Online Exclusives

What’s it cost to produce this double-faced 4-by-8-ft. sign?

January 21st, 2022 by

When this customer stopped in, I could tell he was looking for something more than your basic 4-by-8 sign. He’s a farmer and… Read More

Fabricate signs from aluminum composite material

January 14th, 2022 by

After I read Curt Nelson’s article, “Step-by-step: Building monument cabinet signs,” in the May/June 2010 issue, I began experimenting with aluminum composite material… Read More

Hidden hardware keeps this installation a secret

January 7th, 2022 by

While working on a large sandblasted sign for a local restaurant, I kept trying to think of an easy, unobtrusive way to assemble… Read More

Handling linear layouts

December 31st, 2021 by

Back in the mid-1960s, my travels in and around the greater Chicago area were a source of inspiration and amazement. Right in the… Read More

Making application of large cut vinyl graphics easier

December 23rd, 2021 by

In What’s it cost to letter this box truck, I went through the time, materials and major steps of lettering a box truck…. Read More

What’s it cost to letter this box truck?

December 15th, 2021 by

Vehicle lettering makes up a good deal of my business, and most of it is on vans and pickups. Occasionally, though, I’ll do… Read More

Putting color theory into practice

December 9th, 2021 by

Selecting colors in our work can be a great challenge. It doesn’t need to be intimidating, though. Every designer must be aware of… Read More

Using acrylic latex paint for sign finishes

December 3rd, 2021 by

One of the biggest changes in our shop in the last ten years is the exclusive use of water-based acrylic house paint for… Read More

Choose the font that suits the message

November 30th, 2021 by

Choosing type with the proper font weight—bold, medium or light—is important for controlling in what order a sign’s message gets read. We discussed… Read More

Design & Price: Graphics for a small fleet of dump trucks

November 19th, 2021 by

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