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
Articles
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
A short course in creating blackboard art
I never dreamt of being a signwriter, but ever since watching my grandfather forming beautiful letters with pen and ink, I have loved… Read More
Cover photo: Prairie Memorials – RT Signs
The code words for this are “negative space.” It refers to the space around each letter, each word, each message group and the… Read More
Putting it together: Art’s Painting yard sign
One of the greatest country music artists of all time, and one of my favorites, is Alan Jackson. He says of himself, “I’m… Read More
Cover photo: Alpine Coachworks – Rob Cooper
When Rob Cooper left Miami for his native New Zealand (and ultimately to Thailand) around 2000, he had to travel light. One of… Read More
Tales from my early days in the sign business
Ahhh, the “Good ol’ days” B.C. (before computer)…. Who doesn’t remember them with fondness… or at least a small tear (from laughter) in… Read More
Cover photo: Navajo Cement – Bob Behounek
One of the tools Bob Behounek uses in his great-looking sign designs is the color wheel. It’s essential to a good understanding of… Read More
Laying out the new shop
I started screen printing in 1984, and apprenticed in a sign shop in 1986, where I learned hand lettering and myriad other skills…. Read More
Cover photo: Robert Frost Footwear – Bruce Janssen
3D letters can add a lot to a sign, but a carved graphic or better yet, an actual sculpture, can really make a… Read More
Cover photo: Back Porch Seafood House – Joe Paffoon
PVC board is a great material for sign making—for letters, sign panels, cabinets and even monument structures. It’s durable, easy to work with… Read More
Putting it together: The “Sprague Welcomes You” sign
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
Make these easy freestanding event signs
For David Showalter [David Design, Bryan, Ohio] the first sign of spring is when customers start calling about getting a “show sign” for… Read More
Cover photo: Norfolk Electric – Randy Howe
Many customers choose a generic name for their businesses, but by the time they arrive at your shop, it’s too late to suggest… Read More
Q&A: How to price a sign installation that has “what-ifs”?
A reader wants to know: “How do you price an installation when there are ‘what-ifs’ involved? Sometimes you can’t tell what you’ll run… Read More
