We’ve all seen them when we have driven through apartment complexes, parking structures or malls.  These types of signs enforce parking limits, tell us what speed we should be driving at, or tell us to be on the look-out for children at play.  Some are more official and associated with specific local ordinances; while others reflect the rules of the property owner or manager with regard the use of the facility, pool or parking.  Most often the signs are exterior aluminum sign with black, red, blue and/or green lettering.

Some are produced in bright reflective colors to make them easily readable, even at night.  This is especially true of road signs and more official MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Transportation Control Devices) as mandated by the Federal Highway Administration.  These are the ultimate in property restriction signs because they enforce the rules on our highways and byways.

Whether you are planning to produce property restriction signs for your place of business or to comply with local ordinances, SignWorks can assist you in designing or fabricating custom or standardized property restriction signs.  For more information and advice about property restriction signs or to request an estimate, contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Monument sigs can be found at the entrance of building complexes, schools, housing communities, museums and restaurants.  They also vary in material types from stone to wood.  One thing monument signs all have in common is that they can be really expensive, especially if they are large and are made out of hard material.

There is an alternative material that is cost effective and can give the appearance of rock, marble, brick and even wood monuments. This alternative material is foam.  This type of foam is not at all like those little white popcorn packaging materials, but it is a dense foam center with a hard coat that is impact resistant and can be shaped and colored to any type of substrate.  These foam monuments, will not rust, rot, peal or delaminate and no on-site construction or heavy equipment is required to install them.  They can range from a small 2’x4’ monument to a 5’x10’ large monument.  There are endless styles colors and shapes that these foam monuments can be. If you are a business owner who is interested in these types of signs please contact us at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Cars are curvy which makes it extremely important that the design account for the curves and corrugation associated with the particular vehicle.  Even if a template exists it will not tell you the diameter or dimensions of a curve so getting accurate measurements and the placement of these curves is critical.

REMEMBER: Measure twice and cut once!

Also cars have lines and seams that are not necessarily parallel.  This makes it important that text and design elements are positioned so as not to fall on a seam, like the door jam.  In addition, graphics and text should follow the body lines of the vehicle, which may not actually be a straight line. Vinyl may not adhere to certain plastic and rubber surfaces, so check around the window and grille area to be sure.

REMEMBER: Place design and text where it is readable not around door jams and windows.

Make sure to use high resolution graphics because although there are tons of images on the web, they are very low resolution and quality.  Once you make the images larger than your computer screen you will see lots of distortion and pixilation.

REMEMBER: Use stock image websites or digital camera photographs taken with a 12 megapixel camera.

Avoid being too wordy.  We often want to make sure we say it all and don’t leave anything out. The unfortunate truth is that too much information will mean that none of it gets read!  Limit the amount of copy and be concise.

REMEMBER: Less is more!

Loopy fonts, lack of contrast and poor background color choices, as well a copy size that is too small are also cardinal mistakes.  Try outlining the letters to make them more visible if needed.

REMEMBER: Make the copy size and color contrast stand out.

If all else fails or you need more design assistance give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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                                               BEFORE                                                                                                  AFTER

SignWorks recently completed a window graphics project for Golden Gate Fitness. The owner at first just wanted simple decals placed on the windows just to show that his business would be coming soon.  Once the graphics were installed he realized that he wanted more graphics coverage for the window, but he didn’t want the storefront to be too busy. We suggested that perforated window graphics would be the best option because any design or layout can be printed on using this material. To save on cost the owner designed his own graphics and decided to only cover a portion of his window. Once we printed the graphic on the perforated material we let it dry overnight. The installation took about an hour.  Once the vinyl was applied to the window the edges were sealed with a clear coat to prevent dirt or water from seeping in between the material and the window.

The customer was pleased with the design and said he will be calling us back to do more graphics for the inside of his Gym once the remodel is completed. If you are interested in perorated window graphics for your business or vehicle, or if you would like a quote on any other types of signs, please contact us at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com

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Months ago we talked about the popularity of “Matte Black” wraps and how they had become the “Gold standard” as far as luxury and exotic car wraps.  While matte white and carbon fiber were very popular alternatives, it seems that there are now even more color options and effects from which to choose.

Vinyl manufacturers are becoming even more innovative in meeting demand for more color choices which include animal prints and effects, metallic’s (like chrome), various matte colors and colorized carbon fiber options.  Dare I say, “Sequins anyone?”  Well, believe it or not, sequin effect is also a vinyl wrap option!

