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 Sun, Jul 25, 2010 @ 09:20 PM
Color management can provide substantial benefits for clients and sign companies alike. It enables sign companies to produce consistent high quality digitally printed signs that meet even the most demanding client’s expectations. This is particularly important for applications like trade show graphics.
Steve Gustafson from Sign Solutions HD in Pondray, Idaho wrote an interesting blog article entitled “What is Color Management?” where he comments: “Color management is a defined procedure for maintaining consistent, predictable colors from scanning to proofing to final print.”
One of the ways that this is achieved is through frequent calibration of all of the monitors and displays in the design and production areas of the sign company. With this in place, initial color proofing can be done on monitors vs. printing samples; this speeds response time as well as reducing costs. If the client has similarly calibrated systems, initial proofs can be reviewed and approved electronically, which streamlines the design process. Color matching to an existing piece can be done more effectively when all of your tools are properly calibrated.
With a properly implemented color management system a sign company can consistently and predictably deliver graphics that can enhance every client’s sign.
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 Wed, Jul 14, 2010 @ 06:43 PM
You’ve purchased a beautiful lobby sign, a monument sign, or building sign with Gemini dimensional letters for your business… so what guarantee do you have for the investment you’ve made? The good news is that with all Gemini letters you will receive a guarantee for life. Should a letter fade, break or contain any defect, we will refinish or replace the defective materials at no cost to you, as long as the letters are installed on their original location.
Keep in mind that most signs will require periodic maintenance (click here to watch video) to retain their original sharpness. Plastic and metal letters will need to be cleaned or revitalized. This can usually be done by simply using a good dish soap to remove dirt or pollutants that come from the sign’s environment. Should the face of a metal letter get scratched, the coating can be revitalized using a good car wax. You’ve invested good money in your sign, it is important to take good care of them.
All of these letters are designed to last a lifetime. Materials and finishes are constantly tested and refined. This includes harsh environmental testing such as with salt spray. These products will last much longer than the life a sign you may install. Gemini’s experience and testing insures that products are designed to last in excess of ten years without any noticeable degradation of their appearance. We also know from specific experience with signs that have been installed all over the world that many of our products will last much longer than that.
A great looking sign can come with a great guarantee when you use Gemini letters.
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, May 25, 2010 @ 11:30 PM
Face lit
channel letters are the most common type of channel letter. The light from the letters comes out of the front of the letters and is visible from long distances. During the daylight hours, the letters are not illuminated and are the color of the faces.
The face of the letter is made out of lexan (plastic) and is either colored material or has colored vinyl applied to the face. The color covers the entire letter face with two exceptions. With dark colors, such as blue, the human eye has difficulty seeing them at night and therefore, we typically put a small border of white around the blue to make it easier to read.
The other exception is black letters. Because you cannot get translucent black material, we use a black perforated vinyl on the faces. This has a lot of small holes in it. During the day the letters appear black; at night the light comes through the small holes in the vinyl and the letters appear white.
The letters are illuminated with either neon or LED lights.
The body of the letter is made out of aluminum and the side of the letter is called the "return." It can be the same color as the letter or is often painted white. The face of the letters is secured to the return with a trim cap. The trim cap can be the same color as the face or an accent color.
Some channel letters are individually mounted directly to a panel or the fascia (wall) of the building.
In this case all of the electronics are wired in behind the panel or wall. In other cases the letters are mounted on a raceway and the raceway holds all of the electronics and wiring.
Individually mounted letters take longer to install at the site because each letter has to be positioned, mounted, and wired one by one. Raceway mounted letters can be installed more quickly because they are positioned and mounted at the production facility and only the raceway has to be mounted and wired to the building. Your landlord may have sign regulations that specify how channel letters must be mounted on your building.
Face lit channel letters are a very visible on-premise sign that can really attract attention to your business. For custom channel letter signs in Austin, contact 360 Signs. We can help you with all of your commercial sign needs in Austin.
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, May 23, 2010 @ 10:07 PM
Post and panel signs are some of the most widely used and compelling signage in the market. They are simple, consisting of two posts installed in the ground with a solid panel suspended between them. They are easily customized and can be made from a wide variety of materials ranging from metal to wood to plastic. These signs are an attractive, durable, highly effective way to advertise and pass on information to your customers.
Post and panel signs can be fabricated from metal cabinets with vinyl graphics applied to one or two sides.
Or, they can be made from wood posts and a wood panel, painted with vinyl graphics applied.
Or, from a single flat metal panel which is painted and has vinyl graphics applied.
They are simple and can be very elegant ways to communicate your infomation to your customers.
For post and panel signs in Austin, contact 360 Signs, your source for custom commercial signage.
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 Sat, May 01, 2010 @ 07:41 PM
One of your options for exterior signs are sign foam letters. Foam letters are a good choice for large dimensional letters. They can be used for interior or exterior signs. They are also one of the most cost effective choices you can make, they are less expensive than solid acrylic or metal letters due to the cost of the material used. The foam is specifically made for indoor or outdoor signs; it is durable, light, and easy to install.
There are a number of different materials used for foam letters:
Dura-Foam Letters (Gatorfoam®)
Dura-Foam Letters are made from Gatorfoam®, which is structural foam, sandwiched between a hard facing, providing extra durability and a smooth surface. Dura-Foam letters can be used unpainted natural white or black or painted in a standard color or custom color with a semi-gloss finish.
Foam Letters with Plastic Laminate
Foam Letters with Plastic Laminate Letters are made from a high-pressure plastic laminate adhered to foam material, and precision cut.
The sides can remain natural white, or painted in any standard color or custom color with a matte, semi-gloss, or metallic paint.
Foam Letters with Metal Laminate
Foam Letters with Metal Laminate Letters are made form real metal laminate, available in a variety of finishes, adhered to sign foam and precision cut. The sides can remain unpainted, or be painted with matching metallic paint, or in any standard color or custom color with a matte or semi-gloss finish.
This is an example of a foam letter sign i
n Austin. Plain Ivey Jane is an upscale botique in downtown Austin. The sign is made of two layers of 1-1/2" foam, one pink and one white, with a white laminate on the face. The letters are stud mounted to the building face and we used some additional adhesive.
At the same cost, this sign would have been much smaller with acrylic letters and wouldn't have the same impact. 
If you need a great looking sign and have a modest budget, consider foam as the material for dimensional letters.
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.