Putting it together: a welcome sign for Blumenort – RT Signs
Even though you can’t see it in the photo of the completed sign, every sign has a backstory—the issues the sign designer has… Read More
Articles
Cover photo: Star Solutions – Braun Bleamer
Signs face a lot of visual competition out in the real world. Other signs, billboards and traffic are all drawing readers’ eyes away… Read More
Signs of Livingston, Montana
If there are two things Livingston, Montana, is known for, besides the fly fishing and wind, it is the picturesque downtown and artistic… Read More
Cover photo: The Red Barn – Sean Beauchamp
Custom sign shops are unusual, creative places that design and fabricate a custom product—designed for one specific use for one specific customer. And… Read More
The small but mighty A-frame sign
Years ago, while at an auto repair shop, I asked the mechanic/owner if the county allowed the “Oil Change Special” A-frame out by… Read More
Cover photo: Phatt Pho – Roger Cox
Sometimes it’s time for a change. That’s what Roger Cox decided after 30+ years of making signs in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. He sold… Read More
11 script typefaces for under 25 bucks
Script adds a personal look to a layout and brings energy that stiffer typefaces can’t match. It works well for primary copy as… Read More
Cover photo: VanHeugten Contractors – Randy Howe
The typefaces you choose for a sign project have a huge impact on the effectiveness of the sign. The font must be highly… Read More
Raised letters deserve raised borders
It always bothers me to see raised letters on a flat panel with no border or a painted border. They look incomplete, and… Read More
Cover photo: Glenn Sheckler Electrical – Braun Bleamer
It’s a fact: The right graphics can turn a vehicle into a rolling billboard for about the cost of a candy bar each… Read More
Shop Trucks revisited: 2005 to 2007
Like most small businesses, a sign business’s vehicles are one of the best advertising opportunities going. Besides attracting customers, it showcases your design… Read More
Cover Photo – Prairie Sky Apartments – RT Signs
3D signs pack a lot of appeal, and it’s easy to add them to the type of signs you offer. It opens the… Read More
Making a carved sign with PVC board
I recently made two signs out of a material called Plaswood, a very hard, rigid PVC board that is weather and termite resistant… Read More
Cover photo: Clinton Casual Patio & Fireplace – Doug Downey
Do you really need to print at 300dpi? The short answer is no, according to Doug Downey [The Image Factory, Stratford, Ontario, Canada]…. Read More
Readers comment: Emphasize the company’s name or their product/service?
A couple of weeks ago, we featured an article by Jeff Cahill titled, “Should you emphasize the company name or their product/service?” Jeff… Read More
Cover photo: Sparacino Auto Rescue – Scottie Kania
Some sign makers do a little bit of everything while others settle into a niche market like 3D signage, truck lettering, boats or… Read More
A mini-projector saves layout time
I’ve had the usual bulky overhead projectors over the years, but their size has always annoyed me, particularly when I travelled a lot… Read More
Putting it together: Oakdale Farms – RT Signs
It’s always great to see a beautiful sign, but for creative sign makers it’s even better to learn what went into designing and… Read More
Cover photo: Bird & Jim – Signs We’ve Seen
Tourist towns always have more than their share of interesting signs, and Estes Park, Colorado, is no exception. Small shops and places to… Read More
10 beefy fonts for the New Year
Big, bold, beefy letter styles really come in handy on signs. They are usually extra-legible. They deliver plenty of contrast to medium, light… Read More
