| Type of sign |
Also known as . . |
Detailed description |
| Plaque |
Awards, wall sign, metal sign |
Most often plaques are engraved. This kind of sign uses brass or aluminium (steel is rare and expensive as it it so hard to engrave). Most frequently a plastic substrate is used. This substrate is a lamination of different layers of different coloured material. When one engraves away the top laminate surface, one reveals the colour below. This system has the advantage that one does not have to ink in the design (as is the case with one of the metals) and is quicker to manufacture. |
| Banners |
banner signs, PVC signs, Promotional signs |
Banners are quite universal signs. Generally temporary in nature, they were the first type of sign to use digital printed PVC. Part and parcel of banner manufacture is the provision of ropes and eyelets to fix the banner in position. This let in recent years to some manufacturers providing banner material already manufactured with ropes and eyelets in position. Banners are now very creative signs and have shown a great change following the introduction of digital printing techniques. |
| Sign Writing |
Painted walls, Window signs, Stick on signs |
This term strictly speaking refers to the now outdated way of doing signs - actually doing it all by hand with a paint brush and pounce. But the term signwriting or sign writing has remained and is today the generic term for sign manufacture. As the sign making or sign writing industry evolved, traditional sign writing techniques were replaced by cut out self adhesive vinyl lettering and shapes, also called "stick on" letters. Much of the creativive of the "artist" has been sacrificed in the interests of speed. This also meant that a different type of sign making skill evolved - competence on the computer. Today cut out vinyl signs are rapidly being replaced by full colour digital printing techniques. This has required a return of more creative types to the industry, but the speed and convenience that digital printing gives, is at the expense of long lasting signs. |
| Billboards |
signboards,company sign, corporate sign |
Billboards generally refer to large advertising signs- most often in high vehicular traffic areas. Sizes are generally 9m x 6m upwards. Most sites are owned by a media company and one rents the space on a monthly basis. Siting of billboards requires strong motivation with residents and the local council as there is more and more consumer pressure against proliferation of advertising media in residential areas. Billboards are generally a flexible medium as opposed to a permanent sign. However there are a number of companies who have been able to erect a large billboard on their own property, and the billboard becomes a permanent advertising medium for that company, at a far more competitive rate than renting space from a media company.
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| Vehicle decoration |
Vehicle sign, Vehicle branding, Vehicle livery,Full wrap advertising, Vehicle marking, Vehicle graphics, magnetic signs |
The use of one's vehicle as an advertising medium can be a cost effective communication. Vehicle branding can be as simple as having one's company information on the doors and back (often referred to as vehicle marking) to treating the whole vehicle as an moving advertisement(called full wrap signage, or full wrap advertising). Vehicle graphics is now also entering a new area where digital printing has made almost any creative concept possible. The new vinyls that are being developed also help to make application simpler (application is still very labour intensive, also requiring a moderate degree of skill to ensure the vinyl is applied correctly).
Magnetic signs are just what the name implies. They are signs where the substrate (backing) is magnetic and will adhere to metal surfaces. The face of these magnetic signs can be decorated in virtally any of the traditional sign writing techniques, as well as by digitally printing vinyl and applying this to the magnetic substrate.
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| Illuminated sign |
back lit sign, backlit box, halo effect sign, rear illuminated sign, illuminated sign, neon, neon sign,front illuminated sign or front lit sign |
All these terms refer to signs that are illuminated. There are three types of illumination - internal illumination, external illumination and edge lit. These type of signs are frequently used as shop front signs, shopping mall signs, fast food signs, banks and corporate signs.
Internally Illuminated signs in turn have different types of illumination. But in all cases the light travels through the face to the viewer. This gives a rich and vibrant image that goes beyond just illumination - it adds value to the sales message. The most common for light boxes (generally a single or double sided "box" with messages on the face and a source of illumination inside), is the use of fluorescent tubes. One also can use neon and normal incandescent globes - the latter produces a great deal of heat though. More and more LED's are being used to replace neon and now also fluorescent tubes (as the LED's are being designed to project their light in more general patterns). Common examples of internally lit signs are found outside institutions like banks, inside shopping malls, hospitals,fast food signs - product advertising inside pharmacys and so on.
Front lit signs as the name implies is the opposite of back lit signs. The big difference is that light is reflected from the face - as opposed to light traveling through the face. These signs are not as bright as internally illuminated signs (though this can be a contentious issue depending on the light source for either type of sign) and the colours are not as "clean". Common examples of this kind of sign are billboards or advertising billboards.
