The San Jose Style: The Bay Area approach to sign design
Before the Internet made it easy to see signs from all over the country—and the world—sign design often developed regional styles. Chicago’s painted… Read More
Articles
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
Signs We’ve Seen
We’d like to see your work!…or photos of signs you’ve seen. Email them today to signcraft@signcraft.com or mail to SignCraft, PO Box 60031,… Read More
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
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
SignCraft moves from print to online
41 years ago this month we sent a letter to 1000 sign shops about our plans to publish a magazine for sign painters… Read More
Finding your pinstriping style
How did you find your pinstriping style? Is it based on the old Von Dutch traditional pinstriping? Is it based on the style… Read More
Put Photoshop’s scrubby sliders to work
There is seldom a day I use Photoshop that I don’t take advantage of the many “Scrubby sliders” scattered throughout the program. They… Read More
Adding a benchtop CNC router
I recently purchased a small benchtop CNC router for my shop. I often need to have letters cut or a small background panel… Read More
Save those good ideas for later
About fifteen years ago we first came up with the idea to create a submersible-shaped feature like the famed Okanagan Lake monster named… Read More
Looking back on my 25 years with SignCraft
It was with great sadness that I learned that this issue of SignCraft would be the last printed version produced. Although I knew… Read More
What’s it cost to make this hand-lettered plaque?
Materials: 2 sq. ft. cedar for the 20-by-16-in. blank: $15 CDN One-half liter of Sansin exterior stain: $15 CDN Misc. sandpaper, One Shot… Read More
My pinstriping roots
The magic year was 1969, a time filled with anticipation as I began my apprenticeship in the sign industry. Outside of pizza, hot… 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
