Easy bevel and texture effects in Photoshop
A lot of beautiful effects can be created in Photoshop using the built-in tools. Some of them require the user to have a… Read More
Articles
Letters
2016 International Letterheads Dear SignCraft, On August 26-28, the annual international Letterheads meet will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Located within cycling… Read More
Laser at work: Acrylic letters step-by-step
There’s a big need for — and a market for — dimensional letters and graphics, yet it’s a type of work that some… Read More
Profile: Ken Stiffler
Shop name: Sign Design Wooster Shop size: 5000 sq. ft. Staff: Seven full-time, three part-time Age: 57 Graphics equipment: FlexiSign software Mimaki JV33-130… Read More
Profile: Ken Sowinski
For me, this all started with a trip to a car show at the Chicago Amphitheater in 1964. A neighbor who was involved… Read More
Collaborate and expand your capabilities
A lot of great sign work has been the result of collaboration between sign designers. Jim Aquino has tapped into the skills of… Read More
Design & Price: Double-faced 3D hanging 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
Another Sign Challenge project
More than two decades ago I was fortunate enough to be at a gathering of passionate sign makers from around the world. The… Read More
What’s it cost to produce this 20-by-30-in. 3D hanging sign?
Materials: 1-in HDU board — $120 ACM, PVC board, steel, etc — $40 Adhesives and paint — $10 Total materials — $170 Labor:… Read More
Letter the truck — not just the doors
The traditional approach to truck lettering has long been to treat the door as the format. Maybe that’s because for years trucks had… Read More
Design Clinic: Box van graphics
I know what you are thinking. But, no—I did not make this one up. This is as real as it gets, from a… Read More
Tips & Tricks
Build this premask dispenser This premask dispenser allows you to access four different widths of premask at any time. The dispenser is situated… 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… Read More
Follow-up: Robert Frese of Chicago, Illinois
Thirty years ago, Robert Frese decided to specialize in gold leaf lettering, primarily for office doors and storefronts, in the Chicago area and… Read More
Those who listen close the sale
Good listening pays off Really listening can: • Persuade, motivate, guide • Control a prospect’s purchasing efforts • Inflate the prospect’s pride •… Read More
Follow-up: Peter Poanessa of Keene, New Hampshire
Peter Poanessa and his shop, Keene Signworx, were first featured in the September/October 1991 issue of SignCraft. Peter built a new shop four… Read More
Patrick Smith of Orange, California
Patrick Smith was first featured in SignCraft in January/February 1985, at the dawn of the computer age. Patrick went on to use the… Read More
Placing text on a Path
When designing signs, you’ll likely run into times when you need to make text follow along a path of some sort. The path… Read More
Follow-up: David and Robin McDonald
Robin and David McDonald were first featured in the July/August 1993 issue of SignCraft. They opened Avila Sign & Design in 1985 with… Read More
Letters
Getting an early start Dear SignCraft, My daughter Laura was four at the time when I was gilding the Grosvenor Museum sign. When… Read More
