Posted by Signs & More on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 @ 08:06 AM
Lil Wayne, Nas, Jay Z, Snoop Dogg? No, I didn’t say “Rap”. I said “Wrap”. Whom do you get to wrap your vehicle? What criteria should you look for to find the best wrap job to display your logo?
Picking your vehicle wrap team is very important to the outcome of the final product. And, yes, it is a team effort to create an attractive and eye catching wrap. The first act of picking this team has to be the consideration of experience; experience of design, experience of production/application, and experience of choice of materials.
Your wrap team will consist of a graphics designer and an installer. Picking this team is where you do not want to cut corners in your advertising budget. You want a designer that will spend the time with you to get to know your business and get a feel for what message you want to portray to the public. After all, this rolling sign will be seen by more people, in more locations, than any billboard.
Once you and your designer have come up with an ideal look and feel of your logo it is time to pass the work off to production. Here is where the choice of materials is so important. Vehicle wrap material is specially engineered to do just what it does, cling to every nook and cranny of the vehicle. It must also withstand the outside elements in a much different nature than static vinyl. This means that the laminate that covers the print must be specially engineered as well.
Now that the wrap has been printed you want someone with a good reputation for application. This is the stage that can be the most costly if the designer is inexperienced and has to redo too many sections. An experienced designer will take the necessary time to examine the work and do the proper pre-wrap preparations.
Signs & More, Inc. has the experience of design, the experience of production and the experience of application to create a wrap that even a Rap Star would be proud of. Please see our Wrap Gallery for some examples.
Posted by Bill Swanson on Wed, Aug 25, 2010 @ 02:26 PM
Many businesses have chosen to display their name by use of a monument sign. Most times this choice is by desire for a very noticeable sign or it may have been municipal code. Whichever reason you need to install a monument sign, you want a professional look. (Sheram Enterprises - Foam Monument Sign made to match 100-year-old bricks)
There are many considerations to take into account as to what type of monument sign you desire.
- The most restrictive consideration will be your budget. No need in wasting time working on a project that will blow your budget out of the water.
- County or city code (same jurisdiction as Certificate of Occupancy). You may desire a sign twice as large as the municipality will allow. Consult with your sign company or get your permit regulations and application so you will know what you can and cannot do.
- Where will the monument sign be located? Visibility should be the first consideration. You do not want to spend your money on a sign that is not seen by the public. Also take into account the terrain surrounding the sign. You may want the sign in a certain location but the ground may not support it. And there are setbacks required by cities and counties (sign codes).
- What materials should the sign be made of? There are many options of materials for the construction of the sign – Brick, Stucco, Foam, Aluminum, Stone, Wood – you name it. Design, Logo, Style. This is where your sign designer works with you directly to portray the perfect look for your business. You may want to match neighboring signs or your building structure/colors.
When you are ready to place a monument sign at your location, give us a call at Signs & More (770-383-8808) and let our expert design department start creating a look that will be distinctly you. (Home Legend - Brick Monument Sign with Dimensional Letters)
Posted by Signs & More on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 @ 08:02 AM
You are setting up your business in Cobb County and you need a sign. The first thing you need is a Sign Permit. Where do you go and what do you need to do to get this? A good place to start is the internet.
Click here to go to the Cobb County Sign Permit Download Area
Here you will find 1) Sign Applications Requirements/Permit, 2) Semi Permanent Directional Sign Permit and 3) Temporary Display Application.
Click here to view Sign Permit Regulations (Go to Chapter 134 Zoning in Left Window and Article VI Signs in Right Window)
These regulations must be followed to get approval for your permit.
You may ask “Where is this county office?”
Code Enforcement Office, 1150 Powder Springs Rd. Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30064 770-528-2186 fax: 770-528-2092
Contact: Carolyn Bing
What are some things to be concerned with regarding your sign? Each municipality has its own restrictions and regulations concerning signs. Districts and road frontages also affect what size sign can be constructed. For instance, Cobb County requires your sign to be no larger than 2 square feet for each linear foot of road frontage. For example, a building with 20 linear feet of frontage may have no more than 40 square feet of sign.
Call Signs & More and we will get your permit for you or at no charge provide the information you need to procure your own permit.
Posted by Signs & More on Wed, Aug 18, 2010 @ 08:05 AM
You bought/rented your building a few years ago. You had the Fire Marshal check all your signage to be sure you were in compliance with all of the local fire and health codes. No longer worried about being fined for noncompliance, you do not give fire exit and health warning signs another thought.
Maybe you should. Interpretation of code can be subject to who is doing the interpretation. Compliance can be a tricky and subjective business due to different agencies interpreting the code according to their specifications and not necessarily the intended wording. The Fire Marshal, when inspecting your building, may still call for more exit signs, particularly if you have made any additions or modifications.
