Make great wraps look even better
Presenting your completed work is such a big part of how you market your shop. Making the photos of your signs look their… Read More
Online Exclusives
Race cars have a lot to teach us about truck lettering
Moving vehicles are everywhere. Some are on the street; some are on a race track. When it comes to graphics, I feel there… Read More
A systems approach to your sign business pays off
Many, if not most, sign people find their way into the industry from an interest in the creative side of sign making. While… Read More
Design & Price: Wrap for an 18-ft. ski boat
In every issue, SignCraft gave a few sign makers an imaginary project. We asked them to do a sketch of the sign they… Read More
Making PVC dimensional signs
It warps and it has no rigidity. It swells if it gets too hot. You can bend strips of it in half, though… Read More
What’s it cost to produce these ten 18-by-24 site signs?
Often we have a client who wants a short run of site signs. We do them using the method you see here, particularly… Read More
Beyond signs: Selling advertising packages
When I first started my company, I thought that most small businesses needed much more than just lettering on their trucks or signs…. Read More
3 powerful ways to add even more dimension to your signs
One of the reasons I love the sign trade is I get bored quickly. This business has allowed me to constantly explore new… Read More
Revisiting five van layouts
A few weeks ago I was planning an addition to my scale model railroad, and I needed to move some boxes to clear… Read More
Design & Price: 3-by-5-ft. dimensional sign
In every issue, SignCraft gave a few sign makers an imaginary project. We asked them to do a sketch of the sign they… Read More
Putting the design first
Most small businesses don’t have a cohesive image or brand. Yet more and more often, they have to compete with chains and franchises… Read More
What’s it cost to produce this HDU hanging sign?
The wood-graining technique you see here is a quick and easy way to add extra dimension to signs on high-density urethane board. We… Read More
Help your clients brand their businesses
A brand is what people think and feel about a company, like “They’re professionals.” “They’re big.” “They know what they’re doing.” Or “Looks… Read More
Is the ease of production hurting your designs?
Once upon a time, when each and every sign project was produced by hand, most sign painters tracked their production time to know… Read More
Vintage Sam: Classic sign work by Sam Pitino
As I slid a folder out of my file drawer a while back, a stack of photos of classic hand-lettered signs spilled across… Read More
Design & Price: Overlaid plywood sign
In every issue, SignCraft gave a few sign makers an imaginary project. We ask them to do a sketch of the sign they… Read More
On falling into the window splash business
Eleven years ago I was let go from a printing/publishing company here in Kansas City where I’d served as art director and production… Read More
What’s it cost to produce this unique storefront sign?
My website developer, Ridge Marketing, purchased a building just steps away from my own. When the owner, Rob Quincy, approached me for a… Read More
Designing vehicle wraps that integrate a brand
Probably the most critical application of a brand for most service businesses is the vehicle. It’s the most public representation of their company… Read More
There’s a lot to learn by analyzing your past projects
Most of us have heard of the cliché “Hindsight is always 20/20”. Most of the time, we certainly have a clearer understanding of… Read More
