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The advantage of AI (artificial intelligence) generated art is that now anybody can create awesome sci-fi and fantasy images, or Pokémon style graphics. Relieves us of the burden!

Laminated adhesive vinyl. It will work great for a "presentation" puck, but for actual match use nothing will hold up! I would order these from a jobber (around $10 plus shipping for a page of twelve 2.5" x 2.5" stickers, much less if bought in quantity).

For most local jobs, we will build the survey expense into the price estimate (if we don't get the job the expense is added to overhead). For some complex jobs (wayfinding systems, jobs requiring extensive analysis and /or engineering, etc.) we will sometimes charge for the service up front...

You are going to have do a lot of printing to cover your costs. Working from home, it seems unlikely you have a crew of installers. Also a home is not the best place for customer visits and picking up and paying for printed materials (to say nothing of the fumes of vinyl off-gassing and the...

All the info for a job is in a manila folder placed in tickler file (filed by date the next action is needed). Every morning I sort the files (only takes a few minutes). All digital info is stored in an A – Z directory. Estimates are prepared in Quickbooks (a paper copy is printed and put in...

Less than $55.00 cost for a vinyl version, add $25.00 for a double-sided direct print 18x24 ACM sign, $25.00 for shipping and you come up with a total $105.00 cost. I can sell these, finished, for about $175.00 (and so can, and do, my competitors). The cool thing about the ones I get (4Ever...

I use EX-Cel exterior grade PVC and either glue it to an ACM panel or build an aluminum frame (you can use Alumawald and a propane torch if you don't have a welding rig). Lexel is a good adhesive to attach PVC elements; I will usually drill some small holes on the glueing surfaces to create a...

When I vectorize a logo for a customer, I charge for the work and offer the customer all rights. It is a line item on the invoice. I send them the artwork in a logo package which includes the source file (usually vector art but sometimes a combination of vector and bitmap files). It becomes...

Makes no sense. By the time you clear coat it you can paint it. More importantly, better check with the trade show venue before doing anything. Most have union contracts requiring all assembly to be done by union carpenters. You can't even bring in a screwdriver! That's why all these clever...

If you can isolate the bitmap image that can be re-sized to the required output resolution and re-placed into the file.

The vinyl graphics will cost more than just getting a finished banner from a wholesale printer, and that is before you add the cost of the banner material and finishing costs. Plus, you can drop ship the banner and save the customer the cost of driving across town and picking it up!

Welded extruded aluminum, then paint with MAP. When the paint dries, put on the U.L. sticker (required by City).

Acrylic polyurethane (Matthews is very good) is the way to go. You will need a proper spray booth and air supply. It is very likely your municipal code will have a lot to say about installing a paint booth and exhausting the fumes. It won't be cheap, but if you are doing a lot of painting it...

The sign business has historically attracted creative sorts. Back in the day when you had to be able to draw and letter with a brush, there was a sort of weeding out process as the more clever sign writers generally attracted a good following. It's still that way, but the clever sign writer...

We all have different business models. I spend most of my time engineering complex installations, trouble-shooting electronic message centers, and running a trained crew of experienced service techs. Once in a while, I get to design some graphics, but it is getting rarer and rarer. There are...

Ha ha! Actually, the town is subject to the same code requirements as everyone else. Bust them out and see how popular you next time you apply for a permit!

$300.00 profit if you have zero overhead, no payroll, and got your equipment for free. Actually, $2.72 sq. ft. would be a good price for a large scale print shop (factory) running the latest equipment with an experienced staff flat out all day long. Probably a bit high. A small, commercial...

It makes no sense to not have workers compensation. Not only is it illegal to have uninsured employees, but if one got hurt your assets could vanish in a flash!

I pay $30.00/sheet for 4x8 UV printed 4mm coroplast signs. I order them from a wholesaler. They will drop ship if requested. I would have to do over 100,000 4x8s a year to justify the expense of buying the machine, making room for it, material handling pallets of coroplast, and paying the...

You are lucky to have a town that allows "across the street" banners. Best bet (and just about the only way you are going to get a permit) is to use an open-net banner with heavy 200 denier nylon fabric graphic elements stiched onto a heavy duty nylon scrim (net-type material) with 200 denier...