Sign manufacturing . . . what kind of a sign do you need?
Signage systems are visually driven information and fact systems made up of signs, maps, icons, color coding systems, pictures, logos, and other distinctive elements.
Signage systems are different from alternative methods of information display, as they are typically utilized to direct people's passage through the bricks-and-mortar world we live in. The act of following a signage system is called wayfinding, signposting, or waysigning. Examples would be the road signs along the interstate, or the signage system that can help you get where you're going in a large mall or international airport. Any collection of related signs are widely known as a signage system.
In a world of multilingual and multicultural travel, signs become more and more dependent on images rather than words. This is usually the case in societies ın which there is a very low literacy rate.
Signage systems are utilized in both interior as well as outdoor advertising. Just for outdoor advertising, there are more than 100 different advertising formats. The total outdoor advertising in 2008 for the United States alone was almost $7 billion in gross annual revenues. We're talking about a very, very significant industry. How can I possibly discuss all formats? I can't.
A few of the more established formats are listed below. They are sign manufacturing formats that are common for interior, exterior, industrial, private, signage systems, as well as one-offs, or custom made signs. Some are obviously limited to exterior purposes.
Billboards . . .
A billboard is a large outdoor advertising structure typically located in very high traffic areas. They are meant to present your advertising to drivers more so than the general public. The sales message is large and many times witty or humorous. Usually, an advertiser won't create these signs, but rather rent them.
Banners . . .
A banner sign is a flag or fabric displaying a symbol, company logo, slogan, or message. They are typically fabricated for industrial use on a vinyl or plastic material. In recent years they have grown in size due to the increased access and technology of ultra-wide format printing. A banner is normally seen as a temporary sign.
Digital LED, LCD, or Plasma Signs . . .
A digital sign is available in many formats. They are generally an information sign which can be updated on a frequent basis. They are normally stand alone applications that are controlled and changed with computer software. Network applications are available. This type of sign is not involved with the sign manufacturing process unless it is a component of a much larger system.
LED's are often designed into the various kinds of lighted signage.
Channel Lettering . . .
Aluminum is the most frequent material utilized for sign manufacturing of channel letters since it will not rust. This aluminum channel is the basis to the shape of the letter. The sides of the channel letter are also typically made from aluminum creating a container the shape of the letter. The letter container is generally painted and fitted for any illumination components. LED s, or neon gas tubes are usually the lighting source when lighted. A trim capped edge is attached to a translucent plastic face that has been cut to the same shape as the letter. This edge gives the letter face a good finished appearance and also an easy method of fastening the face to the letter shaped container.
Built Up and Flat Lettering
Manufacturing signs utilizing built up or flat lettering generally are a less expensive option. A built up letter generally is hollow inside, similar to channel lettering. It's manufactured utilizing a fabricated technique that simulates a very thick letter, and is constructed all from the same material. This gives it a solid, non hollow look. When it is made from stainless steel, it will appear to be a solid stainless steel letter. Flat letters can be manufactured in lots of different ways, and from many different materials. Probably the most common and affordable method is to waterjet cut the letters out of the desired material. Some materials will need to be powder coated or painted, where many other materials such as brushed stainless, aluminum, or brass, or many of the different types of plastics won't need a secondary process. Because of the material expense to cut thick letters with a waterjet, a thin sheet of marine grade brushed metal is often glued to a polyurethane backing, and then waterjet cut. Injection molded letters are also readily available, but generally reduce your font choices.
Neon signs . . .
Sign Manufacturing of neon lights, if manufactured correctly, win the “long life” award for lighted signs. They can be expected to last a large number of years, or even many decades. A great neon sign maker changes in time from a good craftsman to a great artist. Creating the glass tubing requires so much custom work, that they would not be cost effective if they didn't last for a really long time. The single biggest reason behind their long life is the fact that they do not have a wire filament as do fluorescent tubes.
The gas, neon, glows bright red or reddish orange when lighted. In order to get an array of additional colors, the gas, argon, is combined with a drop of mercury. The droplet of mercury vaporizes. This mercury vapor produces an ultraviolet light that creates the numerous color options, depending on which ultraviolet sensitive phosphors have been coated on the inside of the tube. Helium is sometimes put into the argon gas for installations in frigid areas.
The continuous bent tubing will not look like unique letters if it is totally lit except the eye is fooled. Block out paint is used to paint the areas of the tubing that must not glow. A person's eye does not see the block out paint when the neon light is lit. For the untrained eye, it appears like individual tubes.
Interior and Exterior Wall Signs . . .
Sign manufacturing involving wall signs are very “material-type” dependent. Will the sign be produced of paper, plastic, wood, glass, stone, or metal? The sign manufacturing course of action is determined by the material type being used. Will the sign be screen printed, etched, sandblasted, engraved, or cut out? Will the letters of the sign be the positive image or the negative image? Will they be individually built-up letters? Will they be channel letters?
Vehicle Wraps and Truck Lettering . . .
Wrap advertising is the sign manufacturing practice of totally or partly wrapping a vehicle in an advertisement, in effect resulting in a mobile billboard. In times gone by, the vehicle was painted, but in today's world we use vinyl lettering and/or large vinyl sheets. Vinyl instead of paint can make it much easier and less costly to change or remove. Obviously, large, flat areas are less difficult to wrap than small curved areas. Complete vehicle wraps demand a lot of skill and expertise. Partial wraps are not nearly as challenging.
Murals . . .
Murals are similar to vehicle wraps. The use of ultra-wide format printers have taken hand-painted murals of the last 10 years and brought them into the digital age. Hand-painted signage is a fading art in the commercial signage arena.
Signage in one form or another is centuries old. However, present day sign manufacturing entails numerous technologies and processes unavailable a century ago.
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