Articles

Help your clients get free social media marketing

One of the most fun aspects of our business is that we never know what the next project may be. The only certain… Read More

Use these templates to build panelized layouts

Panelized sign layouts have a history that goes back to post-war Chicago. These split panel signs generally use vibrant colors and interesting shapes… Read More

Before and after: Three redesigned truck wraps

While it’s always fun to work with new businesses to engineer a new brand and truck wrap for their fledgling business, more often… Read More

What’s it cost to produce this truck lettering?

Materials: 24 sq. ft. black Oracal 751 film: $24 16 sq. ft. white Oracal 751 film: $16 6 sq. ft. gray Oracal 751… Read More

Design Clinic: Sandblasted entry sign makeover

There was a time when it seemed that everyone wanted a sandblasted redwood or cedar sign. They are warm, strong, and the sandblasted… Read More

David DeMeo

Shop name: Sign Effects Shop size: 5000 sq. ft. Staff: 3 full-time and 2 part-time Age: 47 Graphics equipment: Roland 545 printer/cutter Roland… Read More

Design & Price: 32-sq.-ft. freestanding sign

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

Designer at work: Curt Stenz

1970 found Curt Stenz lettering his first signs in his parents’ basement and doing posters at high school. From there it was a… Read More

Why a laser fits so well in a sign shop

Source list: Laser engraving/cutting Acsys Laser www.acsyslaser.com AP Lazer www.aplazer.com Boss Laser www.bosslaser.com Epilog Laser www.epiloglaser.com Gravograph www.gravograph.com Trotec Laser www.troteclaser.com Universal Laser… Read More

Letters

Spared from the dumpster Dear SignCraft, Here’s a sign with a history. The redwood in this sign was from a tree that had… Read More

Rodger MacMunn

Shop name: T.R. MacMunn & Sons Shop size: 732 sq. ft. Staff: Rodger and Sharon MacMunn Age: 63 Graphics equipment: Roland CAMM-1 Gs24… 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

Pinstriping in the sign shop

While some pinstripers have a specific niche that they focus on—like bikes or street rods or classic cars—and primarily do pinstriping, plenty of… 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… Read More

Tips & Tricks

Move and flip sheets by yourself! I built this rolling table/cart to help move heavy sheet materials. I had seen one online, but… Read More

Abracadabra: Find the magic in Photoshop’s Content-Aware tools

Adobe added Content-Aware into Photoshop in CS5 in 2010. Wow! It was and is a game changer. Over the years since its initial… Read More

Wasting time, wasting materials, wasting money?

For years I tried to “save money” by keeping scraps of every type of material we use. I looked at it like it… Read More

A sign for the chicken house

I often get asked if we ever make signs for “the real world.” The answer is yes, though the bulk of our creative… Read More

The responsibility of designers

I was speaking to clients—a husband and wife team—the other day about a new brand and truck wrap we were designing for them…. Read More

What’s it cost to produce this freestanding sign?

Materials: One sheet of ½-in. PVC board: $121.54 PVC posts and finials: $68.12 One sheet ¾-in. overlaid plywood: $86.82 Cutting charge: $4.85 Cutting/painting… Read More