Sign Builder Illustrated October 2016

vinyl versatility From Vehicles to Walls

panel discussion

A Variety of Decorating Options

www.signshop.com

Number 256 | October 2016

How-To

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Add Engraving To Your Lineup

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Duets by Gemini. Engraving, ADA and architectural sign substrates.

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PARTNER NETWORK

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©2016 Gemini Incorporated. Duets™ is a trademark of Gemini, Inc.

Available in-stock, nationwide from the industry’s leading independent engraving materials partners

October 2016

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SBi ELECTRICAL A special section devoted to lighting, digital displays, and other electric signs.

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Products and Projects A round-up of the latest product and project announcements related to electric signage.

Color Coordinated

BY JEFF WOOTEN

There are lots of LED color options, but white and red remain most popular.

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Seeing is Believing

BY ASHLEY BRAY

Digital displays provide an eye-catching view.

Sign Builder Illustrated (Print ISSN 895-0555, Digital ISSN 2161-4709) (USPS#0015-805) (Canada Post Cust. #7204564) (Bluechip Int’l, Po Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Agreement # 41094515) is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and Additional mailing offices.

Pricing, Qualified individual working in the sign industry may request a free subscription. 12 issues per year. Non-qualified subscriptions Print version, Digital version, Both Print & Digital version: 1 year US/ Mexico/Canada $50.00; foreign $99.00. Single copies are $15.00 ea. Subscriptions must be paid in full in U.S. funds only. Prices are subject to change.

Copyright © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2016. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

Laser or Rotary?

BY MIKE ANTONIAK

Two paths to engraving opportunities.

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BY LORI SHRIDHARE

Designing to cover a variety of surfaces.

Carving a Cape Cod Sign

BY JIM HINGST

A unique “land lubber” twist on a carved wood sign.

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The Versatility of Vinyl

Panel Discussion

BY JEFF WOOTEN

The art of decorating aluminum and composites.

The Geezer Gathering

BY JIM HINGST

Recapping the Letterhead event hosted by Butch “Superfrog” Anton.

For reprint information contact: Arthur Sutley, Publisher (212) 620-7247 or asutley@sbpub.com.

For Subscriptions & Address Changes, please call (800) 895-4389, (847) 763-9686, Fax (847) 763-9544, e-mail signbuilder@omeda.com, or write to: Sign Builder Illustrated, Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, PO Box 3135, Northbrook, IL 60062-2620 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 3135, Northbrook, IL 60062-2620.

Instructional information provided in this magazine should only be performed by skilled crafts people with the proper equipment. The pub­lisher and authors of information provided herein advise all readers to exercise care when engaging in any of the how-to activities pub­lished in the magazine.

Further, the publisher and authors assume no liability for damages or injuries resulting from projects contained herein.

signshop.com

www.osram-americas.com/signage

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— Available in medium and small sizes with a variety of CCTs and colors — Single board cuttable chain of LED modules with flexible connection cables — IP66 rated to protect against dust, moisture, and condensation in outdoor applications Learn more about BackLED Plus Square Lens at www.osram-americas.com/signage

Light is OSRAM

Agenda

How-To Columns

OCTOBER 2016 October 11-14: The Mid South Sign Association’s “New Ideas, New Possibilities” national sign company network event takes place at the Four Points Sheraton in Little Rock, Arkansas. (midsouthsignassociation.org)

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19

Plans Overseen

19 Regulatory Landscape

BY DAVID HICKEY

Legislative actions can affect the costs of doing business.

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Plans Overseen

BY PROF. ALAN C. WEINSTEIN

The Reed v. Gilbert session at the APA Convention attracts 500 people.

October 27: The Arizona Sign Association Tabletop Trade Show will be conducted at TopGolf in Scottsdale, Arizona. (arizonasign.org)

Regulatory Landscape

Departments 6

UpFront

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Dispatches

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Sign Show

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SBI Marketplace

Jeff Wooten looks into how sign shop owners can inspire purpose in their employees and work.

Aluminum composite material provides the right look on two different projects and combining an LED retrofit with cheesesteaks.

The newest products and services from sign manufacturers.

Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade.

VINYL VERSATILITY From Vehicles to Walls

DECEMBER 2016 December 1-3: Sign World International, the annual tradeshow and educational conference of the United States Sign Council, is scheduled to be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (ussc.org/signworld.php)

PANEL DISCUSSION

64 Shop Talk

www.signshop.com

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Ashley Bray shows how a digital display manufacturer puts its employees first with a series of innovative programs.

Add Engraving To Your Lineup

On the Cover ur

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November 1-4: The automotive SEMA Show rolls into the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (semashow.com)

A Variety of Decorating Options

NUMBER 256 | OCTOBER 2016

HOW-TO

NOVEMBER 2016

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This Colorado Rockies baseball team sign proved a hit thanks to laser engraving. Photo: Epilog Laser.

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

FEBRUARY 2017 February 16-17: The Midwest Sign Association will conduct its winter meeting at the Hilton Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (msassn.org) signshop.com

Up FRONT

by jeff wooten

October 2016, Vol. 30, No. 256 Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

Subscriptions: 800/895-4389 executive offices

President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Publisher arthur j. sutley 55 Broad Street, 26th floor New York, NY 10004 212/620-7247; fax: 212/633-1863 editorial

Editor Jeff Wooten

Evolving Mindsets Finding a purpose in today’s sign shop.

Shutterstock/baranq.

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friend of mine was recently discussing his family heritage with me and showed me a musty, old blackand-white photograph of his greatgrandfather taken back in the ’40s that he had come across. The image featured a stoic individual posing matter-of-factly in front of his rudimentary tractor ready to trudge ahead in the fields to earn his living.

Taking in this photograph created a couple of melancholy impressions inside me.

The first reaction I had was trying to soak in this man’s life and feeling what it must’ve been like at that point in history. Then I started wondering: “Did his lifestyle ever alter?” “Did he adapt to how the work landscape changed during the Baby Boomer ’50s and ’60s?” “Did he pass along any of the things he learned to his offspring or had society changed so much for them by the time they reached his age?”

Then I took a detour into a bit of depression as I realized I probably wouldn’t be around to see how select members of our current generation would explain to their future grandchildren the happy-go-lucky selfies and Instagram posts they’re snapping today. (I know, I know: “Get off my lawn, kids!”)

As decades change, so too do work habits.

For example, millennials have really changed the playing field of today’s work landscape.

They’re seeking a purpose in their jobs and are quick to change employers if they don’t find it.

That’s why, according to Paul Ratoff, president of Strategy Development Group Inc. (ratoffconsulting.com), and author of Thriving in a Stakeholder World: Purpose as the New Competitive Advantage, it’s important that a business

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now develop a purpose and each employee be inspired by and contribute to that purpose.

“If everyone in an organization feels good about the work they do and is committed to the organization’s purpose, then you’re likely to see good results,” he says. “But if workers aren’t engaged, their productivity can suffer and the company as a whole may pay the price.”

So jumping onboard how the employment mindset has evolved, what exactly does it mean to be a sign shop or print provider today? Have the project requests from your client base transformed into something you couldn’t have imagined a few years ago? Have you adapted?

Has your purpose changed?

I’m writing this a few hours returned from SGIA Expo in Las Vegas where it seems like definitions are changing and lines are blurring.

Metallic ink trends have morphed toward fluorescent demand. Residential interior décor has blossomed into an opportunity. And apparel? Apparel appeared to be everywhere.

At the opening day press event, SGIA President Ford Bowers even pondered what it is that constitutes a graphic and even how that perception was constantly changing.

The great thing about the sign industry is how it straddles both New School and Old School. And this month’s issue does the same.

You’ll read about how adding an engraver can be a viable option for your shop (“Laser or Rotary?” page 40), while keeping up with the Letterheads movements of traditional signmaking (“Geezer Gathering,” page 58).

There are many purposes out there for you as a sign maker. It’s up to you to find it and accept it. And maybe even change it.

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

323 Clifton Street, Suite #7 Greenville, NC 27858 212/620-7244; fax: 212/633-1863 jwooten@sbpub.com

Managing Editor Ashley Bray

55 Broad Street, 26th Floor New York, NY 10004 212/620-7220; fax: 212/633-1863 abray@sbpub.com

Contributing Writers Mike Antoniak, David Hickey, Jim Hingst, Lori Shridhare, Alan C. Weinstein art

Creative Director Wendy Williams Art Director Nicole Cassano Graphic Designer Aleza Leinwand production

Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers circulation

Circulation Director Maureen Cooney advertising sales

National Sales Director Jeff Sutley 212/620-7233; fax: 212/633-1863 jsutley@sbpub.com

Mid-West & West Coast Sales Manager Heather Bonato 212/620-7225; fax: 212/633-1863 hbonato@sbpub.com

Marketplace & Buyer’s Guide Amy Lennox 212/620-7221; fax: 212/633-1863 alennox@sbpub.com Sign Builder Illustrated is published monthly.

All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. To purchase PDF files of cover and layouts or hard copy reprints, please call Art Sutley at 212/620-7247 or e-mail asutley@sbpub.com.

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Dispatches Wall décor was direct-printed onto Dibond and installed with standoffs to brighten up a city hall waiting area.

Wall Décor Projects Davidson, North Carolina—Agio Imaging (agioimaging.com), a large format custom print solution provider in Portland, Michigan, recently turned to Dibond® aluminum composite material by 3A Composites USA to achieve the right look on two different projects.

City of Décor. When the City of Portage, Michigan decided to renovate its city hall, officials turned to an architectural interior designer and Agio Imaging for help in installing a series of local photographs as large-format interior wall décor.

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Agio Imaging recommended that the ten large images be direct-printed in fourcolor process onto 3mm Dibond—using either the Brushed Silver or White colors depending upon the desired effect.

A photograph of a stream cascading over rocks in a local park was directprinted and bled to the edge on Dibond Brushed Silver in dual panels measuring 47.5 inches-by-47.5 inches. The diptych wall art was then installed with stainless-steel standoffs in the city hall's waiting area.

“Areas in the photograph that were

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

white or light in color seem to sparkle with the texture,” said Logan.

Two additional images taken at a local park were direct-printed with a fourcolor process and full bleeds onto 3mm White Dibond panels. The 35.5-inch-by58-inch image and 35.5-inch-by-71.5inch image were installed with stainlesssteel standoffs.

The Portage city officials were so impressed with the city hall décor that they ordered additional panels printed onto Dibond for installation in another city facility. signshop.com

LEDs & Cheesesteaks

Charitable Branding. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) was founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg.

The WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work, and life. So it’s no surprise that children would be the focus of new wall décor for the WKKF’s Grand Rapids, Michigan office.

Agio Imaging direct-printed eleven images ranging in size from 12-by-12 inches to 42-by-18 inches on 3mm White Dibond, signshop.com

leaving approximately one to one-and-ahalf inches of the Dibond edges exposed to form an even border around each image.

Each piece was finished sandwich-style with a silver barrel, a Dibond print, and an acrylic cover sheet to add depth and a high-gloss sheen.

The prints were arranged in two groupings in the office waiting room and wallmounted with milled aluminum. (To see this photo, visit http://bit.ly/2cH3ao4).

“They were very happy with this sleek, modern look and the way the graphics were displayed,” said Logan.

N o r t h Wa l e s, P e n n sy l va n i a — Keystone Technologies recently provided the lamps for an LED upgrade at Geno’s Steaks, an iconic establishment in South Philadelphia serving up their famous cheesesteaks twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, nearly 365 days a year.

Their electric bill reflected the around-the-clock service, so Geno’s researched options for more energyefficient lighting. The solution was a complete LED retrofit for the customer areas and the kitchen—over one thousand LED tubes!

Geno’s selected tubes with Keystone Technology’s Direct Drive technology, which bypasses the ballast and uses line voltage connected directly to the lamp sockets.

“Geno’s can expect to save almost 50 percent on energy usage,” said Josh Brown, vice president of Distributor Sales at Keystone.

There were other important considerations for this retrofit. Geno’s needed the quickest possible installation so there would be minimal inconvenience to customers and staff and no impact on business.

Keystone’s innovative wiring harness, designed specifically for use with Direct Drive LED tubes, eliminated much of the wiring work that would normally take place on the job site, drastically reducing installation time.

“Geno’s and Keystone both have deep roots in Philadelphia, and it’s great to be able to collaborate on such a significant project," said Ira Greenberg, CEO of Keystone.

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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SignSHOW A C R Y L I C S / P L A S T I C S / P O LYC A R B O N AT E S Download Gravograph’s Engraving Source Book for a Selection of U.S. Engraving Plastic Make the choice to use the highest quality, made-in-the-USA engraving plastic! For over seventy-five years, Gravograph has been the global leader in permanent marking and engraving technologies. The company is proud to participate in the recovery of American manufacturing by producing engraving materials in their Duluth, Georgia facility. Gravograph plastics lead the industry in engraving quality, consistency, and value. Be sure to download the latest Engraving Source Book today. 800/843-7637; gravograph.us

GSG Carries a Full Line of Polycarbonate Sign Material GSG, a consumable and equipment wholesale distributor for the electrical sign, commercial sign, digital printing, and apparel decorating markets, offers a full line of polycarbonate sign material in various thicknesses and sizes to meet a range of application requirements. PolyOne SunGard® is the first all-polycarbonate, weather-resistant sheet with builtin UV stability, as well as high-impact strength (even after prolonged outdoor exposure). SunGard’s unique properties make it ideal for a variety of exterior sign applications, such as flat or thermoformed outdoor sign faces, channel letter faces, etc. And it is specifically formulated to provide strong, even light diffusion for LED backlighting. PolyOne polycarbonate is available in clear and white in fifty-two-inch to one hundred-inch rolls in three thicknesses. Meanwhile other polycarbonates offered by GSG include TexCast and Spartech V-3 Sta-Tuf®. 800/336-1776; GoGSG.com

D i g ital printin g e q u ip m ent / s u pplie S LUS-350 UV-LED Flexible Ink: Up to 350 Percent Elongation for Thermoforming Applications Mimaki USA has announced the availability of LUS-350 UV-LED ink, a highly durable yet flexible high-performance ink for the thermoforming market. After printing, the ink is fully cured onto a hard surface and is resistant to scratching or dimpling. When heated, it transforms into a pliable state with up to 350 percent elongation possible; when cooled, it returns to a hard, durable surface in the shape of the thermoforming mold. LUS-350 ink does not crack after molding, making it an ideal ink for printing onto substrates such as PETG, acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and PVC before the thermoforming process. Intricate textures of decorative fine prints are retained even after molding. Raised areas of thickly applied ink and double/triple layer printing also stay intact without cracking. LUS-350 ink is available for use in the company’s JFX200-2513 and UJF-7151 plus UV-LED flatbed printers. Packaged in one-liter bottles, it is available for order now in Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and White for both models, plus Clear for the UJF-7151 plus printer. mimakiusa.com

D ye s u bli m ation Bordeaux Digital Printink Now Allows Print Shops to Use One Ink on All Fabrics Bordeaux Digital Printink has launched EDEN PG, its new ink for textiles. The new EDEN PG pigment ink is one ink and one process for all types of fabrics, which allows print shops to print any type of fabric with a single ink and a single printing line. Receiving the OEKO-TEX® and GOTS certifications assures print shops that EDEN PG meets the highest standards, allowing its use for the most sensitive clothes—baby clothes. As it is using one single process with no need for wash and dry cycles, the EDEN PG is also the most cost-effective textile ink solution. 408/247-2205; c-m-y-k.com

ITI's Super-wide "Dual Production" TX3200 Direct-to-fabric or Transfer Paper Sublimation Printer The new super-wide, “Dual Production,” 3.2-meter TX3200 textile printer from Inkjet Technology, Inc. (ITI) has the capability to print directly on textile fabrics and handle dye-sub transfer paper applications. ITI has developed this model with an internal vacuum mechanism to securely hold down the transfer paper (especially thin paper) to prevent cockling. Plus it comes with an ink collection gutter assembly to handle polyester or mesh-type textiles used in direct printing methods. ITI has also developed a specially formulated ink with their OEM ink vendor to handle the “Dual Production” mode so that the ink properties are similar to disperse dyes for direct printing and a dye sublimation ink for transfer paper printing. This will benefit many textile shops that want the performance of both types of textile printing without the expense of buying two different printers. ITI offers the TX3200 printer with the latest Ricoh GEN 5 printhead technology (in four- or eight-printhead configuration) for reliability, speed, and performance imaging. inkjettechinc.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

signshop.com

SignSHOW FAB R ICS Top Value Fabrics Rebrands Fabric as Supra Fabric Elite Supra Fabric Elite (previously Samba Fabric Elite) has been engineered as a mid-weight backlit fabric especially for backlit display systems and lightboxes. For printers who are reducing inventory SKUs and printing profiles, Supra Fabric Elite is regularly used with outstanding results for both frontlit and backlit display applications (as well as banners, tents, and exhibit graphics). Supra Fabric Elite meets NFPA 701 FR specifications and provides options in ink compatibility including dye sublimation transfer, UV, solvent, and latex. A versatile fabric, Supra Fabric Elite features two sets of ink compatibility on the same fabric by offering two face sides. The uncoated face is ideal for dye sublimation transfer printing, and the opposite face offers a print-receptive coating for direct printing. Available in widths up to 126 inches, this fabric is optimized for use with HP Latex Ink Technology. tvfmedia.com/supra-fabric-elite

M E TA L FA B R I C AT I O N Johnson Plastics Adds Economic, Eco-friendly FusionCast’s Cast Signage & Signbuilder Wizard Johnson Plastics has added FusionCast’s™ Cast Signage & Signbuilder Wizard to its extensive line of products and services. With FusionCasts’ Signbuilder Wizard, Johnson Plastics can help customers create durable and distinctive metal-cast signs, using a revolutionary process that fuses metal with lightweight high-density urethane, resulting in elegant signage with exceptional durability. The online Signbuilder Wizard tool offers nine styles of customizable signs to choose from in bronze or copper, with ten sizes available per style. Customers can fine-tune their creations by choosing from over twenty symbols and seven font choices. Customers may also submit their customized sign requirements online. FusionCasts’ patented cold-casting process uses less metal and less energy than other metalcast signs and eliminates toxic air emissions. 800/869-7800; johnsonplastics.com

Produce all your current print/cut work at a higher quality with a shorter turnaround at a lower per print cost with the Mimaki CJV150 Series.

mimakiusa.com/CJV150

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

Mimaki_CJV150_H_SBI0816.indd 1

signshop.com

7/13/16 9:31 AM

S O F T WA R E - D E S I G N / P R I N T/ R O U T E R / E ST I M AT I N G Enter the Web-to-Print Market with Novus PrintFlow Novus PrintFlow™ is a new offering from Novus Imaging designed to help print service providers enter the Web-to-print market without the time or expense of developing a complete online store front. Novus PrintFlow offers a free, customizable Web-to-print user interface that PrintFlow members can brand and customize for their individual business.

PrintFlow also requires no prepress or preflight by the print provider. Novus PrintFlow is available at no cost to print providers with Novus Imaging equipment. PrintFlow can also be configured to work with other printing equipment.

The PrintFlow storefront interface is set up and hosted at no charge by Novus. Only a nominal processing fee will be deducted from each order processed through PrintFlow to cover payment processing. Phase I of PrintFlow is focused on yard signs and similar offerings. Phase II will introduce banners and other soft signage. novusimaging.com

SAi’s New 3D-design Software is a Wish Come True SA International (SAi) has unbottled DisplayGenie, the company’s new point-of-purchase (P-O-P) display and box design software that eliminates multiple steps to improve job creation efficiencies and simplify the structural design of folding carton, corrugated plastic, and rigid honeycomb material P-O-P and freestanding display units. SAi expects DisplayGenie to particularly appeal to those businesses that already operate a flatbed printer but might also be seeking to install a flatbed cutter, which, in conjunction with the software, would enable them to increase revenues by extending their scope of services. SAi DisplayGenie is compatible with all existing wide format RIP software that drives flatbed printers and cutters and features a simple, yet complete toolset to enable easier display and box structure design. Powered by the company’s renowned Flexi software, DisplayGenie features an extensive library of continually expanding display and box templates, allowing print providers to quickly choose and personalize these to meet their client’s exact specification. thinksai.com

signshop.com

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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SignSHOW TOOLS Kett Tool’s P-2080 Scissor Shears Offer Unbeatable Combination of Size and Speed Kett Tool Company introduces the P-2080 Scissor Shear, a lightweight shear featuring a straight-handled body design for maximum maneuverability when making cuts in thick, soft materials. Professionals will appreciate the power and convenience of the P-2080 to get projects completed efficiently thanks to the variable speed motor that allows you to control speeds from 0 to 2500 RPMs. Requiring only a 90 PSI air source, Kett’s Scissor Shears offer an outstanding combination of cutting performance and lightweight design. At only 12.25 inches long and weighing just four pounds, the convenient design provides the versatility to work in close quarters while maintaining comfort and control, while the high speed means faster cutting to get jobs done in less time. The stationary bottom blade and large “rabbit ear” blades of the P-2080 easily cut through pliable materials. 513/271-0333; kett-tool.com

