Combating Graffiti on Signs

 

Although a select few may see graffiti as an art form, most see it as not only a crime but also a major nuisance. The few moments it takes to tag a wall or sign with a can of spray paint pales in comparison to the cost the property or business owner must incur to fix the damage. The time of re-painting a wall or re-facing a sign along with the cost of materials can be frustrating and hurtful to a business’s profits, especially if the property is targeted repeatedly. However, there are a few steps a business or property manager can take to better avoid the attention of graffiti vandals, particularly in the case of signs.

 

One of the first things to pay attention to in creating a sign that will be placed in a potential graffiti area is the location. If possible, place signs out of reach from typical foot traffic. If the height of a sign is difficult to reach without the use of ladder or vehicle, the effort it takes to reach the sign will deter the average graffiti artist. Another step to consider in combating graffiti is to think about the amount of blank space on the sign. Not only is it good practice in signage to use as much space as available but it also leaves few blank spaces to catch the eye of a vandal looking for an inviting canvas.  

 

On the other hand, the location and graphic options may be limited and the sign is unavoidably an easy graffiti target. Under these particular circumstances one of the best ways to prepare for the inevitable is to request the use of an Anti-Graffiti laminate on all signage. Anti-Graffiti laminate is an amazing product produced by Arlon that not only provides the typical laminate protection for exterior graphics but also is not affected by any solvent based cleaner. This allows for the graffiti to be cleaned off the sign without destroying graphics and requires only a simple cleaning solution which can be kept on hand for minimal cost. Although the Anti-Graffiti laminate might cost a little more in the beginning, the headache, time and material saved when trying to restore a tagged sign will be well worth the investment. 

Electrical Building Signs: Some Considerations

When it comes to buying an electrical sign for your business there’s a lot of things that have to be considered.  Hiring a sign company with experience will dramatically help reduce the burden on you through the process.  Also, experienced companies are able to more accurately estimate price so you know what you’re getting into and you don’t get surprised with any hidden fees.  I’m going to go through a few items commonly overlooked during the creation of a custom building sign.

1. Make sure your design is consistent with the branding of your business.  Consistent branding is one of the most important and overlooked elements of marketing.  If your logo is blue on your business cards and in your print advertising, a red sign is probably not right for you.                                                
2. It is important to know that in order to install a sign it is important to get your landlords approval.   Many landlords have sign criteria’s which are basically documents that are part of your lease which state what types of signs you can and cannot have.  Ultimately your landlord will have final say on what type of sign you can install.  Understanding your limitations will help during the sign design process.
3. All signs that are permanently attached to a building require a sign permit.  Sign permits may be obtained by building owners or by licenses contractors.  Make sure your sign company has an electrical contractor’s license and a good working relationship with the city.  The process of obtaining a sign permit can be challenging if you’ve never done it before, but professional sign companies make the process relatively easy.   Like with landlords, Cities have dos and don’ts as far as what they will allow by way of signage.  Typically the landlord has already accounted for these things when they’ve developed the sign criteria.                                                       
4. All illuminated signs require primary power.  Typically signs should be connected to a dedicated 20 amp circuit.  Circuits are often controlled by a time clock or photo cell, which turns the sign on and off at specific times.  Most often, power has been supplied to the wall where signage goes by the landlord.  Knowing whether or not power is present, or what it will take to provide it to the sign, is extremely important prior to ordering an electrical sign.    

These are just a few of the many things to consider when installing an electrical sign.  The more you know about the process, the easier the process will be.  

Building Signs: Consider Your Target Audience

One of the key terms in any type of business marketing is target audience or target population. The Business Dictionary defines it as a “. . . . Particular group of people, identified as the intended recipient of an advertisement or message.” Target audiences can be developed based on a large variety of specifications or characteristics. Gender, race, age, financial status, single or married are only a few of the most general terms that can begin to build the qualifications your particular target audience.