The best solution is to consult with the local Fire Department just before getting your Certificate of Occupancy to get a feedback as to where you should place the exit signs and follow all the codes for safety and health regulations. Also remember to have accurate exit maps which clearly delineate exit routes. But do not overlook the importance of an annual check to make sure you stay in compliance.
Lastly, it never hurts to remind your local fire station where your business is, just in case…
Posted by Signs & More on Mon, Aug 16, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
When choosing a sign, how it is lit is as important as what type and size to use. There are many ways to light a sign. We will explore the ways to use the lights and the benefits as well as the detriments of each way.
LED Channel Letters Inside Airport Location
Today, the most modern and soon to be the most popular method is the use of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights. These small lights use very little energy compared to Neon, LFL (Linear Florescent Lamps) or traditional bulbs in a goose neck lamp. LED technology has demonstrated significantly higher efficiency, light output and color quality. This is why we are seeing their use from flashlights to auto tail lights.
Neon Channel Letters with Silver Translucent Vinyl Fronts
Neon lighting is still very prevalent in today’s sign industry and will be for quite some time. This method is good for creating all manners of designs (particularly with all types of curves and bends). Many channel letters have been lit with neon inside, but we are seeing more of this type installation going to the LEDs for the light source due to significant operational cost savings.
Florescent Light Box with Pan Face
Many box signs today are still being lit and manufactured with LFL lighting. Although the efficiency may be less than LED, the light from the LFL is more evenly distributed due to the tubular shape of the lamp and the LFL lighting is significantly less expensive to manufacture. Thus, the LFL will stay around much longer since it is the major source of lighting in most retail stores and warehouses and is the best way to light up a rectangular light box.
Dimensional Letters with Gooseneck Lights (Historical District)
The goose neck lamp is the oldest of the lighting methods. We still see their use when a customer prefers the retro look of the “Days Gone By” or needs to light up a routed or flat pan sign and is desired by customer or demanded by lease restrictions/covenants/permit regulations.
Whether you use a light box with florescent lamps or channel letters with LED lighting, Signs & More is here to assist you to bring light your sign.
Posted by Signs & More on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
I asked my wife, “If you were starting your own business and needed a sign, what would you ask your sign company?” Her first question and I suspect most people’s first was “How much is this going to cost?” Let’s look at what is involved with the answer to the question.
- Where will the sign be installed (ground level, up high, or on the face of the building)?
- How big will the sign be?
- What type sign (Lighted, box or letters, monument, 1-color or digital, etc…)?
- What type of lettering (individual dimensional letters, routed, channel letters, etc…)?
As you can see, there are many factors determining sign costs. The most important question to be determined, even before deciding on a sign, is what the customer has budgeted for a sign. Without this knowledge, a lot of time by both the customer and the sign designer can be lost. It is very important to have this financial discussion with your sign company first before anything else moves forward. Then the designer can design the best possible sign for the application at the budget.
So, let’s say you have given your budget to your sign designer and are able to move forward with your desires for the perfect sign. What would be your next question? My wife asked “Where should I place the sign?”
Your local municipality and landlord will need to be involved at this point. They will give instructions as to how large the sign may be, how high it can go, and any other restrictions involved. Once all that is determined, the sign company can move forward consulting with the customer and finalizing the details.
Give us at Signs & More a call and let us answer any questions you may have.
Posted by Signs & More on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 07:30 AM
PMS (Pantone Matching System)
Why is color match up so important to signs and posters? Your logo identifies you as an individual entity. You want to be represented correctly so your customers are sure to recognize you. United Parcel Service strictly protects the brown on their trucks. They do not own the color brown, but expect the same brown whether the color is on their trucks or a billboard. They even incorporate the brown color in their slogan - “What can Brown do for you?” And if brown is hard to match, think about lighter colors with many shades like red, yellow and blue.
How do we go about matching your logo color to print? We use a system called the Pantone Matching System (PMS). It provides over 9000 color shades. This color selection comes from 1341 solid colors and 14 base colors. From this database, Pantone has created a color catalog listing all shades by number or name.
If you or your graphic artist designed your logo or advertising using the Pantone System, you now have the ability to give us, your sign company, your pantone number or name in order to get the exact match. This takes the guess work out of the project and puts the correct colors where they belong. Also there will be no questions as to anyone seeing colors differently from each other. This takes away the surprise of a sign or poster not matching what you or your designer expected.
Colors are important; just ask any college football fan. Let us at Signs & More, Inc. make sure we provide just the right color your company has worked hard to protect.
Posted by Signs & More on Mon, Aug 09, 2010 @ 08:10 AM
Sign Permits In Marietta, GA
Who needs to get a sign permit? This is not a rhetorical question, although some may treat it as such. Anyone having a sign placed in a permanent location needs to have a permit. Even temporary signs such as banners and seasonal signs need to be permitted. Where do you get a permit? The Planning and Zoning Division of the Department of Development Services in Marietta - 205 Lawrence St., Marietta, GA 30060. 770-794-5670 Below are links to the Marietta Sign Ordinance and Permit Application
Sign Ordinance Sign Permit Application
Let’s look at the reasons Marietta, or any municipality for that matter, would require everyone to get a permit for their signs.
