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
Articles
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
Bob Whelan: Gold leaf fire trucks at 90 years old
Sometime in the early 1950s, Bob Whelan was a young man working in the county courthouse—doing “an old man’s job” as he calls… Read More
Cover photo: Arbor Landing – Mike Keene
One way to keep production costs down on CNC-routed signs is to finish the panel before routing the letters. PVC board makes… Read More
Fabricating the Heritage Family Dentistry signs
Recently, a new company bought a dentist’s office whose sign I had done several years ago. They were changing the name and wanted… Read More
Cover photo: Sterling Vineyards – Jim Lago
Time and time again sign people have told us of three things that make selling signs easier: samples on the showroom… Read More
Jason Nale: Balancing legibility and appeal
SignCraft first featured Jason Nale and his work in the May/June 2020 issue. Since then he’s moved to a slightly larger shop, just… Read More
Cover photo: All Trade Construction – Braun Bleamer
A customer may feel they can’t afford a custom 3-D sign, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stretch their budget for a custom… Read More
Restoring the Gorge View sign
I made this 3½-by-9-ft. single-faced sign for a small condominium in the early 1990s. It was one of the earliest signs that I… Read More
