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Archive for Commercial Signage

Project Update | Friend’s Of The San Leandro Library

March 27th, 2012 by

One of our favorite non profits, Friend’s of the San Leandro Library, has been bringing their street sized banner to us for the past four years to have the event date updated.  They host two events, one April and the other in October which means that for the past four years we have serviced the banner twice a year.  Needless to say that over the years the banner which was 5 or 6 years old had taken on a worn look typical of white banner material with contrasting colored lettering.  We mentioned last year that it was time for a new one.

One of the strategies we explored was to move away from the traditional white color which shows every bit of dirt and was making the old banner look even older than it was.  We settled on a red one this time.  Another option we considered to extend the life of the banner would have been to use digitally printed lettering (except for the changeable letters in the date).  Due to time constraints and the increased cost, the client opted to stay with cut vinyl letters.  To make the banner last longer we used an upgraded vinyl which would be more durable and less likely to peel up and curl over time.

The resulting 4 foot by 25 foot street banner with rope/webbing extending 25 additional feet on each end, (from both the top and bottom of the banner) is pictured above.  Proper venting slits were also a crucial aspect of the design to ensure that the banner would not blow away in the wind.  Festive Street sized banners are great tools for getting visibility on highly trafficked city streets.  They are best used for promoting special events, including festivals, fund raising events, concerts and the like.  And, they are useful promotional tools for both summer and holiday season events.

If you are looking for ways to promote an upcoming event, a street banner might be a high visibility tool you should consider.  For these and other high visibility sign products, contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or send us an email at info@signworks.us.com.

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Media Frames Makes Changeable Graphics More Affordable!

March 22nd, 2012 by

Every few months a billboard is changed out with a new graphic or advertisement.  Typically a two man crew lays new graphics over the old graphic or, with the newer billboards; the graphics come off and are swapped out.  Billboards are usually tall stationary signs on top of a large pole structure and are very expensive.  In recent years a new method of changeable billboard signs have been seen which use aluminum frames to secure vinyl banner material.  These aluminum banner frames can attach to indoor or outdoor surfaces and even attach onto large commercial trucks.

The main reason why someone would choose these types of signs is that they want to be able to occasionally change out their graphics.  In the initial order the customer will pay for the frame, banner and installation, but later if the customer wants to change out the banner graphic he is only charged for the new banner and installation.  This saves the customer money in the long run especially if the graphics have to be changed out multiple times during the year.

If you are interested in a media frame with banner inserts or any other type of signage feel free to contact us at 510-357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Commercial Signage| Exterior Building Letters

March 16th, 2012 by

Many companies choose to spell out there names across the front of their building, but depending on the size of the building those lettering choices can vary greatly.  Often local guidelines, especially for multi-story buildings, will determine what is possible and many municipalities will have a specific sign criteria expressly documenting what the city will accept.  Depending on the size of the building the letters may need to be very large and substrate materials can vary from simple formed plastic letters like those pictured in the Beltmann Group Relocation picture to 3 ft. large powder coated steel like those used on large metal building some months back.

Fonts can vary widely and may include a logo.  And, custom fonts are far from unusual in the signage business.  The letters themselves can take on an architectural quality like the custom lettering we developed for Souls Restaurant in Oakland, where the “L” is transformed into a ladle for additional effect and branding purposes.  For the majority of our lettering projects we use Gemini letters because of the lifetime warranty the company offers.

If you are moving to a new facility or planning an exterior building lettering project contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or send an email to info@signworks.us.com to explore your exterior lettering options.

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Lobby Signs

March 1st, 2012 by

Indoor lobby signs are a good way to brand your company and make an impression on anyone who walks through the door.  From company logos and mottos, lobby signs make a statement that can sum up a business’s standards and reputation. For instance in a Law Firm’s reception area featuring  routed dimensional letters in a brushed aluminum finish located above the reception desk would make a better impression than a standard digitally printed poster on the wall.

These signs can also be considered as art to  fill an empty wall and make it much more appealing.  SignWorks has fabricated many lobby signs in various materials ranging from foam to solid aluminum.  For customers who have a budget, our very knowledgeable signs specialists can work with you to provide the best and most cost effective lobby sign options. If you are interested in a quote for a lobby sign at your business, feel free to contact us at: 510-357-2000 or email us at: info@signworks.us.com.

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Evacuation Maps

February 28th, 2012 by

Evacuation maps are signs which allow people and safety personnel to locate where they are in a building and to find the closest way to exit a building in an emergency.  All multi-level buildings are required to have evacuation maps near every stair-well and elevator and depending on the city, there may be other locations that evacuation maps are required to be placed. Evacuation signs are so essential that certain cities will not allow you to open a business or building without having approved evacuation signs properly installed.  There are online sign companies that can provide generic evacuation maps, but these may not comply with the fire department standards.