 

In the same way, signs also have target audiences and it is important to consider those target characteristics when building or creating signage. One of the primary “targets” in signage often is viewing distance. How far away is the consumer going to be from the sign? Are they walking or driving past the sign, or both? How fast are they traveling?

 

In this case, viewing distance can be divided into three different targets: consumers on foot, slow moving cars and freeway traffic. For example, the main target for a business nestled in a shopping plaza or strip mall will be people walking by or driving through the parking lot. The viewing distance is moderately close; therefore signage can be more detailed. A business can attract window shoppers with effective window graphics and also draw people into the store with well designed a-frames advertising specials or sales.

In order to attract the people driving through the parking lot or down roads with slow speed limits and stop lights, a business will also want to invest in a building sign. Although building signs are often much simpler than window graphics, they are more effective because of their larger size.  They also can be extremely effective when manufactured as an illuminated sign, which advertises for a business both day and night.

In contrast, a manufacturer with large buildings along freeway frontage will have a different target audience. Their main goal will be to identify their location to the fast moving freeway traffic, usually a significant viewing distance. Simple clean design is going to be key component for readability and illumination is not as important since many manufacturers are not open to the public after hours. Dibond signs or large banners are often an excellent choice for these companies because they are cost effective and also require less fabrication and installation.

No matter the content, a sign is only be effective if it can be seen and read by the target audience. Taking into account the viewing distance and speed at which the consumer is moving will be an excellent beginning to developing not only good signage but also valuable and effective advertising.

Custom Building Signs

Custom building signs come in all shapes and sizes.  Because each sign is built custom, they can be made any shape and size and to work with any type of building.  There are many different factors in deciding which type of custom sign is best for your business or building.

The first question to ask is illuminated or non-illuminated.  Do you want your sign to light up at night or not?

The most common types of custom illuminated signs are: channel letters and sign cabinets. 

Channel letters are internally illuminated and the light can shine out the face or out the back.  Those types of letters are referred to as face lit channel letters and halo lit channel letters, respectively.  There are also two methods of illuminated for channel letters.  LED illumination and neon illumination are both available, each with its benefits. 

Sign cabinets are always face lit and also offer two types of illumination options.  Those are florescent illumination and LED illumination.  A florescent cabinet is typically 9” deep and an LED cabinet is typically 5” deep.  Again, both have their benefits. 

The most common types of non-illuminated signs are: acrylic flat cut out (FCO’s) letters, aluminum sign frame systems, and dibond signs.

Acrylic FCO’s are cut from ¼” or ½” clear acrylic into individual letters and shapes.  From there, they’re painted with a polyurethane paint that is similar to the paint used on cars.  When exposed to the elements the paint will likely last as long and well as an automotive paint.  FCO’s are either stud mounted to buildings or mounted with double stick tape and silicone. 

 

An aluminum sign frame system is basically a much narrower version of a sign cabinet that does not light up.  There are two options here, aluminum faced or acrylic faced.  Acrylic faces are less expensive.  However acrylic FCO’s can be attached to aluminum faces offering more dimensionality.  Sign frames systems are either 1.5” or 2.75” deep.  They are custom built and can be made to any shape or size.

Dibond is a polymetal with a dense foam core and an aluminum extrusion.  Dibond is an effective material for exterior building signs because of its light weight and low redemption value.  Dibond comes in 5’ x 10’ sheets that are approximately 1/8” thick and can bet cut to any size or shape.

Finding the right type of sign for your business or building is almost as important as the sign design.  There are many types to choose from when creating the perfect custom sign for you!

Sign Cabinets: Inexpensive Lighted Building Signs.

Sign cabinets are the most inexpensive way to add an illuminated sign to your business.  There are several different types of sign cabinets that can be used.  Sign cabinets are a great way to attract attention to your business during the day and at night in an inexpensive and effective way.