VINYL/VINYL FILMS Imprintables Warehouse Offers Twenty-four-inch DuraPro Chalkboard Vinyl Sign Material DuraPro Chalkboard vinyl sign material from Imprintables Warehouse offers a new look and fresh approach to a variety of indoor and temporary outdoor applications. The 5-mil calendered vinyl with removable adhesive can be adhered to any clean, smooth flat surface or simple curve and is safe for use on drywall. Simply cut, peel, and stick, using application tape, if needed. A non-PVC film that does not contain any lead, plasticizers, or phthalates, DuraPro Chalkboard is environmentally friendly and safe to use for various projects. It is great for interior decoration in playrooms, classrooms, etc., as well as for restaurant menu boards, calendars, shopping lists, and craft projects. Pairing it with magnetic material opens the door to even more applications. DuraPro Chalkboard has a matte black finish and comes in twenty-fourinch-wide ten- and fifty-yard rolls. imprintables.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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The P.O.D. Pressure on Demand Steam System Will Change the Way You Install and Remove Vinyl The P.O.D. Pressure On Demand Steamer is an innovation for the application and removal of any brand of vehicle wrap film, paint protection film, and window tint film, as well as for pre- and post-cleaning. The powerful pressurized flow of steam softens the material, which allows you to eliminate some of the most common installation difficulties (such as broken glue, “stretch marks,” silvering, whitening of chrome films, and even tiny particles that get under the film). One of the great features of the P.O.D. Steamer is that the steam is delivered at a reduced temperature so that it does not harm the film or the installer. The P.O.D. Pressure On Demand 2.0 System is specially designed to work as a non-corrosive and non-chemical steaming technique. The company’s multi-functional set of interchangeable heads are ideal for steaming almost everything on a car—inside and out. One of the many new features is that it now holds 1.5 liters of distilled water, which is enough to clean and steam the average vehicle.

ImageOne Impact is now the exclusive selling force for the P.O.D. Pressure On Demand Steamer units and accessories worldwide. 800/818-0222; image1impact.com

Create New Digital Imaging Products with Magic RITELITE HI and LO Dry Erase Films Coveris™ Advanced Coatings Digital Imaging division, a global market leader in the development and fulfillment of high-performance, digital imaging substrates, has announced the availability of RITETAC HI, a 7.5-mil dry erase film with permanent adhesive, and RITETAC LO, a 7.5-mil dry erase film with removable and repositionable adhesive. Both products can be printed on with UV-cure printers. RITETAC HI and LO are ideal for calendars, schedules, brainstorming, sport/game strategy boards, menus, to-do lists, resurfacing chalkboards, and walls and tabletops in environments such as retail, hospitality, offices, hospitals, academia, etc. Both products feature a uniform, lowgloss surface, which reduces glare and improves legibility. This dry erase film does not kink easily, and no ghosting is left behind after the dry erase marker is erased. RITETAC HI and LO size offerings range from 24 inches-by-10 feet to 54 inches-by-200 feet. 800/343-0818; magicinkjet.com

HYBRID CNC FINISHING SOLUTION An innovative hybrid CNC cutting solution. Developed for the digital print finishing industry, delivering lightning fast cutting and overwhelming power to take on all graphics applications.

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October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

17

HOW-TO: TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

By David Hickey

Regulatory Landscape

W

hether small or large or local or national, sign and graphics company leaders are focused on growing sales and overseeing employees. They’re not always focused on what happens in Washington, at the state capital, or in the city council.

And yet, actions taken there can affect the costs of doing business—and even the ability to do business in the first place.

For Gregg Hollenberg, CEO of National Signs in Houston, Texas, the fact that the International Sign Association (ISA) and the Texas Sign Association (TSA) monitor federal, state, and local laws and regulations is one of the values of membership. ISA has seventeen great Affiliated Associations throughout the U.S. and Canada, all of which help member companies solve codes and regulatory issues.

“TSA and ISA are our chief source of finding out information and education,” says Hollenberg.

He relies on those sources to provide access to products, services, and new technologies, as well as the legislative and regulatory environment.

On the federal level, it means helping National

Signs understand OSHA rulings, including the upcoming certification requirements for crane operators, which is due to take effect in November.

The final rule was published in 2010 and has been through a number of changes since, including a three-year delay in enforcement.

It would be challenging for any business owner alone to keep up with one regulation as it made its way throughout the complex rule-making process.

Complicating the matter: There are hundreds of these rules making their way throughout federal agencies at any given time.

That’s where the power of association comes into play. ISA can monitor those rules as they wind their way through Washington.

Of course, state legislative action can have an equally important impact on a sign and graphics company.

In Texas, where National Sign is based, the legislature meets every two years—and electrical licensing makes a frequent appearance. ISA and TSA work together on these state issues.

“It’s a hot button issue for TSA,” said Hollen-

photo: Shutterstock/f11photo.

Legislative actions can affect the costs of doing sign business.

18

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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berg, who is serving as the state sign association’s president. “Licensing is a picky thing for us. Every single sign company that offers electrical signs needs to be licensed.”

Licensing is not just an issue in Texas, of course. ISA is currently working with Affiliated Associations on a number of statelevel licensing issues throughout the country.

Earlier this year, the sign and graphics industry had a big win in South Carolina. A state agency required sign installers to receive licensing in concrete and structural steel—a burdensome and costly exercise for sign and graphics companies there.

A coalition of local sign companies, ISA, and the Southern States Sign Association (SSSA) worked initially with the state agency, receiving a delay. Then the coalition found a legislator to sponsor a bill exempting the sign and graphics industry from the requirement. The state’s governor finally signed the bill into law.

On the local level, Hollenberg relies on ISA and TSA to help work on permitting and engineering issues. As president of TSA, Hollenberg has been recently asking other sign and graphics company leaders about why they aren’t more involved with their industry trade associations.

“They say, ‘I’m too busy.’ That’s always going to be the case,” he says. “Until you step back and understand what’s happening around us, it’s difficult to prepare for the future. To have ISA

Washington, D.C., can affect how you do business.

and TSA looking after these issues benefits the entire industry.

“Every issue may not impact every business. But the one time it impacts your business, it’s invaluable.”

Learn more about membership and the values that it offers by contacting membership@signs.org or visiting www.signs.org/join.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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HOW-TO: regulations

By Professor Alan C. Weinstein

Plans Overseen

The Reed v. Gilbert session at the APA Convention attracts 500 people.

T

he American Planning Association (APA) recently announced attendance figures for sessions at its annual National Conference held this past April in Phoenix, Arizona. The session that focused on the Supreme Court’s June 2015 ruling on sign regulations, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, AZ, organized by ISA’s James Carpentier, ranked number four in attendance out of 170 sessions and drew nearly 500 attendees.

Carpentier worked with the APA Arizona Chapter Host Committee to have the session proposal submitted on behalf of the Host Committee, which helped to ensure the session would be accepted.

In addition to myself (a member of the FASI Board), the session, which Carpentier moderated, featured three other speakers: + Mark White Esq., principal in White & Smith, LLC, a law firm in Lee’s Summit, Missouri;

+ Wendy Moeller, principal in Compass Point Planning, a planning consulting firm in Blue Ash, Ohio; and + Karen Melby, senior planner for the City of Sparks, Nevada.

White led off the session with a review of the factual background of the Reed case and an analysis of the legal rules established by the case.

He focused on Justice Thomas’ majority opinion, which established that any regulation that, on its face, requires the government to consider the content of a sign in order to determine its regulatory treatment is content-based.

Next up, I discussed how courts have been applying the Reed decision in challenges to sign regulations. Since I also serve on the Board of the Academic Advisory Council for Signage Research & Education, I noted that, after Reed, some courts have struck down, as content-based,

photo: Shutterstock/yuttana Contributor Studio.

Arizona has proven to be a hot spot for working with the APA.

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October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

21

Professor Alan C.Weinstein, a member of the Foundation for the Advancement of the Sign Industry (FASI) Board, holds a joint appointment in the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more information about this session, visit http://bit.ly/2bFapOe. 22

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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photo: Shutterstock/RomanR.

regulations that had been found to be content-neutral before Reed.

I also noted that no court had yet applied Reed to regulations of commercial signs, and while most courts had ruled that Reed did not apply to regulations that distinguished between on-site and off-site signs, one federal district court had found such a regulation to be content-based under Reed.

Moeller, who also serves as a trustee for The Signage Foundation, next discussed how local governments can revise their regulation of temporary, non-commercial signs to come into compliance with Reed. This is precisely the type of sign at issue in Reed, so unquestionably, the case calls into doubt any contentbased regulation of such signs.

Moeller’s advice on this issue can be found in a recent APA publication she co-authored with myself: “Practice: Temporary Signs,” in the February 2016 issue of Zoning Practice.

The final speaker, Melby, discussed how the City of Sparks, Nevada had recently adopted a content-neutral sign code. Her remarks focused not only on what the code contained, but also on the process the city had used to bring stakeholders together to reach a consensus on the contentneutral approach.

Electrical

Lighting, Digital Displays & Others

A supplement to sign builder illustrated

sbi electrical: News & Notes

Products and Projects A round-up of the latest product and project announcements related to electric signage.

