Articles

Inbox – July 2022

The ultimate sign shop wallpaper Dear SignCraft, Read this article and many more like it with a membership to SignCraft.Already a SignCraft.com Member?… Read More

Bruce Janssen: Custom dimensional signs in Michigan’s North Country

Shop name: The Wood Shop Location: Boyne City, Michigan Shop size: 5000 sq. ft. Age: 75 Staff: Three, plus Bruce Graphics equipment: Precix… Read More

Laying long, straight vinyl stripes

Have you ever been flummoxed having to put a long, straight vinyl line on anything? Me, too. It’s virtually impossible to lay it… Read More

Law enforcement vehicles deserve great graphics

Virtually every community in North America has a fleet, large or small, of vehicles for their law enforcement officers. That adds up to… Read More

Building a landmark: Sprocket the Robot

It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally we partner with another sign designer to come up with something truly special. A while back we… Read More

Bob Behounek breaks down ten truck door layouts

“The first thing I think on any sign layout is ‘What do I need to read first?’” says Bob. “Nothing else matters until… Read More

Inbox: June 2022

New international magazine for sign painters Sam Roberts and Better Letters have just launched BLAG, Better Letters Magazine, a print and online magazine… Read More

Signs that don’t shout

Most of the time you probably make sure that a sign’s message has plenty of impact. But not every sign needs to shout—sometimes… Read More

An anchor for a storefront

Sometimes you have an idea before you have a customer for it. That was the case here. Being in a coastal area, there… Read More

Don’t create a layout or legibility problem for yourself

Sign design can be challenging enough without creating problems for ourselves. Clients make demands, budgets are limited, deadlines are looming. Why make it… Read More

6 rules to make sure you pay yourself enough

Shop labor is often a wildcard variable for a lot of sign shops—and often the area where they take the biggest loss on… Read More

Ray Kinman – 45 years of hand carved signs

Location: Grass Valley, California Age: 66 Online: www.woodcarverguru.com On Facebook as Ray Kinman On Instagram as @woodcarverguru In Ray Kinman’s shop, the sound… Read More

Signs We’ve Seen: May 2022

Here’s a batch of impressive work by SignCraft readers. Don’t forget to send us yours! How about a raw steel background? Mike Leary… Read More

Profile: Scott Bouma

Shop name: Scott’s Signs Location: Grandville, Michigan Size: 5500 sq. ft. Age: 65 Staff: 5, including Scott Graphics equipment: FlexiSign software Roland SolJet… Read More

Saving traditional Irish shopfront signage

About two years ago, Dee Maher Ring realized that a beautiful part of the Irish cityscape—the traditional hand-painted shopfront sign—was at risk of… Read More

Even more ways to avoid the ordinary sign look

A quick look around most any cityscape will show you plenty of ordinary signs. The information is there but they lack the creative… Read More

Inbox – May 2022

  T. ‘Dusty’ Yaxley 1936-2022 Dusty Yaxley, known by many for his workshops on carving and gilding signs, as well his passion for… Read More

How to start getting deposits

Recently in “Every job starts with a deposit” Brian Schofield and Karin Levin spelled out the importance of getting a deposit for every… Read More

Back in the day: Dick Haemmerle

Over 40 years ago, when SignCraft was just an idea we batted around while we were making signs in our own shop, we… Read More

Custom signs and graphics in Cancun Mexico

Shop name: Letreros Mamalones Cancun, Mexico Age: Carlos – 44 Graphics equipment: CorelDRAW Mimaki cutter Online: Facebook: Letreros Mamalones Instagram: @letrerosmamalones Facebook: Escenografia… Read More