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Although I have not been in the paint booth for a few years, I loved Matthews 6001 Polyester Primer-surfacer. It was engineered just for HDU and it is sandable in a short time. If I applied three coats with a sanding in between, I could achieve a glass-like surface (this was during my...

Back when I was a youngster coming up in the trade, cleaning acrylic was the last step before back-spraying a lighted sign face with translucent paints. For cleaning, and removing static, we always used alcohol cut with water, roughly 2 to 1, just like the "rubbing alcohol" used in hospitals as...

If your client has only given you a pixel image to work with, perhaps because they created the art in a program like Canva, they have created extra work for you. You should charge them for the extra time required to make this image usable. You could create a clip to remove the black, but it may...

A representation of a coin or other money on sign work is usually not a problem. The standard for trademark infringement is the "likelihood of confusion" on the part of the viewer. No viewer will likely mistake a picture on a sign for legal tender. A point to consider, though, is regarding...

This may be off the mark... I seldom abbreviate on submittal drawings. I use designations like, "Type 1, Type 1A, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4," etc. Then I provide a key: Type 1 Room signs Type 1A Room signs with slot Type 2 Restroom Type 3 Directional Type 4 Floor directory and so on. I create a...

Typically, a logo like this is composed of both the symbol and the name, not just the symbol, though sometimes a well-known symbol can function as a stand-alone logo. A branding guideline will tell you the correct arrangement and order when the elements are used together. Often a stacked version...

FYI Regarding the policing and enforcement of ADA compliance, it's handled in the US by the Dept of Justice. Their inspectors are few and far between. By their own admission, the Justice Dept focuses on bigger targets, like the hospitality and entertainment industries, such as hotel chains and...

Fiberglass is a plastic that is reinforced with glass fiber. All plastics deteriorate over time. UV exposure accelerates the deterioration. Prevent UV exposure and you delay the deterioration. Any paint or clear that inhibits UV exposure would help. Automotive paints and clears are mostly...

SignGuySteve is correct about ADA requirements for directional signs. They do not require Braille nor do they need to be tactile. Nor is a skinny letter required as on tactile signage. Letter height should be minimum 2-inch. Some directionals are flag mounted out of normal reach, anyway. Braille...

I have left HDU unpainted in the weather and never seen it fall apart even after several years. The surface discolors, but the discoloration is only an eighth of an inch thick. The sun can burn a hole in it? Maybe the brands vary in their UV resistance. Maybe the density makes a difference. Yes...

HDU is an amazing product. It will accept any type of paint. If left unpainted, such as on the back of a sign, it will turn color but it will not rot. It lasts forever. The Matthews 6001 Primer-Surfacer was developed specifically for HDU. It dries quickly and sands beautifully. You can roll or...

ADA guidelines do exist for non-tactile signs. They are just different. For example, a two-inch minimum letter height is required if a directional sign is to conform (it was 3-inch minimum prior to 2012). But skinny-stroked letters are not required on directionals like they are on tactile signs...

We use Adobe Stock for photos as well as clipart. It seems reasonably priced and has a decent selection of images. There may be limits on the number of impressions you can print with a particular license. But I never even come close to the limit. I can even upload an image into a search window...

On your Proposal, have a line item that states clearly who owns files. For example, it could read, "All production files (including vector files) created by So-and-So Signs in the manufacture of sign work for [client], remain the property of the So-and-So Signs." The disclaimer does not need...

Your client has already received your design and vectorizing—in the form of the signs you provided. They now own the signs, complete with the designs on them. You are under no obligation to give away production files. Production files are, by default, property of the shop. They are tools that...

Craig Sjoquist, Lives in Fairvilla FL, actually, originally from Minnesota, hence the Scandinavian name. I've worked on a couple walls with him. Competent, old school. Craig is the guy in the lab coat standing on the pick, middle of the picture. I'm the fat one standing on the ground in the...

This lawyer says, "not on logos and marketing materials."

Outlines, generally, compromise legibility. Most good logo designs have neither outlines nor shades. Nor gradients, for that matter. Overlapping elements and lettering can also compromise legibility on a logo, though these things they may look good on a sign layout or a print ad. A logo should...

You don't need a helper to hold the posts plumb if you use posts with points on the bottom. I used this 2-part foam back in the 1980s. It worked okay for temporary signs. It does compress, though, and will not always hold a sign upright. I stop using it at some point. I don't know why. It was...

It's a judgment call, of course. The advantage of assembly in the shop is you don't need to work on the ground outside and your assembly tools and fasteners don't need to be carted to the site. Then for the install, you only need to send out a couple of digger drones with a level. If your truck...