Whether your business opts for a simple sandwich board or a more complex, large-scale installation, having a well-crafted sign can make all the difference in the success of your business.
To help you make the best choice for your company, we’ve come up with a curated list of the sign industry’s 5 best-kept secrets…and we think these tips will save you time and money the next time you’re ordering signage for your business.
Don’t try to skimp on the sizing hoping to save a few bucks. There are hard-and-fast rules regarding the size of the lettering you use on your sign according to how close your customers get to it. For example, a sign that is being read from 1 meter should have a minimum letter height of 1.25mm. If it is being read from 5 meters away, the letter height jumps to 20mm, and signs read from 10 meters should have letters at least 50mm in height.
When it comes to letter sizing, it’s usually a good idea to err on the side of letters that are too large over those that are too small.
Does adding lighting to your signage increase the cost? Yes. Is it a worthwhile investment? Absolutely!
Adding a light source to signage typically happens in one of three ways—with lamps mounted above or around the sign to shine on its face, through internal illumination that shines out through the sign itself, or with the use of illuminated elements like neon or LED tubing.
Properly illuminated signage means your business will get noticed regardless of the hour or weather.
This may sound silly, but you’d be surprised how many business owners get overwhelmed during the sign creation process and opt for a complicated font in the hopes of making their business appear high-end or exclusive. Unfortunately, such scripts often don’t translate well onto a larger-scale sign and can make it difficult for patrons to read the name of your business.
Consider using a font with a good reputation for being legible (even at longer distances) and boasts a thicker typeface (which makes reading easier). Some well-recommended fonts for signage include:
You’ve likely heard the term “negative” or “white space” bantered about. It’s a design aesthetic that leaves ample space around an image or words. And the more negative space you leave in your signage, the more legible your sign is, and the easier it is for your business to communicate exactly what it is you offer.
Some business owners are determined to get the most bang for their buck and try to cram as much information onto their signs as possible. Unfortunately, such crowded signage leaves customers feeling overwhelmed and claustrophobic, and it is unlikely they are going to take the time to read through the minutiae to make sense of what your sign is trying to say.
When it comes to your signage, remember that less is more, and embrace a spirit of minimalism. You’ll be glad you did.
In the sign business, you get what you pay for. If you opt to order signage through one of the many big-box office supply stores that offer such services, keep your expectations low. Many business owners have been disappointed to find their order was printed even though the images were too small for signs, causing the resulting product to look highly pixelated or entirely illegible.
When you entrust a professional print house with your order, you are retaining the services of industry experts who will provide you with a variety of options in a wide range of price points.
Your signage must be created by a team with a deep understanding of your business. A professional print house team will meet with you at length to understand exactly how to bring your brand into your signage. This will include your logo (if you opt to include it), branded color scheme, and font options. Print experts will help you determine the best size for signage depending on whether it will be viewed by walking traffic or drivers on the road. If you’re interested in illuminated signage, your print team will recommend specific lighting options that will best compliment your brand colors.
And so…
If you are looking for an innovative, creative print house to entrust with your signage needs, we hope you’ll contact us at Cloudprint Group. We will use our years of industry experience to create high-quality signage that will help your business stand in a crowd.
Many thanks,
Christian & the CloudPrint team.