DIGITAL NEC Display Provides Innovative UHD Content Solution

In today’s competitive economy, content is king. Because of this, NEC Display’s new UHD content solution with partner True Definition Network™ features Moving Murals™ Ultra HighDefinition 4K content on NEC UHD large screen displays, ranging from 55 inches to 98 inches. Included in these solutions is a one-year subscription to 4K content, NEC Display’s Intel i5-pow-

DIGITAL

Peerless-AV Celebrates Seventy-five Years of Innovation in AV

Peerless-AV®, originally known as Peerless Industries, first opened its doors in 1941 in Illinois. In honor of this achievement, the company will be celebrating its decades of innovation and adherence to its core values. The company has celebrated many milestones: extending its product line to include mounting hardware in 1978; opening a 38,000-square-foot plant in Mexico in 1995; launching the Jumbo 2000 mount in 1999 and the Plasma, LCD, and projector mount lines in 2003; and creating the Xtreme™ Outdoor Soundbar, the first powered outdoor soundbar on the

24

ered OPS (Open Pluggable Specification) computer, and an NEC award-winning UHD display. These solutions make it easier for organizations and channel partners to adopt UHD displays and showcase amazing 4K content. Meanwhile NEC is facilitating the quicker deployment of digital signage with its new series of kiosk solutions, comprised of NEC’s 42-inch and 46-inch V Series displays with touch overlays, as well as NEC’s OPSPCIB-PS PC powered by Intel, preloaded with Windows 8.1. Coming in portrait and landscape orientations, these solutions will help simplify directory board, wayfinding, and many more applications within the education, retail, transportation, and hospitality markets. necdisplay.com

market, in 2016. In 2010, the company launched its first non-mount product (HD Flow™ Wireless AV System), debuted video wall mounts, and rebranded itself as Peerless-AV. In the years since, while the company continues to develop display mounts, Peerless-AV has added an Emerging Technology Group (2011); launched the PeerAir™ (2012); acquired Cill™ Technologies (2013), an outdoor TV manufacturer; and launched a kiosk division (2014), expanding its repertoire of expertise to encompass a multitude of AV technologies. peerless-av.com

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

EMC ISA Releases Expanded Version of EMC Brightness Guidelines

The International Sign Association has expanded its popular publication, Night-time Brightness Level Recommendations for On-Premise Electronic Message Centers. While the recommended brightness levels remain 0.3 footcandles above ambient lighting, the new publication offers more detailed information on how to measure brightness levels with and without operational control. It also includes case studies of three communities that have successfully adopted the brightness guidelines. “This publication has proven to be extremely beneficial to communities across the country,” said David Hickey, ISA vice president of advocacy.

“We’re thrilled to be able to republish this document with even more useful information to help local officials develop reasonable sign codes. These recommendations provide a reasonable solution to the hot-button issue of EMC brightness, and they are resulting in more of these kinds of signs being accepted and sold.” It is available for free download. signs.org/EMCs signshop.com

sbi Electrical: News & Notes

LIGHTING Principal LED: The Fusion Freedom The Fusion Freedom™ from Principal LED offers the best of both worlds: Freedom to innovate and peace of mind. The ultimate goal was to create a “universal module” that could replace dozens of other products on your shelf with a single module. This product has a simple wiring design that allows you to choose from three different brightness levels. It is a two-

wire system, and you can wire one wire for low, the other for medium, or both of them together to accomplish the highest output. This means you could achieve longer run footage with a lower output if that is your objective or have the ability to change your brightness on site—without having to change out your mods. The product is also designed to fit interchangeable

lenses. Principal LED offers over twenty-five lens colors to choose from including a hand-picked color collection. There is also a comprehensive range of white color temperatures— from a warm 2700K to a cool 9000K— which allows the sign or architectural designer to interchange colors throughout the sign or lighting as needed. 325/227-4577; p-led.com

LIGHTING LEDtronics: New LED Canopy Lights LEDtronics CNP series of DLC-Listed LED Canopy Lights have an extremely low profile, boasting a total height of only 2.75 inches. This sleek, slim design makes them perfect for any canopy application—such as gas stations, manufacturing, warehouses, parking and recreation areas, entrances, walkways, and many more. The fixtures signshop.com

only consume 60 to 130 watts, replacing HID lights of 200 to 400 watts—an energy savings of up to 75 percent! The lumen output of this LED Canopy series ranges from 5,000 lm all the way up to 13,661 lm! They come in a clear or frosted flat lens in a beautiful Pure White (5000K) color temperature.

800/579-4875; ledtronics.com October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

25

sbi electrical: News & Notes

LIGHTING ESR Series Electronic Sign Ballast for Magnetic Replacement Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc., operated by Panasonic Lighting Americas, is expanding the Electronic Sign Ballast line with the ESR Series, a direct replacement option for magnetic ballasts in existing T8HO and T12HO illuminated signs. The ESR Series Sign Ballasts increase the company’s comprehensive lineup of solutions for sign

PHOTOVOLTAIC

Ballasts are designed for series lamp operation and wired for six-foot to eight-foot of one-to-four lamps. The product features rapid start operation, active power factor correction, universal input voltage (120 to 277VAC), and series lamp operation, along with a four-year warranty. unvlt.com

Innovations in Optics’ LumiSun-50 High-power, Multi-wavelength LED Solar Simulator

Innovations in Optics Inc. introduces the LumiSun-50 high-power, multiwavelength LED Solar Simulator, which meets Class AAA solar simulator requirements of IEC 60904-9 for spectral match, uniformity of irradiance, and temporal stability. Primary applications for the LumiSon-50 are terrestrial photovoltaic testing and PV research.

The LumiSun-50 achieves a spatially uniform illumination field from a chipon-board (COB), multiple-wavelength LED die array. The field of illumination is 50-by-50 mm at a working distance of 200 mm. The LumiSun-50 includes a driver/controller, which individually provides constant current to each die in the COB array. Total irradiance of 1.1 sun units is provided and can be decreased to 0.1 suns. The LED light source of the LumiSun-50 is contained within an air-cooled housing that can 26

and outdoor illumination and offer another alternative for magnetic ballast replacement. With the energy efficiency rule from the U.S. Department of Energy making magnetic sign products obsolete, Universal developed the ESR Series to fill a ballast replacement need left in the market. The ESR Series Electronic Sign

rotate the angular beam alignment.

Adjustment and setting of the optimum light path working distance is

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

visually facilitated by a converging pair of red dot laser pointers. innovationsinoptics.com

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sbi Electrical: News & Notes

Case Study: Dynamic Displays Inside Uniqlo’s First Florida Store

GABLE, A BALTIMORE, Marylandbased digital technology and visual solutions company, recently completed the installation of dynamic digital displays—including tickers and high-resolution video displays— inside Uniqlo’s first Florida store in Disney Springs. Uniqlo, a global retailer with more than 1,400 stores in sixteen markets worldwide, began working with Gable in 2015.

Uniqlo selected Gable for visual solutions at the Disney Springs store,

which opened July 15, after learning of Gable’s visual solutions capabilities and its experience working with some of the largest retail brands in the world, including Starbucks, Macy’s, and Verizon.

For Uniqlo’s newest U.S. location, Gable installed an array of digital tickers. On the store’s first floor, Gable installed two 4mm, one-foot-tall, high-resolution round tickers with a circumference of ten feet, which grab the eyes of shoppers immediately.

The largest ticker wraps around the store’s main escalator well, measuring 105 feet wide-by-3 feet tall and offering 6mm resolution. Another 6mm ticker display, on the second floor of the store, measures 74 feet wide-by-8 inches tall.

Gable’s digital tickers offer more for Uniqlo by allowing the option to display video content that can be operated by the retailer for events, sales, or for other purposes.

Uniqlo also selected Gable to install high-resolution LED video displays at the Disney Springs location. A round, 4mm video display, measuring 2.5 feet tall with a circumference of 10 feet, was also installed on the store’s first floor.

Also on the first floor, two 4.81 mm video displays that each measure 6-and-a-half-feet wide-by-13-feet tall snatch the attention of shoppers walking outside. Compared to LCD displays used in other stores, the LED displays at Uniqlo in Disney Springs provide a vivid, vibrant picture to show off Uniqlo’s bright red logo.

With the success of Uniqlo’s store in Disney Springs, the company has selected Gable to take on three more store U.S. openings in the near future. gablecompany.com

LIGHTING SloanLED Joins Alliance to Save Energy LED technology provider SloanLED announces its Associate membership with the Alliance to Save Energy, an organization with nearly forty years of experience connecting diverse businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities that share in the belief that energy efficiency builds a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and energy security. Through this partnership, SloanLED looks to advance energy efficiency policy, connect with government officials and industry prosignshop.com

fessionals, and access valuable energy efficiency resources. SloanLED is honored to be among the ranks of the Alliance’s fellow Associate members in

promoting energy efficiency as its LED lighting solutions continue to reduce energy usage and costs exponentially around the world. sloanled.com; ase.org

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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sbi electrical: News & Notes

NEON

Read All About It! Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles, 1925-1965

Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles, 1925-1965 is a unique and spectacular collection of vintage photos that showcases the glowing neon heritage of the City of Angels. Photographer and historian Tom Zimmerman shows images depicting, in both color and black-and-white, what Raymond Chandler, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and countless other writers have tried to put into words. More than 200 stunning images fill its pages—attesting to the amazing communicative power of neon, the light that was revered for its dramatic color.

Photographers such as J. Howard Mott, John Swope, and Will Connell and their work are featured in the pages of Spectacular Illumination, a book meticulously designed and edited by neon historian and graphic designer J. Eric Lynxwiler. angelcitypress.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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SBi ELECTRICAL: LED Lighting | By Jeff Wooten

Color Coordinated

L

ast year, NRG Energy wanted to ensure that its branding and signage would be noticeable at NRG Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium located in Houston, Texas. The stadium is not only home to the NFL’s Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Show, but it also hosted the 2016 Final Four Tournament and won the bid to host the 2017 Super Bowl.

At the time, the stadium’s rooftop signage consisted only of NRG’s logos and letters painted directly onto the roof, and NRG Energy was eager to amplify this signage so that it could be seen at night from a distance and on television.

So NRG Enegry asked custom manufacturer and installer National Signs of

signshop.com

Houston to create an illuminated sign for the rooftop.

National Signs collaborated with their lighting partner, GE Lighting, to arrive at a unique solution here—a vast array of logos, letters, and lighting using GE Lighting’s neon replacement Tetra® Contour and Contour LS products. The endresult was 50,000 square feet of signage, including 4,000 linear feet of Tetra Contour Lighting. Over 125,000 LEDs were used, drawing a total 15KW of energy.

“The brightness and intensity were nothing that anyone expected,” said Gregg Hollenberg, owner of National Signs. “The crispness was terrific, and the distortion was minimal. The folks at NRG were ecstatic.”

The white, red, blue, and amber Tetra Contour colors make up and illuminate the rooftop logo, letters, and outline lighting at NRG Stadium and are a bright example of the different color options that are available with LED lighting.

In addition to channel letters, sign cabinets, and building accents and outlines, other opportunities for LED include down-lighting for walkways and entrances into restaurants and buildings, up-lighting for cabinets and monuments, and front-lighting for painted signs and billboards.

But with the variety of colors available for LED, how important is color selection?

Within the LED lighting market, the

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

29

Photo: ge lighting.

There are lots of LED color options, but white and red remain most popular.