The first thing to consider is if your landlord will allow you to install a sign cabinet on your business.  Some landlords have very strict sign criteria’s that prevent the use of sign cabinets.  Additionally some cities restrict the use of cabinets for some areas within the city limits.  Sign cabinets may sometimes be referred to as light boxes.

The most common type of sign cabinet is 9” deep and can be built to almost any size.  A sign cabinet is made from aluminum with a retainer system to hold a white acrylic or lexan face onto the front.  The light from florescent lamps passes through the face allowing the sign to light up at night.  Vinyl graphics are applied to the face to display your business name, logo, etc.  The vinyl can be digitally printed for full color designs or cut from vinyl for monochromatic designs. 

Another type of sign cabinet is a 5” deep LED (light emitting diode) illuminated cabinet.  These are becoming more popular in the sign industry because of their shallow depth.  They can also be built to almost any size.  These types of cabinets are also fabricated from aluminum.  One major difference is the face of the cabinet is also aluminum.  The aluminum face is router cut to meet your sign design.  Once the face has been cut, you have two options.  One is to back the holes in the face with acrylic creating a flush look.  The other option is to insert half inch acrylic “push-throughs” into the holes in the face giving your design some dimension away from the face.  In either event the light from the LED’s shines through the holes in the face, allowing the sign to light up.

There is no debating the fact that an illuminated sign is eye catching and an effective way to get your business noticed.  Sign cabinets are one of the most ineffective ways to do just that.  There are many types of sign cabinets that can be built custom to your needs.  As always with signage, a great sign design is key.

Election Signs

Election time is coming up and it’s never too early to think about ordering your election signs.  Here in Modesto we’ll be electing a new Mayor and four new Council Members.  Yard signs are a great way to get your name out to the general public.  Unfortunately or fortunately, most voters vote based on name recognition more than they do based on the issues.

Typical election yard signs are made form a material called coroplast and are 18” tall and 24” wide.  Coroplast is a fluted white material that resembles cardboard in nature.  It is used in election signs because of it’s an inexpensive option that will last for several months when exposed to the elements.  Also, coroplast is made in such a way that it will take graphics on both sides without issue.  Some materials are only built to accept graphics on one side.

The most cost effective way to produce coroplast election signs is by screen printing them.  Screen printing does have limitations, however.  You can only screen print solid colors.  That means your sign design will have to be all solid colors with no gradients.  Also, the artwork cannot bleed to the edges of the signs.  That means the sign needs a small white border all the way around the edges of the signs.

Screen printing is done by creating a screen for each color and applying the colored ink to the coroplast through the screens in layers.  That said, the more colors you use in your design, the more the signs will cost.  Also, single sided signs are less expensive than double sided signs.

There is a lot to consider when producing election signs.  An eye catching sign design is important.  Knowing how many you will need is another factor (the more you order, the cheaper the unit cost is).  Also, choosing colors that are eye catching is important.  Signs are a great tool in the process of getting elected and giving back to your community.

Monument Signs: Getting You Noticed!

Monument signs serve many purposes and are a great addition to most commercial properties.  Whether there are many tenants on a single property or just one business, there are types of monument signs that will get you noticed.

 

Monument signs are freestanding signs that are typically placed near a major roadway or near the entrance to a property.  There are illuminated and non-illuminated monument signs.  Also monuments can be single or double sided.  Typically a monument sign has a fabricated aluminum base which hides it’s attachment to the ground.

 

Another type of monument sign is a post and panel sign.  Post and panel signs are fabricated with aluminum and stand on two legs.  They are the same on both sides as they are one piece.  Graphics can be added to one or both sides.  Post and panel signs are a less expensive alternative to the average monument sign.

 

The great thing about monument signs is the sign area can be divided among several different tenants on a property or they can be used to identify the name of a property or single business.  Especially for businesses that do not have great frontage facing the main roads, a spot on a monument sign can increase their visibility and traffic to their business. 

