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In the original, the words seem uncomfortably crowded. More margin would help them, as has been mentioned. Stacking could help as well. Honestly, though, if the original design was done by a plastic surgeon, he or she didn't do too bad. Light-face letters seem to be popular among many people...

Always measure the plastic. Guessing is risky. Also, large faces on many better-built signs will have hanging bars. You don't want a hanging bar to be a surprise when you are ready to install just because you didn't want to take the time to pull retainers when surveying. In addition, if the...

Traditional cleaning method for lettering glass has always been a mild abrasive powder. Preferred brand was Bon Ami. Every sign painter I ever knew carried a bar of Bon Ami in their kit. Work up a lather, let dry completely then rub off the dry film with clean cotton rag. If it did not come off...

Here I was trying to be so serious, Johnny! Now I'm pithed. Good thing I walk to work. It's 25 degrees outside, but feels like 16. I'll cool off quickly. It's a cold day in the neighborhood. Brad

No. But have another drink. ;) PITH essence, heart, substance, nub, core, crux, gist, meat, kernel, the nitty-gritty. ................. In an effort to prevent this thread from being a string of only one noteworthy quote—which is not a string at all—I am posting a second pithy quote: “I...

This thread started well. I was expecting a series of posts with pithy quotes from noteworthy designers. I find quotes like that interesting and thought-provoking.

The cease-and-desist letter written by Jack Daniels' attorneys requesting a re-design of the book cover is astonishing. They said, and I'm paraphrasing, just change the design when you get around to reprinting it. Or, if you can do it sooner, we'll help pay for it.

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It's possible that the Jack Daniels logo is not protected by copyright, though the label design surely is. Many logos do not meet the US government requirements for copyright protection, though many do. Some companies have attempted to register their logos for copyright protection but were...

Most paint manufacturers offer single stage urethanes or polyurethanes. That is what Matthews is. Matthews has the advantage of offering an online formula cross-referencing system that will give you paint formulas to match a huge number of colors from most major paint makers, as well as...

This post is entirely too informative. It backs up a belief that I developed in my younger years that there are no dumb screen printers. Actually, this whole string is full of good stuff. Using a clear primer to seal the edges of a vinyl mask is an excellent idea. I would recommend Nova Color...

Hand painting has been the least trouble free for me. I used to like brown fitches (soft). But since abandoning One Shot on fabric in favor of Nova Colors, I use the same angled brushes I use at Walldog meets. Some are Taklon, I believe. Also some Lamgnickel sables I got at Michaels Crafts...

This is why every shop needs at least one small installer. Guys who were tank drivers in the Army are perfect. So are seven-year-olds, but that has not been legal for a hundred years. When my son was young he loved operating the controls of the bucket truck while I worked. He was good at it...

The term was used by a young guy who first showed me this type of clamp. I later became skeptical when the same guy corrected me on the term 'fitch.' He said the lettering brush is called a 'finch,' not a fitch. I thought he was kidding, but he was serious. I said, "Shawn are you sure you're not...

A field seam has a lip of clear thin plastic glued to the back side of one of halves of the face. 1-1/2 inch x 1/16 inch clear is common. This is usually enough to keep the sides from gapping. Of course, the hanging bars are necessary so the plastic will hang straight and not sag or bow. And I...

I have usually installed a sign this long with a field seam (non-glued). And always with hanging bars. Done properly, the faces will hang flat without sagging and the seam will not open up. I worked for one large sign company (over 100 employees) that had a standing rule that no face over 12...

Looks good. Symmetrical layout has a traditional look. The backplate could easily be Corian, which comes in many colors. Looks good clear coated. The nonglare layer works well, and is changeble. We do hundreds of signs each year for a number of hospitals, office buildings, and school districts...

Thank you, John. Did you notice the upside down 'N?' A wild and crazy designer.

It's like a sign painter's half block.

The way most people learn to build and install channel letters is by working at a shop that does this work. There are not any schools for it that I know of. I guess you can call it an 'apprenticeship,' working alongside someone, but most real apprentice programs are a thing of the past. Along...