Epic Signs & Graphics Blog

If you have not considered adding letters and decals to your business trucks, give Epic Signs & Graphics a call to have this done now so you can start advertising to thousands of eyeballs daily. There are a lot of potential impressions you can be trolling through the streets of North East Ohio and when you consider the cost against other mediums, it's tough to beat.

 The above van was brought to us by a customer who understands the value of having their business truck decorated with vinyl so potential customers can see them busy driving around town. I know with my own vehicle that has graphics, will tell me they see it all the time and it does not seem like I drive every where every day. It's just people impression that you must be busy with customers which means maybe the graphics are helping!

The beauty of the above examples is they are done with cut vinyl lettering and printed decals. This is an affordable way to get fleet graphics applied to vehicles while maintaining the look of an impressive wrap. In this case the same style was carried through to a couple different vehicles so that the mobile advertising is consistent.

By just using a little observation and math, one can see how potent this can be for your business, especially when it is done with a good design. If I stand on a corner counting cars, I may see 250 cars within 10 minutes on a busy day. That is 250 people because some one is driving those cars...at least until the driver less cars start taking over. In addition there could be passengers, so lets say at least 25% of these or 62 people are within these cars within that time frame. That is 312 people per 10 minutes. So within an hour, there could be 1,926 opportunities to see your vehicle with decals and/or vinyl lettering applied with your business name proudly displayed along with the phone number. multiply that out 8 hours per day times 5 or 6 days per week and you can see the impressions delivered weekly.

Please do not over think what should be on the vehicle. Keep it simple because you only have a 10 or 15 precious seconds sometimes. Large letters and numbers so they know how to get a hold of your business quickly. And do it large so it can be done from a distance. If yu want expert help with your truck decals or truck letters, please call Epic Signs and Graphics for a free consultation and a quote, we wouldlove to get you going on the road to success!

Not only is installing vinyl lettering and logo on a vehicle a good investment, it can even provide a better yield than a wrap. Since there is less vinyl involved, there is less material and labor costs, yet if the graphics are designed well and it is big enough, you will still get attention if done well.

If you have box trucks, it’s a no brainer, you virtually have two billboards, one on each side. Although rivets can be a nuisance, it really is not a problem when the truck lettering is planned right and the correct vinyl is used. With technique and a little heat, it looks fine and will last a long time.

 If you have a van that needs vinyl lettering, give us a call and stop in for measurements and we would be happy to consult and provide a quote. We can either utilize the windows or work around them. Again, it comes down to good planning and the budget allowance.

Vinyl lettering is made by creating shapes or using a font in a design application and sending the final  design to a plotter that has a small knife that cuts the layer of vinyl. The plotter uses the data from the computer application to move the knife and the vinyl around to die cut the shapes. The vinyl sheet is them pulled from the plotter and a sign technician pulls away the unwanted vinyl. The left over vinyl is then transfered via tape to your truck or vehicle.

This is known in the sign industry as weeding. To get custom color or to have continuous tone images used, we can print the images on our digitally controlled wide format printer, apply a laminate and then die cut the shape out. The custom designed and produced decal is then applied to the vehicle.

If you have space available on your vehicle and your fleet is constantly out and about, why not let potential customers know how much you get around by calling Epic Signs & Graphics for a consultation to get an estimate and design ideas for truck lettering..

You need a building sign because A: your growing into a bigger space B: you are rebranding C: you need to update your tired and aged main business sign. We get calls frequently asking, how much is it to install those letters that light up I see around town?  What do I do? What do I ask? Who do I call?...Well have no fear, Epic Signs & Graphics is here to help!

First, lets define what those letters are that you see all around town prominently displayed on the front of buildings that usually light up at night either on a sensor or on a timer. They are called channel letter signs. Lighted letter signs are usually illuminated with LED lights these days requiring low power than the flourescents that were used in the past. They are easy to install and require minimal costs to keep lit every night.