Both 3M and Oracal have made great strides in expanding their specialty vinyl offering, SignWorks also has relationships with specialty vinyl distributors like HEXIS USA.  So if you’re in the market for a specialty vinyl/wrap for your luxury car, give us a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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A very smart approach, when you want to get your company name out there, is to use your fleet of work vehicles.  Even though full wraps are becoming more and more popular, truck or van graphics and decals are still excellent tools to get you noticed and recognized in your service area.  Sometimes, it’s hard to draw the line on what to include in your design, so here are a few tips:

The “KISS” principle is one to remember; Keep it simple, stupid!  We are all tempted to tell potential customers everything about our business in great detail, however, a more strategic and aesthetically appealing sign will get read, while a more detailed and busy one may not.

Don‘t be tempted to be too wordy or verbose.  Keep in mind that no-one has time to read lengthy text as they pass your vehicle on the highway!  Make the text large, easily readable and stick only to the most pertinent information.  Include your company name, logo, a memorable tag line, phone number and your web address.   Folks are very web savvy nowadays, so they will likely look you up on the web.  Include your QR Code (Quick Response Code or two-dimensional barcode), if you have one.

Add to this a short bulleted list of the key products and services you offer and a dazzling design and your branding will be both strategic and effective!  For more ideas and tips on branding or fleet graphics, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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             Frosted Etched Glass Vinyl                                                     Etched Glass

You have probably seen doors, windows and even mirrors with an etched design on it. Etching an image or design on glass has been done for decades. They have been used for decoration and even advertisement.    Typically, to etch an image or design on glass you would need a stencil and an abrasive solution such as acid or fluoride mixture.  This method is very messy and can be dangerous if you don’t have the proper safety equipment.  Since the advancement of the sign industry, there are new vinyl materials that can replicate the etched glass look.  Frosted silver vinyl applied on glass can give the appearance of etched glass, without damaging the glass itself.  Any design or text can be cut out of this frosted vinyl and can be applied on any smooth surface.  If you are interested in etched glass vinyl graphics  or would like a quote on any other types of signs please contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com

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We continue to be thankful for our relationship with Madison Marquette, property managers for Bayfair and Bay Street Malls.  Our most recent project at the mall involved supplying signage for a new retailer at Bayfair Mall, Butterfly Catchers Floral Design and Gifts.  The logo and dimensional letters were constructed using an acrylic laminate mounted to standard charcoal foam.  This gives the letters depth and dimension while keeping the sign affordably priced when compared to acrylic lettering.  Our designer worked with the retailer to recreate a digital print of the logo and mounted it to a circular foam cut out in the same foam material.  A paper pattern was created to ensure the logo and lettering was properly spaced.

The use of laminates combined with foam, whether acrylic or the more popular metallic varieties, allows for the creation of logos and dimensional lettering sign projects at new more affordable price points.  The foam supplies the “saving” will the laminate provides the desired finished effect.  If you are a retailer and would like to explore an affordable dimensional letter/logo project give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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A common statement that people make when they see a vehicle wrap is “I thought it was paint!” The combination of the digital print and over laminate create the effect of being painted on.  Installation of a vehicle graphic requires skill and knowledge that can be gained only through experience and practice.  Heat is essential in conforming vinyl around contours and edges. Using a torch or a heat gun, a skilled “Wrap” installer can manipulate the vinyl to conform and adhere to any surface of a vehicle, even the most detailed grille.  Vehicle wrapping can be considered an art form, because it takes time and practice to get the vehicle to have the right look.  As we mentioned in our previous blogs, car wraps are an effective tool for advertising and is more cost effective than, billboards or TV ads.

Here at SignWorks we have skilled designers and installers that can tackle any vehicle wrap, so if you would like a quote you can contact us at: (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Several months ago we began working with the owners of Global Security on graphics for the company vehicle.  Initially, the owner was considering a partial wrap but as time and budgetary considerations evolved it became clear that a combination of cut vinyl lettering coupled with using the right images and window perforation, would serve to expedite the project and keep it affordable.  The design process involved the owner working closely with the SignWorks designer on an acceptable layout.  After a few rounds of identifying images that would work well, our designer set out on the task of streamlining the text so that the messaging was not too redundant.

The company’s product offering includes high end security features that include remote access and monitoring, smart security and surveillance.  Consequently, the company selected images that reflected the confidence and safety their products and services delivered to end clients which include business and commercial customers, as well as home owners.

The client was very pleased with the end result and we think the pictures only tell part of the story. The effort involved an extensive collaboration to ensure a favorable outcome with the right images, text and messaging.  If you have a vehicle graphics project in mind we hope you will give SignWorks the opportunity to work with you on getting just the right result.  We can be reached at (510) 357-2000 or by email at info@signworks.us.com.

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