SBi ELECTRICAL: LED Lighting | By Jeff Wooten

trend today is more about thinner channel letters and shallower cabinets with fewer LEDs than it is about color selection. “It’s more about the intensity of brightness versus a certain color,” says Matt McConnell, applications engineer at GE Lighting. “Everyone wants their sign to stand out.

“We hear more, ‘I want my sign to be as bright or brighter than my neighbor’s sign,’ than we do, ‘I want my sign to be the same color as my neighbor’s sign.’”

McConnell says that his company produces whites, red, blue, green, orange, red-orange, and amber, but even with these options, white and red remain the most actively requested and used. “The other colors are used just sparingly for cove lighting, accent lighting, and some channel letters,” he says.

“It has to be a specific customer looking for a specific color.”

In the North American market, branding remains the determining component behind the usage of LED colors beyond red and white.

“We work with national accounts, and several of them have specific colors,” says Sam DiMeo, general manager, North American Signage Sales, at GE Lighting. “For example, Home Depot has a specific color of orange, and AT&T has a specific color of blue. They’re iconic colors they want to maintain.

“We don’t see them wanting to add another accent color to their mix just because it happens to be ‘hot.’”

Although white remains one of the most popular LED colors, it’s important to recognize that there is more than one particular white. GE Lighting offers white in four color temperatures— 3200K (warmer), 4100K, 5000K, and 7100K (brighter)—but McConnell finds that the temperature used is really up to the personal preference of the customer.

“If they have a white sign, they’ll generally want to use the higher temperature,” says McConnell. “But if they have other colors that might be mixed in with that white, they might want to go with a warmer color temperature— for example, if they want a yellow in a 30

sign to ‘pop’ out a little bit more. Or if they’re going after more of a subdued kind of look.”

There are specific whites McConnell would avoid using in combination with certain colors. “If you have predominantly a lot of blue in a sign, we wouldn’t recommend a warm color temperature like a 3200K; that wouldn’t make the blue look as good as it can look,” he says. “You’d want to use maybe a 7100K to make the blue stand out more.

“On the other hand, if you have some yellow or some red in the sign, you wouldn’t want to use a 7100K all the

If you want to achieve a true color in your illumination, the best way to accomplish this is using the actual color LED.

time. You might want to use a 3200K white so that it brings out the warmer colors in that red or yellow.”

The sign industry has pretty much standardized colored LED modules to certain wavelengths in the visible spectrum; but white light has various options known as correlated color temperature (CCT). “However we do our fair share of branding work,” says DiMeo, “and if one of those potential programs needed a special color, we’d do that for them.”

McConnell finds that a lot of customers want to use white LEDs in every single sign regardless; however if a customer is looking to achieve a true color in their illumination, the best way to accomplish this is by using the actual color LED. “From my standpoint, a white LED is not going to provide the same color through a colored material as that actual colored material,” says McConnell.

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

“So if you’ve got a red vinyl or red acrylic sign, using a red LED is going to provide the best red. You can use white, but it’s not necessarily going to produce the same color of red.”

“Or maybe the customer has a logo that’s a very intense blue. If so, a blue LED behind it will look better than a white LED.” Printed vinyl gets a little more complicated, and this is where customers may want to strictly use whites for lighting. “You can have various colors on the print; you can have red, white, blue, green, and orange on it all at once.

A white LED will work better here at illumination,” says McConnell.

Lumen output can be misleading as well. Some people select a white product with 100 lumens per foot compared to a red product that has 20 lumens per foot, thinking the white will be brighter.

But this is the incorrect outlook to take.

“A white LED is actually a combination of colors, so it only has a small amount of red light in it,” he explains.

“That red acrylic or vinyl is only allowing so much of that red light from a white LED through it, somewhat muting the effect.”

When it comes to color, DiMeo says his company looks for the things that they think will play a role in how the sign is going to look—the paints and vinyls being used, for example.

“That’s why it’s best to build the sign, put the LED product in it, light it up, then let the client see how it looks and make adjustments, if needed, from there,” he advises. “Doing so will avoid a lot of potential headaches.”

Note: Portions of this article are reprinted with permission from a GE Lighting case study.

To view the YouTube video of NRG Stadium's new rooftop signage, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ NRGStadiumSignage

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sbi ELECTRICal: Digital Displays | By Ashley Bray

SEEING IS BELIEVING T

imes Square is known for its flashy, larger-than-life digital spectaculars, but interior digital signage makes an eye-popping statement inside of its stores and businesses, as well.

When Oakley, Inc.—a company that designs, develops, and manufactures sports performance equipment and lifestyle pieces (including sunglasses, watches, apparel, and other accessories)—wanted to refresh its Times Square retail location, the company knew it was going to need to include digital signage.

Oakley is owned by Luxottica, a leader in the design and manufacture

34

of premium eyewear, which reached out to Triangle Sign & Service about outfitting the retail location with highdefinition digital displays.

Luxottica officials provided Triangle Sign with a few digital pictures marked up in red pen to indicate the three areas where they wanted the displays.

“And that’s all the information that we had to try to execute some sort of video displays in the three areas of the store,” says Steve Altshuler, president of Triangle Sign & Service (trianglesign. com) in Baltimore, Maryland.

To help on the project, Triangle Sign brought on Gallery™ Digital Signage Solutions (gallerydigitalsignage.com) of

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

Fairfield, New Jersey. The two companies have worked together on many jobs, with Triangle Sign providing the expertise in design, production, and manufacturing, and Gallery bringing in its talent on the digital side.

Triangle Sign and Gallery Digital came up with three different video walls to install in the store: a 1x7 video wall stretching across a soffit facing the entrance and two video walls in the window of the store—a 2x3 wall facing the outside, and a 2x2 facing the inside of the store.

1x7 Video Wall. The client wanted a video display on the long soffit that signshop.com

all Photos: triangle sign & service.

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sbi ELECTRICal: Digital Displays | By Ashley Bray

spans the width of the store and faces the front entrance.

“It’s a highly visible soffit where they wanted to put content right in the customer’s face right when they walk in the store,” says Altshuler.

The display is made up of seven forty-nine-inch BDL4988XL Direct LED Backlight with Full HD displays from Philips. The displays feature 450 nit brightness and a very thin bezel of less than 3mm so the screens appear as one video wall.

The layout allows for multiple pieces of content to be displayed across the seven screens or for one piece of content to be streamed across the entire video wall.

The installation of the seven displays was fairly standard, with Gallery Triangle Sign using low-profile standard VESA (Video Electronic Standards Association) mounts and M6 screws. Seven recessed clock outlets (one for each display) allowed the power to be recessed 36

into the wall so that the displays could sit flush to the wall (pictured on page 37).

A unique element of this project is that the wiring and media players were

To be able to pull off a project like this...with little impact to the store's operations really was incredible.

all located down in the basement—150 to 200 feet away from the displays—so the client could more easily access and service them when needed. This required installers to use special extenders

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

to run the wires the long distance from the media players to the monitors.

Oakley used its own content management team to create content for all of the new digital displays. It also used its own media players.

“We had a bit of a challenge in making sure that the media players that were supplied by their vendor were compatible with the hardware that we were supplying,” says Altshuler.

All of the installation work, including the displays in the windows, had to be done between midnight and 8 a.m. to avoid disrupting business in the store.

Installers conducted the work on ladders, and it took about a day to install the 1x7 video wall.

Window Displays. While the 1x7 video wall provided a pretty straightforward installation, the video walls in the window were anything but.

“There was absolutely no place whatsoever to mount those displays,” signshop.com

sbi ELECTRICal: Digital Displays | By Ashley Bray

explains Altshuler. “We worked with Gallery, met with them on site, and had to get really creative to come up with a custom mount that we built here at Triangle that we would be able to mount these displays to.

“The other challenge that they had for us was they still wanted to be able to access those windows for cleaning in the future, even though these displays are flush up against the backside of these windows.”

The custom solution was an allaluminum stand made from a swiveling pole with the screens mounted on both sides to a large aluminum frame that comes out from the pole. When it comes time to clean the windows, the client can just swing back the frame to access the windows.

There are six fifty-five-inch High Brightness LCDs with Super Narrow Bezel DS55LX3 from DynaScan facing out into the street from behind the window. These displays feature 1500 nit brightness.

On the other side of the frame are mounted four of the same 49-inch displays that were used on the 1x7 video wall. All of the displays feature thin, less than 3mm bezels.

The screens were all mounted to the aluminum frame via VESA mounts with M6 screws.

“I don’t think we could have accomplished that with any off-the-shelf product,” says John Miller, director of technical sales and product development at Gallery Digital. “The traditional mount manufacturers don’t have an articulating mount that can go in a window like this to support a video wall that would be both forward and rear facing.”

The two window displays were installed afterhours in two days.

Oakley was excited to see the final result of the three sets of video walls up and running—and so were Triangle Sign and Gallery.

“To be able to pull off a project like this, in such a small timeframe with little impact to the store’s operations,” says Altshuler, “really was incredible.” signshop.com

www.fasi.org Dedicated to the sign industry What can FASI do to help you?

As a clearinghouse of information for and about the sign industry, FASI wants to provide the information you need to share with end users, city officials, etc. What information would be helpful? What information would you like FASI to provide? Please let us know.

Wade Swormstedt, Executive Director Email: wade@fasi.org Phone: (513) 701-2197 October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

37

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E n g rav i n g / By M I C H A E L A NTO N I A K / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Laser or Rotary?

E

ngraving services can be a logical extension of one’s sign business. With the right engraving system, you can offer enhanced sign graphics on a variety of substrates, as well as personalize a range of other products to serve and expand your client base.

The first question anyone mulling a move in this direction must weigh is

40

whether to invest in a laser engraving system or a mechanical rotary engraver.

Both technologies can be relatively easy to learn and operate, however each has distinct advantages for specific applications.

Suppliers all have an inherent interest in selling you on the relative advantages of whatever engraving technology they offer in their equipment. But as

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

one of the few companies offering both laser and rotary engravers, the insight from Gravotech (gravotech.us) may be less biased.

“There is not one machine that encompasses the entire scope of work that a sign shop will encounter,” says West Coast Territory Manager Randy Anderson. “Owning both a laser and rotary machine has huge benefits.” signshop.com

Photos (this page & OPPOSITE): epilog laser.

Two paths to engraving opportunities.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Laser Systems Anderson describes laser engraving as a “non-contact marking method” where no tools or engraving bits are required.