Channel letters are usually constructed with aluminum. Think of a coffee can, the sides and the back are made of aluminum. The face of the letter is made of acrylic and it is secured in place with trim all around the letter. The latters can then be secured into place on the building flush directly on the wall or they can be welded or bolted to a raceway. The raceway is a long aluminum tube that is behind the letters and contains the wiring and power supply. This arrangement allows the installation to be more efficient since it usually will arrive assembled and ready to hang on the wall. If the letters are installed individually, it will require more drilling and wiring but it is a clean look.

Diagram Of A Sign

Illuminated building letters are custom fabricated meaning they are not on a shelf ready to go. Because every business has its own graphical style and fonts, channel letters are fabriacted as they are ordered. It is possible to create logos but some limitations do exist. For example the letter cannot be too thin since there would not be enough room for the lights and wiring. There also needs to be enough room for the assembly of the parts and enough room for securing the letter to either the wall or the raceway.. 

To install a wall sign like these takes planning and time is required to create a design with install plans that the city will allow. Every municipality around Cleveland, Ohio has regulations for size, content and style. We can create plans, file paper work and attend meetings to satisfy city ordinance regulations.

Colors and Styles

The sides can be painted any color. The acrylic face and the vinyl is translucent to allow light through. There many standard colors of vinyl or they can be printed any color. A neat idea we have used is to use perforated vinyl. This allows the color of the vinyl to be scene during the day, and at night white lights shines through for a bright night time look.

Give Us A Call!

At Epic Signs and Graphics we help you through the process of identifying a sign design that will get you noticed from the road. Call us today and we would be happy to come out to meet you and survey the project location for a sign.

How would you like to get your company logo and slogan made into a classy entry way lobby sign? This can be achieved in many ways with proper planning and experts at the helm!. The options range from dimensional lettering to custom die cut vinyl to a sign with a base made of various types of materials and colors such as acrylic, metal or wood.

As an example Accel Schools recently had a lobby sign installed that was made of 1/4" clear acrylic with polished edges and offsets that stand off the wall. The lettering for this sign was done with vinyl and applied directly to the base. When vinyl is applied professionally it looks like it's been painted.

Custom Lettering and Logo's

When deciding what type of sign to install, it is important to check the style of lettering as well as the logo. The elements of the design must provide the ability to cut or route out the shapes, At times, the width of the element detail can be small in detail so that the machines can't make the turns necessary to create the shapes. 

Base Materials

The base upon which letters and shapes sit on can be made with a few types of materials. One is acrylic which comes in many colors including various tinted colors such as bronze and frost. They also come in various thicknesses from 1/4" to 1". Another material that can be used is metal such as aluminum which can be painted in any color as well or have a finish such as brush. Wood is also an option and comes in various types like oak, fir, redwood, ash birch, or pine which can be stained.

Keep It Simple

You don't need a big budget to get something done that is really eye catching. Applying vinyl directly to walls, like the example to the right, is a good way to go since it eliminates the acrylic aspect of the job.  Vinyl wall lettering professionally designed, die cut and applied to walls has it's own style and can be enhanced with many colors and finishes to choose from and if it's not available, it can be printed! This idea also applies with dimensional wall lettering as well.

Factors to consider when designing an entry way wall sign. 

• Shape, size and quantity of elements that make up the company name and slogan.
• The available space allowed for the sign.
• The type of wall upon which the sign will be installed will also affect the decision.
• Theme of the room or company name and culture.
• Lighting available.

We would be happy to stop by or have you stop at our company for a consultation about your vision on an entry way lobby sign. We can show samples and pictures of our projects we have completed. We will provide you with all need to know for an eye catching entry way wall sign.

The usual response I get when I throw some sign industry jargon around...how about we install a post and panel sign for you? Huh,,,,yeah....what is it? Simple, it is a sign that has posts and a panel! Once they see the picture it becomes obvious, huh yeah....a post and panel sign.

The post and panel sign has a certain charm to them when made with a routed panel such is the case with the sign we installed for Just Cats Veterinary in South Euclid, Ohio. The owner wanted to update the sign in front of her business and called Epic Signs & Graphics for help. After we surveyed the property for possible ideas, and listened to the clients business challenges of getting noticed by customers, we suggested a post and panel sign.

This sign was made with two 4" x 4" cedar wood square posts set into the ground and cemented into place. It was painted before install and the finials were added to the top. There was a groove routed on each post so that the tabs of the panel would fit into place upon assembly and adhered with adhesive and screws.

