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I could never wrap my head around using spreadsheets for pricing (I run a custom sign shop). I have always based pricing on cost of goods and services sold. Knowing that my non-job related expenses (overhead) is around 20% of total sales, and that I want a 20% profit for my trouble, I put a...

There are some very good reasons to use a Mac. Most of those have to do with the fluidity of the graphics and the intuitive nature of the OS and the Apple eco-system. Cost should not be a consideration if you are using the tool professionally; even a modest gain of 2% - 3% in productivity will...

Low VOC paints leave a silicon deposit on the dried surface which prevents most adhesives from sticking (sort of like applying adhesive vinyl to a dusty wall). You can try agreesively cleaning with alcohol first, then burnishing the hell out of the vinyl before removing the transfer tape, but...

If you are a local commercial or electric shop, odds are advertising on the internet (other than a web page) aren't going to help you much. If you are a specialty retailer, appealing to the mass public, maybe so (you know who you are). For a local shop, thoughtful design and competent service...

I am a big fan of outsourcing anything I can – except for installation. Too much can go wrong (especially with vinyl wraps)! I'll do the design work (branding and brand integration) and work with the client's wrap installation company (who will do the printing and installation). Design and...

Why not get a quote from Sticker Mule?

I never seal it. It is only going to last as long as whatever you stick it on. As far as laminating it: it will change the refractive index and it won't look like real gold anymore. I don't see the point.

$20k machine will not be appropriate for profitable sign production. To compete you will need to make a lot of signs, buy and warehouse truckloads of materials, have a vacuum and air cleaning system (the dust from wood and foam is toxic), have an acrylic polyurethane painting system and...

1/4" plate glass. Draw a grid underneath. A little tough on blades but always get accurate cuts. Great for painting too because you can always clean with a scraper.

Can't do it. My thumb covers about 4 digits; never know which one is going to activate. I need to use my index finger, one digit at a time. I'll use dictation if I have to. Doesn't really matter to me. My phone is turned off most of the time away (Do Not Disturb - Allow Repeated Calls). Few...

I've had a few large windows crack. High quality thick plate glass is less of an issue, but regular window glass can have internal tensions; depending on how it is installed, sometimes just tapping it or leaning against it can cause it to crack. Heat and cold (especially the differential) can...

3M IJ180 will stick to the glass. Personally, I can't afford to take the risk of installing a full coverage wrap on a window, let alone an etched one which has its structural integrity already compromised. Also take into consideration that removing it will be risky as well. I'd walk.

Oops. The diagram, in the case of a fixture with a 40º beam spread, should utilize a 40º angle. But you get the idea.

Two things. 1. The more opaque glass is, the more energy is deposited in the glass. Etched glass will heat up considerably more than transparent or clear glass. 2. I do not recommend using calandered vinyl for most outdoor applications. Big flat sheets may give you a few years service, but...

First you need to determine how much light you want on the sign (foot-candles) and choose a fixture that is in the right range (lumens) to get the desired result. Take into consideration the beam spread (the angle the light comes out of the fixture), which will help to determine distance from...

File folders and a "dry-erase" board. Cheap, easy, and effective. It makes you wonder what people did before dry-erase (or chalk) boards!

The hardest part of graphic design is learning what to draw, not how to draw it. Learning the software is an important, but not difficult aspect of the job. The technical issues of font management, color management, file types, etc. can be learned at home with a little effort, and is taught in...

You might be safe paying somebody cash for artwork, but the minute they pick up a tool more dangerous than a pencil they become a liability. Sending a person out to an install with no insurance is a good way to lose your company! As far as pay, around $20/hr seems about right for somebody with...

I dunno. Likely a SignComp type system (that's what I usually find). I would need to go up there to see, which (for us) would require a $1500 equipment rental. I am trying to get info on the OEM; if I can figure out who made it I might be able to get info on the tensioning system, along with...

The lattice modules work well and tend to not fail as regularly as the corncobs. For the problem I have now, I would need to place two arrays of SF modules in order to get the correct distance from the face. That leaves no space for a guy to climb around inside the sign (lots of fun, I tell...