Edge lit signs are a specialised form of lighting, using the medium of the face of the sign to transmit the light. Generally the medium of the face is a specialised form of Acrylic like Perspex or Plexiglass. These edge lit signs can be illuminated using almost any light source that is placed adjacent to the edge of the sign. However the most commonly used illumination source used today is LED's and flourescent tubes. LEDs are generally used when space is at a premium. Illuminated "mats" are now available that are placed on the supermarket floor and are only about 8m thick - and are illuminated. Even thinner signs are found at the point of sale on supermarket shelves - signs that are not only illuminated - but can also flash too! The applications of edge lit signs is increasing and is more and more commonly being used in specialised point of sale displays, particularly inside retail outs or banks, where image is important and where space is small. For example an edge lit display need only be 10 - 15mm for a 1500mm wide sign. The same sign illuminated with fluorescent tubes would generally be a minimum of 90mm deep. This has significant impact of aesthetics and for interior designers. |
| Sandblast or sandblast vinyl sign |
Sandblasting effect, window tinting, window sunblock, |
Sandblast vinyl Originally patterns were created on a surface - most often glass - by literally blasting the surface with sand. This is still done today, but the application of a adhesive vinyl that creates the same effect is far more prevalent. The principle reason for this is that it can be done in situ, quicker and with the minimum of mess and disruption. This form of decoration and screening of areas whilst allowing the passage of light is finding more and more favour with the interior designer. A patterns can be cut into the sandblast vinyl, the design options are virtually limitless and this enables designers and corporate institutions to have their image projected in many exciting ways.
There are a number of different tyes of sandblast giving subtle differences in the sandblast look. This varies from a difference in "grain" and "sparkle" to differences in colour and now even patterns. Sandblast vinyl can be obtained in dots, strips and basic square designs in addition to the regular continous sandblast look.
Window tinting There are also specialised forms of vinyl for glass that is used to tint windows to prevent light (or reduce light), to block light (often called sun block) or to prevent people seeing through windows - as well as for basic decorative purposes. This has evolved into even more specialised areas such as security - prevents smash and grab - protection from blast damage etc. This still has application for interior designers and architects as these vinyl films are frquently used on the outside of large glass fronted building to limit the solar energy entering these buildings - whilst giving an attractive design from the outside and allowing those inside to see outside. Some designers and architects are have created patterns in these specialised vinyl's creating even more exotic designs and applications. |
| Door Sign |
Office signs, Office designation, Office locator, way finding signs, plastic sign,stick on sign |
There are obviously many kinds of sign that can be used on a door. Generally the purpose of these signs is to demarcate an area or function that takes place in a room (e.g. board room) or the name of the person or group that occupies the space the other side of the door. Whilst Perspex or plastic signs are still in use, more and more aluminium signs are finding favour with sign makers and sign writers as well as their clients.
In particular systems have been developed that make for signs that look good are functional yet lend ythem selves to easy and cost effective changes. The most popular of these door sign systems, both in Southern Africa and the rest of the Western world, is the Modular Curved Frame Technoloy system (MCFT). As the name implies the curved face gives the sign aesthetic appeal. The curved structure also allows for a clear removable face to remain secure on the face without additional fixing screws etc - resulting in very clean lines.
These signs - being modular - can be scaled to suit almost any requirement. For these reasons architects, interior designers and other specifiers are specifingthis kind of sign with increasing frequency.
These signs can be decorated with individual cut out vinyl letters, digitally printed panels or combinations of both. Frequently people are able to change their own signs at the same time as they move offices or change their title.
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| safety sign |
Fire safety signs, fire signage, mandatory signs, warning signs, safety directional signs |
In South Africa the SABS has set down the standards for safety signs in buildings. Whilst building owners still have the choice of photo luminescent or plain safety signs, more and more the emphasis is o providing clear instructional signs in highly adverse conditions.
The SABS regulates the manufacture of these signs but building owners are still given some lattitude to fit these signs into the decor of their buildings.
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| Vinyl Lettering |
Vinyl sticker signs, sticker signs, stick on signs, stick on letters |
This is still the basic technique for most signs being produced today. Vastly quicker than signwriting, more robust than digital printing, the cutting and application of vinyl cut out elements or cutout letters to various substrates is seen everywhere. The system lends itself to outdoor, exposed environments where clear simple messages are required. Digital printing can give a more photo-realistic image whereas cut out vinyl lettering is limited to flat colours and shapes. |