“Gantry-style lasers, also referred to as flying optics lasers, have movement similar to that of inkjet printers,” explains Anderson, “while Galvo-style lasers are stationary and are also known as steered beam lasers.” (Note: Anderson says the larger work areas that are available make Gantry CO2 laser systems the most practical systems for sign shops.)

The laser’s power, identified by its wattage, impacts speed and the depth it can engrave material. Systems typically found in sign shops can range from 30 to 150 watts.

“Having a higher wattage laser, from 75 to 120 watts, allows our users to both cut through thicker materials— up to about 1/2-inch of hardwood or acrylic—as well as engrave/etch faster than lower wattage machines,” says James Stanaway, director of marketing at Epilog Laser (epiloglaser.com), which offers the entry-level Zing laser systems as well as the Fusion M2 series, with engraving areas up to 28-by40 inches. “If sign shops are looking for higher production values, a larger format, high-wattage machine is definitely the way to go.”

A laser system can be a very costeffective investment, which will help a sign shop grow its business.

One reason for this can attributed to software bundled with systems that make it easy to pull in a file from any popular design program and engrave that on a substrate. In fact, all vendors stress that their software makes it easy for operators to achieve impressive results with today’s range of engraving equipment.

Versatility is an advantage all manufacturers highlight when describing their laser systems.

“Since CO2 systems can engrave/cut all types of substrates, it allows engraving/sign shops to produce all kinds of different signs,” says Stanaway. “From indoor/outdoor signage to P-O-P displays, laser cutting/engraving systems allow operators to create intricate inlays, engrave ornate designs, cut disignshop.com

mensional letters, and much more.”

A laser will engrave on glass, stone, wood, leather, paper, fabrics, and most plastics except for PVC-based materials. A laser’s capacity for detail also makes it ideal for engraving photographs and other high-resolution imagery on these materials.

The benefits of a laser system are not fully available with metal substrates, however, and for sign shops, that can be a significant limitation.

“When marking bare metal, a coating must first be applied to the metal then washed off with water after the laser process is completed,” says Stanaway. “This leaves behind a precise, dark mark on the product.”

Rotary Engravers And this is where rotary engraving systems come to the fore.

“Rotary engraving machines are capable of making deep measured cuts into many materials—from plastic to stainless steel— with an ‘engraved’ look you can actually feel with your fingertips,” says Anderson.

To accomplish this, rotary engravers do their work with engraving bits, available in different shapes, sizes, and stroke widths for specific materials.

“These are held in a spindle or router head on a machine with X, Y, and Z axis motion that make contact with the work substrate,” explains Anderson.

“The key to rotary engraving is the correct engraving bit for the material

A laser will engrave on glass, stone, wood, leather, paper, fabrics, and most plastics. A laser’s capacity for detail also makes it ideal for engraving photographs and other high-resolution imagery.

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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42

ing, look at the total cost of how you are doing things now,” advises Steding.

“Look at what it’s costing in terms of total time, work hours, scrap, waste, and any post processing that’s required before an engraving project is complete.”

Stanaway adds, “Most Epilog cus-

Rotary engraving machines make deep measured cuts into many materials, including plastic and metals. tomers opt for the largest and most powerful, high-wattage system their budget allows. This allows them to take on larger, higher production jobs as well as smaller, one-off projects.

Easy Entry Gravotech’s Anderson says both laser

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

or rotary systems offer a quick start in lucrative, new services.

“There is a learning curve, but experience in these machines is not a prerequisite,” he says. “Users can be up and running with as little as four hours of training; an additional four hours to produce ADA-compliant signage with a rotary engraver.”

His recommendation: “Choose a machine that gives you the best ROI today and the option to grow tomorrow.”

Gravotech’s Anderson predicts the same business customers who turn to a sign shop for banners and vehicle wraps probably have existing needs for engraved ID badges, performance awards, control panels for equipment, and more customized signs, ADA Braille, and wayfinding signage.

“A customer’s time is valuable, so if they can find a one-stop shop that can handle all their requirements, that is a huge benefit,” he says.

Roland’s Anderson notes, “Adding this type of equipment allows a sign shop to provide services and products other shops don’t offer, providing a true competitive advantage.”

That advantage attracts new customers and ultimately boosts profits. signshop.com

Photo: epilog laser.

you are working with.”

One of the primary sign applications for rotary engravers is the raster Braille method of manufacturing ADA-compliant signage, but it would be a mistake to consider rotary engravers only for traditional applications.

In fact, Matt Anderson, 3D solutions product manager at Roland DGA (rolanddga.com/products/engraving-machines), which offers both desktop and professional engraving systems, says certain rotary engravers can be used to produce signage “with striking, complex 3D relief ” on wood, acrylic, and HDU boards, as well as engraved name badges and ADA signs on metal. Shops can also consider adding new services in personalized engraving of glassware, jewelry, and electronics.

Roland’s Anderson advises anyone considering an engraver to think about budget and production needs, such as what engraving stock will be used.

The size of the work area is another important consideration, so those new to engraving should consider the size and range of materials they want to handle.These can range from 12-by-8-inch desktop models to large-scale 87-by-126-inch units.

“For those already offering engrav-

3D-printed Bus Wraps for Ghostbusters particularly at night when the public were drawn into the eerie glow.

“Most importantly, our client was delighted that the project achieved the objective of producing a huge amount of buzz ahead of the movie’s launch.”

Previously Carisma had produced large format applications using mixed substrates including cut illuminated acrylic, PVC boards, and

lenticular lenses.

According to Gil, the Massivit 1800 3D Printer has added a new dimension to his business and significantly enhanced its service capabilities. The company can now offer gamechanging, engaging 3D elements with traditional 2D applications to elevate the creative possibilities for its vast client portfolio (Macy’s, Disney, Samsung, etc.).

Photo: carisma.

Brooklyn, New York-based large format print business Carisma used its Massivit 1800 3D Printer to create ten spook-tacular fourteen-foot 3D printed graphics of the iconoic “No-Ghost” sign to promote this past summer’s Ghostbusters movie from SONY Pictures.

The ten models were 3D-printed in robust Dimengel material over ten days before being affixed as illuminated, 3D-printed wraps onto a fleet of double-decker buses and used nationwide during a monthlong campaign.

“Visually-appealing bus wraps are not a new application area for companies like ours, but the capability to offer 3D-printed versions takes that application to new creative frontiers,” says Moshe Gil, founder and CEO of Carisma. “The impact of the bus wraps was incredible,

signshop.com

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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V i n y l / B y Lo r i S h r i d h a r e / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

The Versatility of Vinyl

W

ith a diverse range of materials, colors, substrates, and technologies available for any sign maker, this industry offers its share of creative opportunities for any type of signage.

Vinyl is no exception, as it allows providers to print both large and small and choose from an assortment of dynamic and ever-evolving product lines in film and laminate options.

As the variety of vinyl possibilities are endless, so too is the make-up of the client market. This is precisely what one large format company has experienced in their more than twenty years of business.

“One week we could find ourselves

44

wrapping a fleet of trailers, and the next we might be producing giant, fabric tradeshow banners and displays,” says John Lawson, installation manager for USA Image (usaimage.com). “We have several local schools and sports venues that make up our returning, high-volume customer pool.”

Based in Louisville, Kentucky and founded by Tyler Allen and George Gutermuth, the company’s business focus is approximately 70 percent banners and other signage, with another 30 percent in wraps.

While USA Image typically receives files directly from ad agencies, they have an in-house staff for design when smaller

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

jobs are initiated through them.

Being in business for over two decades has given the company a vantage point on trends.

Right now, Lawson is noticing an uptick in interest in customized vehicle wraps, especially in larger city markets across the country. Locally they’re focusing on capitalizing on interest in utilizing vinyl for architectural elements such as wall wraps and floor graphics.

A dependable source of new projects for them are local seasonal sporting events, such as the Kentucky Derby.

For this prominent event, USA Image helps put the spotlight on a popular brand and an important cause by signshop.com

all Photos: usa image.

Designing to cover a variety of surfaces.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// bringing the color pink to tractors—not typically a popular choice for the equipment operators.

Each year, the fashion company Vineyard Vines teams up with Churchill Downs and RAM® Trucks to sponsor the Kentucky Oaks & Derby. The Longines Kentucky Oaks, one of the longest continually held races in the U.S., centers around three-year old fillies (female horses) and is held each year on the day before the Kentucky Derby. This $1 Million Grade 1 stakes race awards a garland of lilies, and in support of the fight against breast and ovarian cancer, more than 100,000 guests are asked to prominently wear pink to the event.

Working with the designs of Vineyard Vines (best known for its neckties and smiling pink whale logo), USA Image has wrapped John Deere® tractors, RAM trucks, storefront windows, and even a fleet of local taxis, prominently featuring pink and other pastel colors of their “Derby Collection” with Avery Dennison® MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply and Avery 1360 Laminate. The company also used HP 700 films for the lettering and graphics and produced the job on a large format EFI VUTEk printer.

As the tractors demanded a quick turnaround, the graphics were completed in four to five hours each, with two installers on site. The entire pro-

ject was installed and removed in about three weeks.

“This project has always helped us learn new tricks and methods to shave time off installs,” says Lawson.

The Avery graphics were easy to remove, according to Lawson. “The airegress technology provided maximum slideability and made the design easy to reposition.”

It’s a great feeling to know that everyone attending or watching the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby races will see our [vinyl] work. It has always been an enjoyable project.

Lawson is excited by the exposure his shop gets at the event since it attracts worldwide attention. “It’s a great feeling to know that everyone attending or watching the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby races will see our work,” he

says. “It has always been an enjoyable, high-profile project.”

Another automotive project USA Image has been involved with for several years features graphics for a sweepstakes prize offered by convenience store Circle K. The prize—a Roush Mustang—is their signature promotional giveaway vehicle, which requires an eye-catching wrap for the car that also serves as an advertisement for their Polar Pop cup.

This year, they had to be super-efficient to meet the customer’s tight deadline for a photo shoot.

They again used Avery Dennison MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply and Avery 1360 Laminate for the full printed wrap.

“The Roush has definitely drawn a lot of positive attention since it was unveiled,” says Lawson.

Moving to the architectural industry, USA Image worked on large wall graphics for a residential complex in Louisville: Germantown Mill Lofts. For this project, the client requested wall graphics depicting the building’s history as a cotton mill.

“We used Avery MPI 2105 with 2080 Laminate for all of the wall wraps and front-lit vinyl with wooden frames for several seamless graphics,“ says Lawson.

“This project has a very clean, timeless look in a modern, trendy setting.