- The sign can be a thing of beauty or the town’s worst eye sore.
- The placement of the sign can hinder a driver’s view of oncoming traffic.
- The governing body has decided for aesthetic reasons, or any reason, the signs can only be so high.
- The brightness or frequency of change of a digital display may be distracting or a nuisance.
- There may be, and usually is, a ruling of how many square feet a sign can be.
- Uniformity and conformity to the desires of the community.
These are but a few of the reasons permits are necessary.
When applying for a permit you will be given a packet of instructions and a check list as to what is needed to complete the application. This will direct you to the proper authority and let you know, determined by what type sign you are installing, what information will be required by such authority.
If you find applying for a permit a challenge, please give us a call and we will assist any way we can since we are Signs & MORE….
Posted by Bill Swanson on Fri, Aug 06, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
To Wrap Or Not To Wrap - That’s A Silly Question
Let’s look at the reasons someone would not want to wrap their commercial vehicle. Umm, ahh, hum. Nope, I cannot think of one good reason not to wrap your vehicle. When you consider other forms of advertising, WRAPS WIN on every account.
- Newspapers: $1300 /wk. 2” x2” ad. Have a good local market exposure but are short lived and poor reproduction quality.
- Television: $200000 / 30 sec. Great mass market yet is extremely expensive for the return on investment.
- Direct mail: $1500 / 1000 4” x 6” postcard. High pinpoint market exposure and allows personification. Has “Junk Mail” image
- Radio: $90 - $12 / week. Highly geographic, demographic and selective, but is audio only and low attention notice.
- Magazines: $1200 - $5000 / month. Provides prestige and credibility with long shelf life. Is expensive with no guarantee of position.
- Billboards: $4000 - $500000 / 16 weeks. depending on demographic exposure. High repeat exposure, no competition. Limited audience selectivity, limited creativity.
- Online: $.60 - $10 / click or $1200 - $5000 / month. ( Does not include search engine option) Low cost, Immediacy, and interactive capabilities. Small demographically diverse audience, low impact, and audience controls exposure.
Note: prices are reflected are negotiated prices for a 12 week campaign (Information provided by Inland Empire Small Business Development Center)
Message on Car Wrap is easier to see than Message on Shirt
Vehicle wraps are rolling billboards – WORKING 24/7. They cannot be denied access as some installed signs may encounter (they are the last no-permit-required outside business signs). They are eye-popping and can employ great imagination. The cost ($2000 - $5000) is minimal considering the constant exposure the vehicle provides.
Bring us your “Rolling Billboard” and let us get your message ON THE ROAD.
CiCi's Pizza Delivery SUV Wrap
Posted by Signs & More on Wed, Aug 04, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
Am I In The Right Office?
Is this the question your customers ask when visiting your place of business? Does your lobby or reception area signify your business in a proper manner? As your customer enters your place of business the lobby should indicate your brand, your identity, your persona, YOUR LOGO.
There are many ways to get your brand noticed and reinforced in your lobby or reception area. The most effective Lobby Sign should be behind your receptionist. There is usually a blank wall behind the receptionist’s desk. This is a perfect area to display your logo.
Reception Area - 1/2" PVC Logo Letters w/1/2" Standoff from Wall
Let’s look at the different wall messages.
The method we recommend is the use of painted ½” thick PVC letters held ½” off the wall with spacers. This gives a nice 3D look with shadows behind the letters and allows usage of our customers’ PMS colors.
To create a more formal look, we recommend brushed metal applied to the front of the ½” PVC. We can use contrasting colors (e.g. brushed silver and brushed gold) to contrast different colors you a logo.
Lobby Sign - Brushed Silver & Gold Dimensional Logo
An effective way to create dimensions to flat lettering or designs, needed by very intricate logos, is to place the flat lettering or design on clear acrylic and use stand offs, pulling the design away from the wall. The standoffs are usually 1” long by 1” diameter spacers behind the clear acrylic with matching caps on the exterior of the acrylic. This method can incorporate many styles and art for your reception area. PMS colored or metallic vinyl can be used for this application.
Reception Sign - Brushed Gold Vinyl on Clear Acrylic w/Standoffs
The most impressive look uses unique innovations combining all elements of sign design such as dimensional lettering, shapes, clear acrylic and cut vinyl. The simplest and cheapest is to use cut vinyl as letters or shapes directly on the wall; however, this is also the least impressive.
There is no limit to where your imagination can take you. Let our design department help you create the lobby sign that is UNIQUELY YOU & More.