The panel for this project was routed and sand blasted out of hard density urethane (HDU). The process starts with a sheet of 1" HDU and it is either routed or sand blasted on the surface to remove any of the non-image area to a depth of 1/4" or so. The surface areas that are left behind were painted based on the art work provided. The result is a beautiful dimensional sign painted with vibrant colors that stand out from the road way.

Admittedly, the routed panel option is not the lowest price that can be chosen so there is another option to meet budget requirements. We can print full color vinyl and laminate it on to a flat 1/8" or 1/4" panel and mount on to posts. There are also options to use aluminum posts that have slide mounts for the panel to insert. The posts are made with extruded aluminum and can have various styles of finials added to the tops.

The fine looking post and panel type sign can be used in many types of exterior applications such as community development identification, community ornamental signs, directional sign systems, business signs, and also construction sites.

If you are in need of ideas for signs for your business or community, hit the link below to request a no obligation consultation and we would be happy to guide you into a sign that is appropriate for your business or organization.

In the last blog we dived into the various dynamics of dimensional wall lettering, specifically the plastic variety such as acrylic, formed and injected molded and all the options available. This time we will get into the metal side of the lettering saga and learn those options. There are 3 broad categories of metal letters, cast metal, flat cut metal and fabricated metal. See below for a riveting over view!

Flat Cut Metal

Flat cut dimensional metal letters are made from flat plates and cut precisely using high pressure water jet or laser technology. There are many alloys available such as stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminum and even bronze. The below chart gives you an idea of thickness and letter heights available of each metal:

Aluminum: ⅛” to1” thick, ½  to 46” high
Bronze: ⅛” to 1/2” thick, ½” to 46” high
Brass: ⅛” to 3/4” thick, ½” to 46” high
Copper: ⅛” to 3/8” thick, ½” to 40” high
Steel: ⅛” to 1/2” thick, ½” to 46” high

There are many finishes to help bring the dimensional lettering project into a style that will accentuate your logo and business brand. Examples are polish, oxidation, brushed or patina.

Cast Lettering

Cast metal letters have a distinct look and style that is used in many government or banking institutions. They provide a unique look and are highly durable for interior or exterior use.. Casting is done in foundries where the metal is melted and then poured into molds. That is what I call custom fabricated signs!

Fabricated Metal Letters

These are letters made with stainless steel and bent and welded into crisp letter styles. They are strong, but lighter in weight so it offers an advantage, but they provide a strong style look. These have a hollow back side which means they can be made thicker or deeper compared to other metal style letters. It also provides an opportunity to back light these letters for a halo affect seen at top companies around town. Painting can be done on any of these styles to match exactly to your brand colors.

Keep in mind not only can we create many types of letter styles, but we can produce logos as well. If any of these letters fail to last, they will be replaced, guaranteed.

So hopefully you are more educated about the types of wall letters that are possible to install and that you can trust Epic Signs & Graphics for guidance. Go ahead...hit the button below to schedule a free consultation and we will be happy to offer ideas to get your business to shine!

Here at Epic Signs & Graphics, one of the products we provide are dimensional letters. They enhance a business name or a slogan when displayed on walls. They can also be used for quotes or emphasis of company core values for example. They can be mounted on the walls a couple different ways as well to provide different types of looks. See below for explanations of the types of options that are available and then give us call for a free consultation.

There are three common materials to sart with for 3D wall lettering including plastic, metal or hard foam. From there we break into different types depending on the use of the letters. Plastic letter signs for example can be made with formed or injection molded plastic or with laser cut acrylic. The formed plastic letters are available in 30 plus standard colors such as red, blue, green, brown, yellow, orange and more. We can also provide these in custom colors by  painting, so really there is an unlimited selection for color. In addition the formed plastic letters are available in standard fonts and there are 3 different depth profiles, flat, round and creased. Formed plastic letters can even be enhanced with chrome finish or illuminated with LED lights. Formed plasticletters are generally the lowest cost lettersavailable but laser cut acrylic can also be very cost effective.