“In the end, we all learned how simple wall graphics can transform

USA Image has been wrapping vehicles for the U.S. Army for years.

signshop.com

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

45

Creative use of multiple surfaces and substrates, as well as integration of 3D structures, always seems to make a strong impact [see billboard for Maker’s Mark, above].

This year’s Circle K Polar Pop wrap applied to a Roush Mustang.

a somewhat blank slate into a bold, alluring masterpiece.”

The “think tank” for executing these multi-faceted jobs at USA Image is a 26,000-square-foot production area that includes a pre-press operation, printer room, sewing area, lamination, and an extensive production floor with RF welding, a wood shop, and an installation bay.

In this facility, they have produced mesh building banners as big as 212 feet tall-by-over 50 feet wide for a promotion in Dallas, Texas. A seventy-five-foot bay is used to prep installation for both vehicle and full building wraps.

USA Image works with an array of vinyls 46

including cast and calendar self-adhesives and backlit and mesh banner. In addition to self-adhesive applications, the company also produces custom vinyl wallpaper, canvas prints, banners, and mounted displays and signage. “We try to offer the client as many options as possible to bring their concepts to life,” says Lawson.

It’s when they’re thinking out of the box for clients that some of their most engaging content for outdoor signage is created—typically for large building and structural signage.

“Creative use of multiple surfaces and substrates, as well as integration of 3D structures, always seems to make a strong impact,” says Lawson.

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

An example of one of these unique jobs was an oversized whiskey bottle made of molded acrylic and mounted on a 14-by48-foot billboard, created for Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which simulated pouring into a tanker.

In discussing advice he would pass on to sign companies, Lawson focuses on customer service, and specifically, being honest with customers.

“Find out their needs and try to implement the product best suited for them,” he says. “Don’t set their expectations higher than the end result and address potential problems before they become yours to own.”

Lawson cites a clear example here: “If signshop.com

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Wrapped tractors for Vineyard Vines at the Kentucky Derby.

a vehicle you’re going to wrap has chips, rust, or paint issues, point them out to your customer! Explain why they’re a concern and tell them any and all limitations the product might have. Don’t be afraid to be honest because it can save you in the long run.

“If a wall you’re going to wrap needs repair or repainting, point it out. Most material manufacturers have data sheets describing ideal install scenarios such as paint finish, cure time, and so on.”

Lawson is currently working on his

48

CanvasTac Shines at Mimaki L.A. Office

“dream” sign project—interactive 46foot side trailers for the U.S. Army that have military simulators inside, designed for educational purposes as they travel throughout the country.

“We have been wrapping interactive trailers and recruiting vehicles for the U.S. Army for many years now,” he says.

“It gives us a steady flow of work that can be seen by everyone nationwide.

“Whether they’re seen rolling down the freeway or parked at a community event, they’re works of art.”

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

Mimaki USA used 17-mil CanvasTac Gold Iridescent canvas fabric (prestotape.com) to decorate their Los Angeles office while showcasing their printer capabilities.

Mimaki USA (mimakiusa.com) has worked with Presto’s materials in the past by decorating their tradeshow booths, as well as their New Jersey office with CanvasTac and PrestoTex Silver, but printing and installing CanvasTac Gold Iridescent was a first for Mimaki USA. They were attracted to its light gold tint that helps provide depth to printed images.

“We feel that it was in our interest to keep open to design changes on a periodic basis to reflect current promotions and trends,” says Mimaki USA Senior Applications Specialist Hugo Gonzalez.

Mimaki USA decorated two walls measuring 21-by-9 feet and 17-by-9 feet with the CanvasTac Gold Iridescent. The material was printed on their new Mimaki UJV55-320 UV-LED printer.

The wallcoverings were installed with a quarter-inch overlap and were very easy to install. “Despite never having worked with this type of adhesive, [the installers] were able to apply it quickly and easily. I was impressed with both the ease of printing and the repositionable quality of the adhesive without damaging the wall,” says Gonzalez.

signshop.com

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Carving / By Jim Hingst ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The cut-out design from the RotoZip spiral saw.

Carving a Cape Cod Sign C

ape Cod signs, which are modeled after the quarterboards of sailing ships bearing the name of the vessel, traditionally incorporate a maritime design element carved on either end of the sign. Used as nameplates for homes and businesses, New England sign designs have often included seashells, anchors, seahorses, whales, lobsters, and fish.

Somehow these seaside motifs seem out of place here in the Midwest. For 50

this reason, I decided to carve something more appropriate for a “land lubber”—the heads of eagles. While the designs differ, the process is the same—no matter what type of layout you decide on.

The first step was to do a sketch of how I wanted the sign to look. I searched through many drawings and photographs of eagles as well as pictures of carvings that others had done.

After finding one picture that I liked, I

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

A unique “land lubber” twist on a carved wood sign. started drawing at full scale.

After making a few changes to my original design, I transferred the drawing to a sign board, in this case a 1-1/2-by-6-by-48-inch Western Red Cedar plank.

Since cedar is a dark wood, I applied yellow paint mask to the surface of the wood. That way, when I transferred the layout, I could more easily see the design.

There are a few ways to transfer the signshop.com

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

drawing. You could pounce a pattern.

That’s the way the old-timers did it.

Using a tool called a pounce wheel, they would puncture the paper with tiny holes. After sanding the backside of the paper with 100-grit sandpaper to abrade away the nibs of paper (similar to hanging chads), chalk dust is rubbed over the holes. What remains on the sign board is an outline of chalk marks.

The simpler way is to use Saral paper.

It’s like carbon paper in that all you do is trace the design.

The best way to remove the excess wood around the image is to use a band saw, if you have one. Cedar is a soft wood, so one could also use a coping saw.

Another method is using a RotoZip spiral saw. The cutting blade looks like a drill bit. In my opinion, this versatile signshop.com

power tool is easier to use when you’re cutting out an intricate design.

A useful feature of the RotoZip is

I applied yellow paint mask to the dark wood.

That way, when I transferred the layout, I could more easily see the design.

that you can set the depth of the cut so you can cut away parts of a carving, as you would when using a router. What’s

more is that the cutting bit remains perfectly perpendicular if you keep the base of the tool flush with the surface of the board. Unlike cutting with a saber saw (also called a jigsaw), there is no worry that the bit will deflect when the tool is in use. You can even do plunge cuts with the RotoZip. (Note: If you’re using a jigsaw or saber saw and the blade tends to deflect, you can compensate by making a rough cut a little larger than needed. Then clean up the rough cut with a router so that the cut is square.)

After cutting away the excess wood around the head of the eagle, you generally will use a V-parting tool to carve through the paint mask following the outline of the design.

Carving a soft, brittle wood (such as cedar, redwood, or butternut) can be difficult because these woods are prone

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

51

In roughing out the design, begin rounding the outer edges of the eagle’s head.

to tear out. For this reason, I often will use a razor-sharp chip carving knife to do the outlining.

Next I removed much of the wood around the back of the eagle’s head to a depth of 1/4-inch to 3/4-inch, depending on the thickness of the plank.

In roughing out the design, I began rounding the outer edges of the eagle’s head. You can use either a woodcarving gouge, or if you’re working with a soft wood like cedar, you can try using a mini-angle grinder (such as an Arbortech) with a sanding disk.

When carving any design, the trick is to make both sides look the same.

Patience is the key to success, whether you’re using hand tools or power tools.

To lay out the copy, I first applied yellow paint mask to the signboard.

After transferring the design, I marked the centers of each letter with dashes.

To carve the letters, the first step is to carve a V-groove where the dashes are drawn using a V-parting gouge or a chip-carving knife. A chip-carving knife is great for soft woods. Stick with a Vparting gouge, if you’re carving any of the harder woods (such as mahogany).

Using a #2 gouge, I carved from the 52

edge of the letter to the V-groove. For curved letters, I will use a #4 gouge.

Since I will be gilding the letters, I try to keep my cuts shallow. Gilded letters will reflect more light and be more visible if incised letters are shallow ver-

Sanding between coats of primer and paint will ensure a smoother finish and, more importantly, will ensure intercoat adhesion

sus deeply cut letters.

After completing the carving, I primed both sides of the board with two coats of Zinsser®’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3® water-based primer. This is a great primer for wood or HDU because it penetrates into the pores of the wood surface, which con-

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

tributes to its excellent anchorage.

This primer also bonds well to HDU carvings and fills in the rough texture, providing a smooth surface for finish coats. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 also blocks tannins in the wood from bleeding through. Whether you’re painting with sign enamels or latex paints, this primer serves as an excellent base coat. Plus, it dries fast, which speeds up producton.

Sanding between coats of primer and paint will ensure a smoother finish and, more importantly, will ensure inter-coat adhesion.

After sanding, I lightly wiped the surface down with a tack rag to remove the sanding dust. As an alternative, you can also wipe the sanded surface with a clean, lint-free cotton cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol.

In decorating the eagle heads, I simply painted two coats of the basic “local colors.” Local color is the natural color of an object. I mixed Imitation Gold, Chrome Yellow, and Ivory for the beak and eye and an off-white mixture for the feathers.

To create highlights and shadows, I modified the base colors by adding signshop.com

Lemon Yellow to the mixture. For darker tones on the beak, I mixed in Vermillion.

(Note: Be sure to mix plenty of paint, in case you need to do any repainting or touch up.)

There are a number of ways to gild the letters. The traditional method is to use 23-karat gold leaf. If cost is a consideration, you can also gild with metal leaf.

Regardless of what you gild with, I recommend using Charbonnel Le Franc 12-hour gold size as an adherent. The product is consistently good and has a much longer open time than competitive products—up to thirtysix hours. This gives you plenty of time to work.

You can apply the size at the end of one workday. The next day, you can start laying leaf first thing in the morning. If you’re interrupted from your job, it’s no problem.

For good adhesion of the gold leaf, you only need to apply a light coat of size. A stiff fitch brush will mop up any excess size that accumulates in the bottoms of the carved letters. Be careful not to allow the size to puddle because you can drown the gold leaf.

There are many options for hanging your finished sign, but one of the most effective fastening devices for hanging a sign flush against a wall is the Z-Clip (also called a Z-Hanger). Z-Clips consist of two aluminum extrusions that slip neatly together.

After the clips are screwed into the wall and the sign, the sign face is simply lifted into place so that the clip on the sign drops into the channel or track of the clip on the wall.

