Sam Pitino: Painting signs and passing the craft along
Sam Pitino found himself back in the sign business unexpectedly in 2021. He was the creative director at an advertising agency where he… Read More
Articles
Cover photo: Fortified Tattoo – Alex Kurakake
It goes without saying that the primary message on a sign should be obvious. Make that “really obvious.” Bob Behounek likes to devote… Read More
Putting it together: DeBerardini Heavy Haul truck
Behind the photos you see on SignCraft.com there is always a back story: How did the layout come together? What did the customer… Read More
Cover photo: Twist – David Hassan
You don’t have to look very far these days to see the latest trend in graphic design. You’ll find very clean, very simple… Read More
Who says the graphics have to stay inside the panel?
“I hate to see a plain white rectangle,” says Greg Scott, GS Worx, New Philadelphia, Ohio. “It just seems that there’s so much… Read More
Cover photo: The Quarterdeck Restaurant – Vince Brodeur
The cover story of the first issue of SignCraft back in 1980 was a feature on the signs of Sanibel Island, Florida, and… Read More
Celebrating 50 years of the Letterheads
It began as seven young sign painters getting together to share what they were learning and to swap ideas in Denver in the… Read More
Cover photo: Steakout Saloon – Dan Seese
Dan Seese, Dan Seese Studios, Fort Collins, Colorado Looking for a quick idea for that next layout? It could be waiting for you… Read More
7 sign fonts with a classic look
So often, the right font makes the difference between a lively, appealing sign layout and the “just-another-sign look.” At the same time, going… Read More
Cover photo: Trustworthy Fire Safety – Phillip Newell
Designing cool signs—make that “effective cool signs”—has always been the draw for Phillip Newell. He’s spent the last 20-plus years creating signs and… Read More
Putting it together: Reimer Honey Farm monument sign
There are plenty of great ideas in the photos of outstanding signs on SignCraft.com. But what about the back story: How did the… Read More
Cover photo: Red Oaks – David Hassan
Not every sign advertises a business, announces a sale or tells folks where to park. Some are nameplates for a residence, be it… Read More
7 cool layout tricks to try this summer
If you’re like most creative sign people, you’re always on the lookout for layout ideas, cool letter styles and interesting color combinations. Web… Read More
Cover photo: Coffee Shop Closed – Lane Walker
Lane Walker [Solo Signs, Reno, Nevada] lettered this showcard decades ago, but it’s a classic example of the beauty of simplicity—a one-color sign… Read More
Letterheads: Catch the Fever!
Most people catch the “Letterheads Spirit” following their first meeting—especially following one of the big meets. Exposure to Letterheads can be a life-changing… Read More
Cover photo: Ireland Orchards – Mike Barber & Gary Wheeler
One way to create a unified design is to let the elements bump or overlap each other. Sometimes it is simply the tail… Read More
Shop tip: A cutting table that lasts for years
My shop is small, and space is at an absolute premium. Over my decades in the business, I’ve learned that the worktable is… Read More
Cover photo: Sairee Cottage Diving – Rob Cooper
Transparencies can be an easy way to sneak a logo or graphic into a sign without adding too much clutter—fish or coral for… Read More
Putting it together: Ruiz Trucking
There are loads of great ideas in the photos of outstanding signs on SignCraft.com. But what about the back story: How did the… Read More
Cover photo: Villages of Mill Bayou – Joe Paffoon
One way to increase the mass and overall visual impression of a sign is to mount it on columns instead of posts. A… Read More