Acrylic letters provide a clean, crisp, sharp look for a professional look on dimensional lobby signs, wall applications and also on exterior signs. While plastic formed letters are hollow inside, arylics are solid and routed from sheets. Laser cut technology provides opportunities to shape acrylic into vertually any shape so that logos can be created dimensionally. Acrylic letters have many options for finishing besides standard colors and custom painting. They can be laminated to simulate metal. A fine layer of matal is applied that is finished in brush, chrome, marble, gold, brass, copper and many other options. Acrylic letters are available in thicknesses from 1/8" thickness up to 1".

The other option to consider for certain wall sign applications is hard foam with the letters faces finshed with acrylic, metal or foil laminnate applied. Because of the laminate applications, there are many options to choose from like various metals, marble, wood and others. Hard foam letters are light weight and are also routed with laser technology. These are painted with any  color based on the pantone color chart or the Sherwin Williams color chart.

I see I have blogged quite a bit already on this topic so lets break here and look next week at examples of metal dimensional letters. Give Epic Signs & Graphics a call today to see examples of these various options and we will listen to your vision to create a design that will enhance your waiting area beautifully.

What do customers see when they enter your business? A little bitty sign that says ring the bell. I get it, we get pulled in all kinds of directions and it can be tough covering all the bases and some times we need to abandon a post so we can go get signs produced. But you can take a look at the entry way and see if there is an opportunity to improve the first impression a potential customer has of your business. Below we highlight a few ideas to make that accomplishment happen.

Wall Panel Sign

This is a good way to present your logo in a professional way. We start by using a base material, in many cases acrylic, either 1/4" or 1/2"  thickness. The size of the wall sign will partly be determined by the logo shape and size. Roughly 24" x 46" is a good working number to use like we have for our entry way. There are several choices for acrylic colors and they come in clear, frosted and other various tinted options. In this case we applied black vinyl to the back side of the acrylic and the color logo on the front. With vinyl there are many options for color or printing. The edges of the acrylic panel are polished for a clean, finished look. The lobby sign can then be mounted to the wall with either offsets or direct to the wall.

Dimensional Lettering

The next option to check out is to for go the panel and apply dimensional lettering  and logo directly to the wall. Before we commit to this, we need to check out the logo design to make sure it can be converted to a dimensional object. If there is too much detail, the routers will not be able to make the turns required, but with laser routers, many styles can be accommodated so let us check it out for you.  Once again there are lots of options in materials. Starting with acrylics, they come in many colors or can be painted.  A popular choice these days is brushed aluminum which can be done with actual aluminum or a laminated aluminum applied to acrylic or hard foam which is then routed. Options besides brushed aluminum include polished aluminum, polished brass, brushed copper, satin gold, bronze stainless steel as well as many others. Besides a metal look, there are options for other affects such as marbling, antique, diamond back, and pewter to name a few.

Combination of Materials

Some times ya gotta do what ya gotta do...and that means combining materials like we did for JMI Reports interior business sign. That project involved a wall mural and an illuminated box sign with push through acrylic. The push through acrylic is another way to achieve dimensional lettering, only they light up! The slogan at the bottom was done with black acrylic dimensional letters. The cabinet body has acrylic applied to the back so it provides the halo look around the edges. The net result is a beautiful sign that makes customers and employees stop to take a look. If the budget permits, all kinds of options become available to make a logo stand out. Particularly when adding LED lighting into the mix.

So the next time you walk into your business, step back ask yourself if you are impressed, if not, whip out the cell phone and give us a call to get a consultation to see designs and examples of the material possibilities. We work to make your company look like a professional organization that is well organized, efficient and customer focused. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Last week our blog topic was about how companies use their fully developed business model to develop a great business sign program.  The sign plan becomes a natural extension of the business. Take a look  around at organizations that use signs creatively.  As you are experiencing their environment, look at the exterior building signs and the directory signs to see if they are enhancing their product in some way.   Or notice the inside sign program.  Are they using wallmurals, dimensional lettering or effectively using point of purchase displays? Below are some examples of these ideas.

