How to Make Sign Patterns Using Your Photocopier

Back in the old days (early 80’s), I remember using an Art-O-Graph projector to cast images and letters on the wall and then trace the images to pattern paper. I am not sure what happened to that old projector over the years, but nowadays it’s just as easy using a photocopier, at least for small to medium sized signs. For larger signs I can use the old grid layout system, where you print out a scaled drawing of the sign and overlay it with grids that you can then scale up to the surface you are painting.

In a recent case I used the copier to make a pattern for a few real estate advertising signs. The customer had some old fiberboard panels that I could use for the signs and I hand lettered them with basic information about how interested parties could reach them about a piece of commercial property.

I did the layout in CorelDraw X5. I printed the letters actual size by making sure I picked “as in document” vs “fit to page” on the printer/copier. Once the letters printed, I scotch taped them all together, used a carpenter’s pencil to blacken the back where the letter lines were, and then corner-taped the pattern to my signs, traced the lettering, and painted.

All done in very little time and effort and less expensive than having to order vinyl, weed and tape it, etc. For temporary applications it is a great solution. Plus, I don’t get many chances to hand letter signs anymore; something I still kind of enjoy. I reckon I’m just an old timer!

 

Mark Hackley is owner/operator of Augusta Sign Company in Waynesboro, VA

Contact: 540-943-9818

Many thanks to Holiday Signs for teaching me how to use WordPress 🙂

How to Change a Plastic Face on an Electric Sign

Many times a sign customer needs to change out or update a face in an existing electric sign cabinet and calls Augusta Sign Company for help. Sometimes they need our help because they have become a new tenant of a space with a sign with a different name and they need it changed; sometimes the face is damaged; sometimes, like in the case of Vailes Home Improvement Services of Waynesboro, they have re-branded their corporate image, and as a result the old sign needed replacing.

The basic options are to: 1) remove the letters and replace with new graphics (if the sign is translucent plastic with vinyl letters on the exterior surface only), or 2) remove and replace the whole face, whether it be a flat face or pan face, like the one in the photo above, if the existing lettering is sprayed on the interior surface of the face.

When I letter plastic faces for electric signs, I recommend 3M translucent vinyls for the graphics on translucent white plastic. If the cabinet is slim with fluorescent lamps, most likely a custom pan face is needed; otherwise if the cabinet is thicker than 10″, a flat sheet of plastic could work for the face. (If the lamps are too close to the face, hot spots can occur. One way to resolve that problem is to re-lamp the sign with LED modules.)

Now that the faces are re-branded, the main sign over the door matches the advertising signs on the job sites, and the vehicles, and the sign at the road!

 

Mark Hackley is president of Augusta Sign Company of Waynesboro, VA  540-943-9818

 

 

Subdivision Sign Options

Subdivision sign options can range from brick monuments with metal letters, to stone bases with sandblasted cedar signs, to MDO plywood signs set in decorative iron work on a single post, which happened to be the type we just finished in Waynesboro, VA. Darren Crosier, owner of Crosier Landscaping in Staunton, approached Augusta Sign Company, formerly Tree Street Signs of Crimora founded by Mark Hackley in 1991, to help with a subdivision entrance renovation last summer, and we just recently completed the project.

The existing sign was identical but it set below the grade of the main road making it difficult to see. Crosier’s company was hired to re-landscape the entrance and along with it they were contracted to raise the sign from a 6′ height to a 10′ height above grade. Working with the City of Waynesboro, approval was granted for the changes. The sign renovation was a 3 step process:

Step One involved removing the old sign and replicating it. I purchased a sheet of 1/2″ thick MDO plywood, traced the old oval shape and cut the new shape with a jig saw and easing the edges all around with sandpaper. After priming and painting the oval, I traced the old graphics using paint thinner and brown Kraft paper, an old sign painter’s trick! The thinner makes the opaque paper transparent to do a tracing. After it evaporates you can apply black pencil to the back and trace onto the new sign or in this case onto beige vinyl that I hand-cut in the shop and applied to both sides of the sign, an exact replica of the previous sign. Step Two involved rehabbing the sign frame: I sanded, primed and repainted the ironwork structure with semi-gloss black spray enamel.

Step Three was obtaining a new 6″ X 6″ post and 2″ X 8″ boards to surround 5′ of the bottom, then stain with 2 coats of solid color oil stain made by mixing 70% Penetrol with 30% of the green enamel used for the sign.

The sign was picked up by the customer and installed by his crew, then I went back and made a few necessary touch ups after all the work was done.

 

 

 

Mark Hackley is owner of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA  22980

540-943-9818

HOW TO BRAND AN OFFICE ENTRANCE ON A BUDGET

How to brand an office entrance on a budget is a logical question to ask. I was contacted by the Albemarle County folks recently to provide new branding and wayfinding for their newly renovated Executive Suite in Charlottesville. Working with their facilities management group, we were able to come up with an economic solution, yet add some pizzazz to a new office renovation project. The project will have a glass dividing wall, a three dimensional County Seal, and a column of directional signs when complete. I installed the seal today. The best tips: Use the plastic drywall inserts that thread into the sheetrock and accept screws; these are far superior to traditional toggle bolts for medium to lightweight wall-mounted signs and displays. Also, make sure to clean PVC well with alcohol and a scrub pad to clean off any oils that come along with most PVC plastic materials. This assures a long-lasting bond between adhesive tapes and the PVC substrate. Use spot lighting for best effect!

 

Mark Hackley is owner of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA  540-943-9818

 

Cost of Wall Mounted Letters?

What’s the cost of wall mounted letters? Three-dimensional wall letters range in price depending on several things. Your sign company’s project manager can work with you to determine these factors:

1. Size
2. Material
3. Thickness
4. Interior or Exterior Usage
5. Height Above the Ground
6. Logos Involved?
7. Mounting Method

Once all 7 questions are answered, a sign estimate can be prepared. As far as materials are concerned, there are many options. If the signage is on an interior wall, the material of choice may be some type of plastic. Outdoors, plastic is also a good choice, but you may want to make a different statement by using metal letters. Plastics are limited to paint color finishes, but metal letters can make more of an architectural statement. Some examples include: satin aluminum, gold leaf, stainless steel, brushed aluminum, copper, and bronze. Wall signage can also be hand painted directly onto the wall.

The examples here show a range of wall signs in a city’s downtown landscape. Make sure you select a licensed sign contractor to reduce risks of ending up with non-effective, unsafe, or unattractive signage on your building. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good impression!

The thickness of lettering can add charm but can make a difference in readability and you must consider the effect of shadows on your wall letters. Any logo can be reproduced in dimensional material and mounted on a wall. Augusta Sign Company has more than 30 years experience in designing, manufacturing and installing wall graphics, and is available for consultation anytime!

Mark Hackley is the Owner of Augusta Sign Company of Waynesboro, VA

mark@augustasigncompany.com   540-943-9818