grow your business without adding equipment or staff

Very often the customer who arrives at a sign company needs more than just a sign. They may need a logo design and… Read More

A basic approach to selling signs

Training new owners, sales staff and employees led me to evaluate the process of selling a sign. To help them know what to… Read More

10 ways to improve your layouts

Here are some brief design principles that you can use to double-check your layouts. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive but… Read More

Are we charging enough for our work?

 Mike Jackson wrote this article for the September/October 1995 issue of SignCraft—almost 30 years ago. Now retired, Mike and Darla were running a… Read More

Fixing the “Jack’s Ridge” layout

Some signs do their job, but sadly, a great many fall short. It matters little whether they are big illuminated displays, gilded 3D… Read More

Tips & Tricks: Installing a sign without help

Here’s another simple method that I use to install a sign on a wall. I often work alone, so it is especially helpful… Read More

Not enough budget for 3D? Cut it out!

Sometimes a customer loves the look of your custom 3D signs for their storefront but their budget may be more in line with… Read More

Q&A: Why is this digital print peeling?

Readers want to know: “What’s the cause of this digital print peeling off the ACM panel after being outdoors for just over a… Read More

Digital print problems? Try this easy fix!

Most of the wholesale digital printing companies prefer to get a PDF with the fonts converted to curves. This helps ensure that the… Read More

Make weeding vinyl easier

I stick my tools—X-Acto knives, razor blades, etc.—in a scrap of HDU board on my weeding table. It saves time because they’re always… Read More

Ornamental iron is a natural with 3D signage

My philosophy is “why carve and make stuff if it is already available?” Ornamental iron is a great example. These signs use ornamental… Read More

Six cool sign kits

Sign kit, brush box, sign box—call it what you will, but it’s still an essential tool for the sign painter. A well-stocked kit… Read More

Making simplicity work

When you flip through the online portfolio of the work of RT Signs [Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada], you can’t help but be struck by… Read More

The brushstrokes of a ghost sign show the signpainter at work

In most cases, brush strokes do not show up in a newly lettered sign. But over the years, the rays of the sun… Read More

A low-tech 3D sign with a faux wood border

This project was done for my friends down at Monterey Signs. The client had provided a drawing of their logo and wanted a… Read More

Worth a look: Maker Spaces!

Maker Spaces, Art Labs, and Creator Spaces dot cities across the United States. Those are just a few of the names for facilities… Read More