1. The Exterior Building Sign

It is likely the most important sign, is your customer's first impression,  yet it can be disregarded due to the expense.  The new business owner, strapped with expenses, and perhaps not realizing the return that a great sign can have, gives in and calls around for the cheapest sign in town.  Before doing that, take a moment to consider the long term effect that your building sign can have on the success of your business. How can the sign deliver the theme you want people to have of your business? Is it easy to remember your business name? Easy to read at different times of day, in different kinds of weather?  Is your sign eye-catching to busy passersby? 

2. The entry way lobby sign

A well done lobby sign continues the customer's experience and confirms what they may have suspected when they spotted your company going down the street. Yep! This is the place! Oh my....this place has class! These people know what they are doing! As you can see, we can use various types of materials to achieve the look you intended to deliver. Metal, acrylic, vinyl and even hard foam or lights all come together to deliver the theme you want delivered to your visitors about your business.

3. Displays

Your on a roll now, so keep it going. This is your chance to tell customers, vendors, empoyees...heck
 anyone that wanders through, about your business. You can use all sorts of ways to let people know what you are about. Wall murals, dimensional lettering, vinyl letter, wall quotes, plaque displays, and even keeping it simple with full color digital printing mounted on foam board that is adhered to the walls. The ideas are limitless. 

We hear it all the time;  when the sign goes up,ourcustomers gain a feeling that their companyis now complete and legitimate.  Their employees have pride and their customers see that they really do mean business! Customized signs to reflect your marketing theme, presents a unified business model to the customer for a great experience. If you need help with a sign plan that truely reflects the style of your business, please call Epic Signs & Graphics. We look forward to coming alongside you to develop a great sign program.

Did you ever wonder how the big companies pull off a complete branding program that propel business growth? A well run organization is able to pull together all aspects of their business environment so that when its time to produce effective business signs, it  is much easier to decide how to execute the plan. While the big companies have an army of people to study and test ideas for effectiveness, a small business has to get it right efficiently and economically, consider these points for a sign program that supports your basic business process.

Why do you exist?

Some times ya' gotta ask your self, why I'm I in business? I personally follow the philosophy that a business should exist to provide a service or product that benefits society. Signs? well, signs provide a medium to deliver information to many people efficiently. Or directional signs let people know how to find a destination, or wall murals provide a pleasing atmosphere in a room or deliver information about a product or service or even shows how a product is used.

What type of customer would you like to serve?

Another thing to consider is understanding who will benefit hearing your information? This will provide clues as to how to find the right customer. So if you are providing farm fresh food delivered daily to area homes, you know that busy people will benefit since they would not need to stop at the supermarket so often and it will be fresh when they get home from work. They will also benefit since they will have confidence the food will be healthy. Since that persona is understood, a business sign design can focus on a pleasing look that supports the image of healthy and farm raised freshness. That is achieved with the right colors and word choice which will help decide color application on signs.

How will you find those customers?

This question will help determine placement of signs. Since vehicles will be out and about every day, it would be a good idea to consider vehicle graphics such as truck wraps, decals, stickers as well as truck lettering. Consistent branding of your company name, website and phone number will certainly improve the chance of potential customers remembering you the next time they need ideas for food purchasing opportunities. Keep in mind the number of impressions your vehicle graphics will generate every day and even every hour!

How will you tell prospective clients about you?

This is another important point to consider, when they find your building or they see your vehicle, will they understand what your business is providing? Will they be able to tell if it is a good service? In other words, is the sign effective in delivering clearly your company name, phone number and website so they can find you? Ultimately, will they remember you? If this message is seen daily like on the vehicles, then that chance improves every day.

This is just one way to use a working outline for deciding how to  pull together an effective sign program. Use the plan-do-check-act model and tweak variables and ideas for a continuous improvement process. The next blog will provide examples of well designed plans. You will notice that a successful business has a model that is well thought out, planned and executed through the whole process. From answering the phone, taking an inquiry to pricing, to fulfillment through effective marketing using great sign displays on buildings, POP displays, and on vehicles through effective wraps, decals and vehicle lettering.

The next time you need help determining where to place signs, or how to brand through an effective overall plan, please consider calling Epic Signs & Graphics or using the link below to send an inquiry. We would love to help consult for an effective campaign that will drive business into your organization.