 

Monument signs are also effective as wayfinding signs.  If you place a monument near the road that bears the name of the center (The McHenry Village, for example), you call tell your customers you are located at the Village and they will be familiar with your general location.

 

Monument signs add value to any property and are a great way to get your business or shopping center noticed!

Business Signs: A "How To" Guide.

There are many facets of designing, building, and installing building signage.  Some of the obvious ones may include: effective sign design, location of sign, and type of sign.  There are a few things most people don’t consider, though, when they go to install building signage.

One aspect of installing signs on a building is landlord approval.  More often than not when you sign a lease you agree to abide by your landlord’s sign criteria.  In this document your landlord will outline what types of signs they will and won’t allow (including: size, color, fabrication, etc.).  Understanding what you are allowed is an important part of sign design.

Once you understand what your landlord will allow, you can begin the sign design process.  The most important part of that process is deciding what type of signage will be the most effective for your business.  After all, getting your business noticed is the most important part of having a sign.  Important things to consider include best sign type for your budget, whether power is available in the case of an illuminated sign, what type of mounting and wiring access is available, and finally visual appearance.

Lastly, you must obtain a sign permit.  After you’ve received your landlord’s blessing you must then go to the city and apply for a permit.  As part of a city’s permit, you must obtain approval from both the planning and building departments.  Most cities (like most landlords) have specific criteria for what they will and won’t allow by way of signage.  When you submit your application to the city you must include detailed drawings of the proposed sign shown on the building, proof your landlord has approved the signage, and information about the building itself.  We at City Signs undertake this process on behalf of our clients and have solid working relationships with most all cities in our area.

The sign design process is a multi-step one that can take several days and involves many different players.  Understanding your options is an important first step.  Knowledge is key.  Most sign companies, including ours, are familiar with the process and can make it as quick and painless as possible.

Lighted Signs: Neon v. LED

One of the most aesthetically pleasing and visible types of signs are internally illuminated channel letters.  Channel letters are a cost effective and great way to attract customers to your business both during the day and at night.

There are two types of illumination for channel letter sets.  One type is neon and the other is LED (light emitting diode).  Until recently, neon channel letters dominated the market.  LED technology has made great advances, however, and is proving to be the superior product.  What follows is a list of just a few reasons LED’s are winning the market share with sign illumination.

1. Neon glass is fragile.  It has a tendency to break or develop cracks over time.  LED modules are manufactured in controlled environments which reduces the probability of defects.
2. Neon signs require more power to run.  LED’s are energy efficient and provide a noticeable savings on energy when compared to neon. 
3. LED power supplies are much smaller and easier to install than neon power supplies.  They also have a tendency to have fewer problems.  This makes installation easier and often reduces the overall cost of LED signs.

All that said, neon still has great uses.  Exposed neon signs still have a classic charm that fits certain types of sign design.  Overall, however, LED channel letters are the best choice for most building signage.

Signage: The Importance of Branding

Branding is key to running a successful business. It is the quickest way for your company to express to potential clients what it does, and absolutely essential for any good marketing campaign. Dollar for dollar, developing a good brand can be among the best investments you will ever make.

 

It’s surprising how often branding is overlooked or simply given a minimal amount of effort. Branding defines your business. It is the first thing potential clients see when shopping, or think about when in the market to buy. People need some kind of visual element to associate with your product or service that will generate an attraction.

 

Essentially, a brand is a company’s face to the world. It is the company’s name or how that name is expressed visually by a logo. It gives a company a personality, and visually expresses the services offered by that company. Branding is simple, effective, and instant visually expressed marketing.

 

A good brand or logo can be expressed in multiple ways, such as identity for your building, represented on your website and business cards, or used in developing a good marketing campaign. Your brand should be implemented along with anything you do that represents your business.

 

All in all, branding is absolutely vital when operating a business and should be treated with importance when developing a brand. The money you spend on a good brand is an investment that will define your business and yourself as a business owner.