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Safety Note Whenever you’re cutting, grinding, or sanding any wood, be sure to wear a dust mask and any appropriate personal safety equipment. The dust of some woods is toxic. Breathing wood dust can result in long-term health concerns—such as damage to your lungs, nervous system effects, kidney problems, and allergic reactions.

signshop.com

October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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S i g n P a n e l s / By J e f f Wo ot e n / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Panel Discussion

The art of decorating aluminum and COMPOSItes.

T

Aluminum. There are numerous advantages to using aluminum panels for signage applications. This material is lightweight (about one-third the weight of steel), highly durable, noncorrosive, easy to form, and accepts multiple finishes (liquid paint, powder coating, and anodizing).

If you’re going to be painting aluminum, exterior acrylic polyurethane paint is recommended.

The essential tools you’ll need for painting aluminum include DA sanders with the correct grit sandpaper to prepare the surface before priming and painting, a good spray gun, and personal protection equipment.

“All painting should take place in a properly ventilated area,” advises Bill Freeman, vice president of Architectural Sales at Howard Industries (howardindustries.com).

Proper cleaning and the use of undercoat (primers) such as etching and/ or epoxy primers work best and help with adhesion.

“Be sure to follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions for flash time and coating thickness (mills),” adds Freeman. “Also be aware of any change in ambient temperature, which affects the performance and longevity of coating.”

When decorating aluminum panels with vinyl, the tools you’ll need in order to achieve a smooth application include vinyl transfer tape, masking tape, a ruler/straight edge, application spray, and 54

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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Photo: peter perszyk.

here are many different types of sign panels that are available for cutting and decorating in sign making and there are just as many different ways today to decorate them.

This article will take a closer inspection of working with three such panel materials—aluminum, aluminum composite, and plywood.

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a squeegee and/or an application roller.

Freeman recommends using high-performance vinyl to give these signs longevity.

“Make certain the paint has fully cured before applying any vinyl graphics, especially those that are reflective in nature,” he says. “This eliminates the chance of escaping gases causing the vinyl to bubble.”

If the vinyl-covered aluminum sign is going to be installed in an area where vandalism is going to be an issue, consider applying a protective clear coat to the panel after the vinyl has been applied. “This creates a protective barrier against graffiti and unwanted removal of graphics,” explains Freeman.

There are other decorative ideas that can be employed for aluminum panels as well.

“Aluminum panels may be adorned with routed filigree designs for added sign allure,” reveals Freeman. “And graphics applied directly to the panel surface using a flatbed printer is becoming popular too.”

Photo: howard industries.

Aluminum Composite (ACM). From high-end architectural signs and corporate identity projects to simple post-and-panel and wall-mounted signage, ACM sign panels can be painted, covered with vinyl, or printed directly onto the surface with very little prep required.

A type of flat panel that consists of two thin aluminum sheets bonded to a nonaluminum core, ACM can be fabricated

into three-dimensional shapes or easily seamed together to make larger signs.

Garrett Thompson, national sales manager, Sign and Digital Products, at Laminators Inc. (laminatorsinc.com), says, “It’s really up to the imagination of the graphic artist/designer/sign maker as to what they can do with this material.”

Thompson stresses the importance of following the application recommendations of the paint, ink, or vinyl/film manufacturer and to test a small area

Applying vinyl to aluminum after the paint has fully cured eliminates escaping gases that cause the vinyl to bubble.

prior to painting the whole surface.

“Automotive acrylic enamels, polyurethanes, and lacquers offer an excellent finish by scuffing lightly with fine-grit sandpaper prior to spraying,” he says.

Thompson states that the following vinyl products work best on ACM: Pressure-sensitive vinyls; polyester films, intermediate/high-performance films, translucent films, reflective films, and

digital print vinyls.

Aluminum composite material can accept both screen print inks (multipurpose inks or synthetic gloss enamels) as well as digital print inks (aqueous, solvent-based, UV-curable, and latex).

It’s important to note that these types of panels are ideal for usage in both indoor and outdoor signage applications.

“However, if these panels are going to used in outdoor environments, we recommend applying a high-quality UV inhibitor to the finished graphic, so as to protect against UV degradation,” states Thompson, noting that his company’s panels require no edge seal whatsoever (unless purely for aesthetic purposes). “This will also help extend the life of the sign.”

Plywood Core. Although plywood composites cannot be fabricated into 3-D shapes, it is ideal for hanging signs since it’s easy to fasten to; provides a solid, sturdy surface; and can take a beating.

“There’s a reason plywood has been the sign substrate of choice for hundreds of years,” says Thompson.

According to Thompson, you can apply automotive acrylic enamels, polyurethanes, lacquers, and Krylon® sprays to vinyl surfaces on plywood core material.

In addition to sun (UV) protection, sign makers should be aware that water is another major enemy of wood. So in exterior applications, be sure to finish the panel edge to protect against any water penetration.

A vinyl-adorned aluminum panel.

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October 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

55

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Company

Sign Builder Illustrated // October January 2016 2014

Company

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Companies in Sign Show

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January 2014 // Sign Builder Illustrated

57

Letterheads / By Jim Hingst ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The Geezer Gathering Recapping the Letterhead event hosted by Butch “Superfrog” Anton.

F

or three days this past July, Butch “Superfrog” Anton and his wife Sandy hosted the 2016 Letterhead Geezer Gathering at their homestead in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Located on the banks of two lakes, the four-acre property was an ideal setting for the assembly of twenty-six sign painters and artists.

The event featured an airbrushing

58

seminar conducted by Mickey Harris and a water gilding workshop taught by “Bazooka” Joe Balabuszko.

During the three-day event, Butch, a leading authority on sign carving and lettering with water-based paint, conducted seminars on these topics.

In his sessions, Butch introduced Ronan Aquacote waterborne sign painting enamels. He demonstrated the use of

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

these paints in decorating backgrounds and in lettering. He also explained the “dos and don’ts” of using water-based paints and what types of brushes are needed for lettering.

Butch also provided instruction in letter carving using Precision Board™ High Density Urethane. Participants learned about material selection and the proper and safe use of knives and signshop.com

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The goal of the Geezer Gathering was to learn from each other, make new friends, and, of course, have fun. gouges when carving both incised and raised letters.

Butch, who was trained as an educator, has been making signs in Western Minnesota since 1972. He stated that the goal of the Geezer Gathering was to “learn from each other, make new friends, and, of course, have fun.”

In teaching glass gilding, Balabuszko’s hands-on class covered substrate cleaning, preparation of water size, and gilding techniques. Participants were guided as they applied various types

of gold leaf and painted an intricately decorated glass panel.

Balabuszko, who had been a journeyman sign painter and a recognized gilder in Chicago, also explained two-toned gilding as he demonstrated a variety of

glass treatments. (Note: During his career, Joe was also a founding member of the Chicago Brushmasters and was active in the Society of Gilders.)

Attendees at this Letterhead meet included veteran sign painters Eric Elmgren,

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THE FUTURE OF CHANNEL LETTERS IS

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Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

Wade Lambrigtsen, Sam Sanfilippo, Jim Gleason, and Kit Kat Harrigan.

While many “old geezers” attended the Gathering, several newcomers also joined in. New faces included pinstriper Monte Roach, sign maker Melissa Davidson, and artist and motorcycle builder Michelle Mielke. These artists showcased their pinstriping, woodcarving, and “custom culture” talents as they decorated metal and glass panels.

Mickey Harris, for example, demonstrated his air-brushing techniques while painting an American eagle, skulls, and true flames. Harris is known

While many ‘old geezers’ attended the Gathering, several newcomers also joined in.

in the automotive industry as one of the premier airbrush artisans (mickeyharrisart.com). Featured in numerous magazine articles, Mickey has appeared in TV shows such as Overhaulin’, Car Crazy, and Drag Race High.

During the event, the attendees were blessed with mild temperatures and sunny skies. Many took advantage of the weather to fish, swim, and ride Jet Skis in the sky-blue Minnesota waters.

The fishermen shared their fish tales of the leviathans that got away.

All of the attendees were thankful for the hospitality that Butch and his wife extended but sorry they had to leave for home and a new workweek. signshop.com

Straight to Your Inbox SBI Update, Sign Builder Illustrated’s monthly e-newsletter, delivers the latest hot topics and news from around the sign industry right to your email

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B y A S H L E Y B R AY

Vantage LED of Ontario, California

Encouraging Employee Excellence

T

he tagline for Vantage LED (vantageled.com), a manufacturer of outdoor LED displays in Ontario, California, is “never an ordinary experience.” The company extended that promise to its employees when its CEO, Chris Ma, did something quite out of the ordinary and announced that he would be officially converting Vantage LED to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

ESOP is an employee-owner program that provides a company’s workforce with an ownership interest in the company. The program is typically used to provide a market for the shares of a departing or retiring owner of a profitable, closely held company.

But the ESOP at Vantage LED is not intended as a parting gift from Ma. At thirty-seven-years-old, he is nowhere near retirement age and is still heavily involved in the day-to-day activities of the company.

Instead he chose to implement an ESOP at Vantage for the benefit of his employees. “Our whole objective is to be able to take care of the employees that take care of this organization,” says Ma. The ESOP program will be implemented in phases over five years.

By the end of 2016, the entire team will own 5 percent of Vantage LED. By the end of 2017, the team will own 30 percent of the company.Within five years, 100 percent of the company will be employee-owned.

Vantage employees will be part of the ESOP without having to contribute anything monetary—just their

continued commitment to the company.

The ESOP is not the only innovative thing Ma is doing for his employees. He also will be matching the mortgage payments (up to a certain amount) of the members of his Vantage Core Group, a team of people who have been with the company for years and consistently display what Ma calls the “it factor.” This means they always go above and beyond the call of duty. Ma plans to help those without mortgages put a deposit down on a house.

In addition, Ma has also purchased cars for some people in this Core Group over the years. He recently announced that four more members of the Core Group would receive new cars this year.

Ma is also expanding the Core Group to include five new members, who will be tasked with implementing a future onsite day care center for the children of Vantage employees.

Ma will continue adding to the Core Group, with plans to roll out new projects over the next few years, such as a company cafeteria.

The ultimate goal of these programs is to alleviate the day-to-day worries of employees. “If we’re able to take care of all the financial stresses from the employees, we get to unleash their hidden potential,” says Ma. “These people already have the ‘it factor,’ and they already want to do good.

I’m just amplifying it and allowing them to succeed at the organization.”

all Photos: vantage led.

Vantage puts its employees first with a series of innovative programs.

The Vantage LED team with St. Clair Signs at a recent tradeshow.

(Top Left) Chris Ma with two employees, Jeff and Steven.

64

Sign Builder Illustrated // October 2016

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