Posted by Tom Humphries on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 @ 07:49 AM
Interior and Exterior Signs Letter Size Matters
Signs are used to connect with and attract new clients and customers. When you are designing your window sign (window graphics), banner, or car graphics or vehicle wrap you always want to make sure your target market can read what you want them to know about your business. The size of your letters and logos, and the colors you choose are crucial in creating interior and exterior signs that are visible and easy to read sign.
There are Letter Visibility Charts showing the maximum reading distance for maximum impact, and the overall readable distance. A good rule of thumb is every 1 inch of letter height equals 10 feet of readability for maximum impact. 3in. tall letters have their best impact within 30 ft.; however, it can still be seen and read at up to 100 ft.
When designing any commercial sign, consider the most important message, and how far away are the readers you are wanting to impact. If you are placing an interior sign for a sales ad in a retail store, your text need only be visible to the people in the store, so 1-2” or less would work just fine. However, if you are hanging a banner and want drivers on a nearby highway to be able to see your exterior sign, you would design your letters at 3”minimum, preferably much larger.
Font types also impact visibility of your text on interior signs as well as exterior signs. Very thin fonts and script fonts can potentially decrease visibility. A bold style font that is easy to read with sufficient spacing between letters is best for visibility on any sign. You can test this by typing in a few words in a computer program at different font styles, colors, and sizes, and printing them out and posting them on a wall. Stand back and view them at different distances to see how all these aspects come into play in choosing the proper lettering for your sign.
When you want the best impact on those you are trying reach you will need to consider a number of things. The size, colors, and styles you choose should all depend on what you want as your end result. Always consider how your sign will be viewed and who you are trying to reach. Trying to save a few dollars by purchasing smaller letters is not a wise decision; you may be wasting your investment and efforts when the sign cannot be read by the customers you are trying to attract. Be size wise!
360 Signs in Austin, Texas can help you with a wide variety of custom signage. Give us a call at 512-442-2900 or visit us at
www.360signs.com.
Posted by Tom Humphries on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 @ 10:25 PM
Often your custom interior sign, exterior sign, vehicle wrap or vehicle graphics are the first thing people see that is associated with your business, so a professional-looking sign is critically important.
The use of contrasting colors when designing your sign is vital. Text color with a contrasting background can increase the impact and visibility of your sign by making your text stand out more. On the other hand, using a background color that is similar to your text color can make your text almost impossible to see at any distance. Some of the most visible text colors include black, red, and white, each most visible with a contrasting background color. Readable distance can vary 10% or more depending on various color combinations.
Sign companies can match or produce any color scheme you desire giving you virtually a limitless option to choose from, choosing one color scheme and sticking with it can give your custom sign a more finished, professional look. Bright colors will draw attention to your sign; overuse can take away from your message or make it difficult to read. Using full color print photo is a great way to emphasize a company image or specific service.
Sign graphic artists focus on your message, the color wheel is a primary tool to show the importance of contrast, hue and value when choosing a foreground/background color combination. Opposite colors on a wheel complement each other. Red and green are a common example of compliment colors, exhibiting contrast, but their values are similar so it isn’t the best when making your sign that you don’t look for a red background with green font (or visa-versa).
Colors next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue and green, make poor color combinations since their contrast is similar in both hue and value. It is hard to see any contrast. Alternating colors, such as blue and yellow, produce the best combinations since they have good contrast in both hue and value. Yellow and black are a good example of contrast of both hue and value. The following chart lists good combinations ranked in visibility order.
Highest visibility color combinations to use on your custom sign according to the Outdoor Advertising Assoc. of America (OAAA) is as follows:
360 Signs in Austin, Texas can help you with a wide variety of custom signage. Give us a call at 512-442-2900 or visit us at
www.360signs.com.
Posted by Tom Humphries on Sun, Jul 18, 2010 @ 02:43 PM
The sign in your lobby is often the first impression your business makes on a potential client. It can creatively communicate that you take pride in the aesthetics, personnel, and overall vision of the company or it can leave a client unsure of the direction and capability of your organization. A well designed and fabricated lobby sign can ensure that the first contact you have with clients, vendors or potential employees is positive.
A lobby sign is a dimensional piece of art and one of the least expensive ways to advertise your brand and display the name of your company. It conveys that your business is dynamic and progressive. An attractive, quality lobby sign can improve the perception of your product or service and differentiate you from the competition.
The options for creating this valuable communication tool are endless and are completely customizable to your organizations needs whether that is brightly colored dimensional letters, acrylic, glass, or brushed aluminum. Your directory signs are like a welcoming greeter and should be plannned and constructed with care. Let 360 Signs guarantee that your business conveys a postitive message by providing you with a well designed, well made lobby sign. We look forward to working with you!
360 Signs in Austin, Texas can help you with a wide variety of custom signage. Give us a call at 512-442-2900 or visit us at
www.360signs.com.
Posted by Tom Humphries on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 10:03 PM
Apartment homes, neighborhood entrances, office parks, retirement facilities, nursing homes, doctors offices, cities, churches and schools are just some of the places you see monument signs. The importance of a monument sign cannot be underestimated, it makes your business easy to find and leaves a memorable impression on all who see it. A monument sign is part of your brand so consider a design that helps your organization make a positive first impression.
Two options for mounting letters to a monument sign are flush mounting and stud mounting with spacers.
In flush mounting the letters are installed directly onto the face of the sign. When using this method, it is important to choose dimensional letters that are substantial enough to be visible from a distance. The graphics and letters should protrude from the sign by a minimum of 1/4" to 1/2". This give the face of your sign depth and interest.
In stud mounting with sp
acers the letters are secured to hardware that is then drilled into the face of the sign. The hardware enables your letters to actually stand-off the face of the sign creating dimension. Stud mounting provides you with the option of including lighting within or behind the letters to enable visibility at night.
Whatever method you choose, 360 Signs will ensure that you have a well designed, solidly constructed monument sign that best fits the needs of your organization. 
360 Signs in Austin, Texas can help you with a wide variety of custom signage. Give us a call at 512-442-2900 or visit us at
www.360signs.com.