The only way that a graphic designer can accurately design and produce a city approved evacuation signs, is  to physical walk the building and take plenty of pictures and detailed notes regarding the facility. With the pictures, notes, building plans and evacuation plan guidelines in hand a designer can create accurate evacuation maps.  Once the designs are created they have to be submitted to the city fire department.  Once approved the signs will then have to be fabricated and installed exactly where the signs indicate they need to be placed.  If you want more information about evacuation maps or would like a quote please contact us at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at: orders@signworks.us.com or info@signworks.us.com

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Channel Letters

February 24th, 2012 by

To the common person channel letters are usually referred to as “The sign letters that light up.” Channel letters are signs that have either neon or led lights encased in a metal shell, caped with acrylic plastic, which allow it to light up at night. A lot of new businesses request channel letters because they are very effective in directing customers to their location at night. Channel letters can be seen hundreds of feet away at night, and are more visible than signs that are not illuminated.  These channel letters can range in size, shape and color depending on what the customer requests.

If you are interested in having channel letters, you must first have an electrical output set up on the outside of your building.  Most sign companies will provide the wiring for the signs but an outdoor electrical component must be installed by an electrician.  Also there are sign regulations for any outdoor electrical sign, so if you are interested in having one on your building you must first ask your city’s permitting department to see what type of sign is allowed in your area. If you are interested in channel letters or any other signs please contact us at: 510-357-2000 or info@signworks.us.com

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Sign Facts | Company Logos

February 22nd, 2012 by

Logo brands are all around us!  Everywhere you look there is a brand logo or brand name on billboards, TV ads, vehicles, buildings and even bathrooms. There are some company brands that are circulated so much that by just a single glance we know exactly what company it is and the products and services that they provide.  For instance, the NIKE brand has their iconic “swoosh” and APPLE has the bitten apple. These company’s spend several millions dollars a year on brand advertising, so that their company can be summed up by just their logo. The term logo is defined as “symbol or other small design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc.”   So for a business to be recognized, a strategic logo design is essential.

There are so many ways to design and create a logo, but studies show that a logo design relating specifically to the business is the most successful.  For instance a fine dining restaurant with a tropical theme wouldn’t use a microchip as their logo. This would not define a restaurant and would just confuse customers.   There are design firms out there that charge thousands and thousands of dollars developing a logo for a company.  Here at SignWorks Inc, we have skilled designers with years of experience that can develop high quality logo for a fraction of the cost of larger design firms. So if you would like a quote on a logo design or any other signage feel free to contact us at: 510-357-2000 or info@signworks.us.com

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Commercial Signage | Wall Graphics

February 16th, 2012 by

If a customer wanted to put a graphic on a wall of their house or building they only had two options, paint directly on the wall or hang up a picture. With new advancements in adhesive vinyl materials, there is now another option, adhering vinyl graphics directly onto the wall. There are now specialty vinyl’s that can stick on virtually any wall surface such as stucco, brick, wood and even cement.  The specifications on this material are very complicated, but simply put heat and force are a couple of key factors in applying these vinyl’s on to walls, especially if they are very rough surfaces.

There are also temporary wall graphics that can be applied to a wall for short periods of time that can be re-moved easily without leaving an adhesive residue.  The possibilities of wall graphics are endless, whether you are a restaurant owner  who wants accent graphics to reflect the restaurant theme, or a parent who wants a picture of your child’s favorite celebrity, wall graphics can make that happen.  If you are interested in wall graphics or other  types of signs please contact us at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com.

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Custom Real Estate Signs

February 15th, 2012 by

Basic For Lease Sign                               Custom For Lease Sign

Once a tenant moves out of a building the property manager will advertise that the space is available. They will advertise online, in newspapers and even on the building itself. Out of the three options, the most common form of advertising that a building (or a space) is for lease is by putting a sign on the front of the building, so that passerby’s can see it. These “For Lease” signs are usually very simple and vary in size depending on the space where it will be installed. SignWorks has made a lot of these signs, but rarely do we get a person who wants something more creative.

Our company recently had an opportunity to do a very unique for lease sign, for a property manager that was tired of all the basic for lease signs. She wanted an original and colorful for lease sign that would not only look good, but convey the message that; “This space is available and if you are interested call us.” After the proofing process the design was approved and the customer was very satisfied with the result. If you are interested in a For Lease sign, or any other type of signage, feel free to call us here at SignWorks at 510-357-2000 or e-mail us at: info@signworks.us.com.

Categories : Commercial Signage
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Sign History | Then and Now: Vinyl Graphics

February 6th, 2012 by

Vinyl plotters are machines that cut graphics on vinyl sheets with adhesive backing, which can then be peeled and applied on a surface or substrate. Vinyl graphics have been the staple of sign production since the mid 1990s and prior to this; signs were either hand painted or handmade. The production of the first vinyl plotter ever made was in the early 1980s.  Only one company produced this machine and it retailed for $10,000.  During the 1990s when personal computing began to be more common, other companies started to create and produce more affordable and efficient vinyl plotters.   This enabled smaller sign shops to produce higher volumes of signs more quickly and helped them to compete with the bigger sign franchises.

Towards the late 1990s hybrid plotters started to emerge which were capable of printing full color images onto printable vinyl material. Customers were no longer restricted to picking only a few colors, but now had the option to choose from thousands of colors and use full color pictures and logos.  Nowadays more sign companies are using both cut vinyl and digital printing to produce countless amounts of signage that are not only cost effective, but can be produced in a short amount of time. If you are a business or individual interested in these types of signs, please contact us at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com.

Categories : Commercial Signage, Tech Tips
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