how did 18" z 24" become a standard sign size?

[signguy 55]

Question says it all. Why isn't 16" x 24" a standard sign blank size? And for that matter a 24" x 32"? If you're selling a batch of signs there would be no waste at all out of a 4 x 8 with the smaller sizes and basically the customer wouldn't know the difference unless you told them.

Just one of those things that bugs me.

 

[CanuckSigns]

yeah, i've been using 16x24 as standard for years. 18x24 is standard only because it is a 1.5:2 ratio

 

[SightLine]

I realize the "standard" full sheet size is 48x96 for home stores and even most substrates but I wonder if the manufacturers also make 72x144 as a standard size? I just buy blanks precut at 18x24 because it is easier than cutting full sheets down and actually cheaper. Through our distributor at least, 10 18x24 coro blanks is actually about .60 cheaper than a 48x96 sheet of the same coro.

 

[Gino]

Before all these crazy substrates were available, the standard size was 22" x 28" or 28" X 44".

When I started making signs, back in the 60's the standard size for commercial work was a 32" x 48". Some nutjob came up with this 18" x 24" crap. Even the political signs were typically 22" x 14".

 

[bob]

Before all these crazy substrates were available, the standard size was 22" x 28" or 28" X 44".

When I started making signs, back in the 60's the standard size for commercial work was a 32" x 48". Some nutjob came up with this 18" x 24" crap. Even the political signs were typically 22" x 14".

22"x24" most likely because card stock was a standard sheet at 28x44. Most all sizes were based on this. 28x44, 22x28, 14x22, 11x14, and 7x11.You just kept cutting the long side in half.

Then there were over-sized 32"x48" sheets yielding 24x32,16x24, 12x16, and 8x12.

Most all common sizes, like 8.5x11 letterhead stock, 2x3.5 business card stock, and 8x10 photo stock are all evolved from what cut out of a standard sheet of whatever media was being used. The cut sizes often outlive the standard sheet sizes from whence they came.

18x24 doesn't cut out of anything. Maybe some ancient 6'x10' sheet of something. Who knows.

 

[WeekendDirectionals]

signs365

Signs365 will print and cut a sheet 48x96 into 12 16x24 or 24x16 as a standard.

 

[Gino]

22"x24" most likely because card stock was a standard sheet at 28x44. Most all sizes were based on this. 28x44, 22x28, 14x22, 11x14, and 7x11.You just kept cutting the long side in half.

Then there were over-sized 32"x48" sheets yielding 24x32,16x24, 12x16, and 8x12.

Most all common sizes, like 8.5x11 letterhead stock, 2x3.5 business card stock, and 8x10 photo stock are all evolved from what cut out of a standard sheet of whatever media was being used. The cut sizes often outlive the standard sheet sizes from whence they came.

18x24 doesn't cut out of anything. Maybe some ancient 6'x10' sheet of something. Who knows.

I thought that's what I said ?? Are you contradicting yourself ?? 22" x 24" was not one of our old standards.

Also, our oversize shocard was 40" x 60" Never saw the 32" x 48" anything. Sorry. Maybe in matte board for framing and such, but not shocard writing. Anyway, not from any of our old suppliers.

We also used a lot of offset paper stub rolls. Anyway from 80lb to 110lb was our choice. They were usually 51". Good God were they heavy. I still have a few of those rolls standing around.

 

[round man]

18x24 is a standard broadsheet size for printing paper stock(at least that is the size coreldraw gives it seems originally it was 22x29)most of those sizes come from standard print paoer for printers my guess is that is the size the bean counters ended up with to save money on print stock for american printers back in the early days of computer printers,.....guess it carried over with all the other standard sizes,...

Most all common sizes, like 8.5x11 letterhead stock, 2x3.5 business card stock, and 8x10 photo stock are all evolved from what cut out of a standard sheet of whatever media was being used. The cut sizes often outlive the standard sheet sizes from whence they came.

 

[Mosh]

I use 16x24 in everything but realty framed signs....

 

[TyrantDesigner]

18x24 became the standard thanks to framing and offset print reproductions. ... the standard canvas and art panel is an 18x24 thanks to that 1.5/2 ratio ... framing became that standard size, thus paper and layout materials became that and most people want to see 18x24 from us and thus is now the new norm.

 

[300mphGraphics]

So many different "standard" sizes. Paper is the worst. In the U.S. paper industry, measurements of paper density and weight are based on traditional sheet sizes which vary with the type of paper. These standard sheet specifications have persisted, even though in many cases sheets of those sizes are no longer manufactured. Paper is described as, say, 24 pound weight if one ream (500 sheets) cut in the basic size would have a mass of 24 pounds.


Type of paper Size (in inches)
Bible 25 X 38
Blanks 22 X 38
Blotting 19 X 24
Bond 17 X 22
Book 25 X 38
Cover 20 X 26
Glassine 24 X 36
Gummed 25 X 38
Index 25 1/2 X 30 1/2
Ledger 17 X 22
Manifold 17 X 22
Manuscript 18 X 31
Mimeograph 17 X 22
Newsprint 24 X 36
Offset 25 X 38
Onionskin 17 X 22
Opaque 25 X 38
Poster 24 X 36
Tag 22 1/2 X 28 1/2
or 24 X 36
Text 25 X 38
Tissues 24 X 36
Vellum bristol 22 1/2 X 28 1/2
Writing 17 X 22

 

[FireSprint.com]

So many different "standard" sizes. Paper is the worst. In the U.S. paper industry, measurements of paper density and weight are based on traditional sheet sizes which vary with the type of paper. These standard sheet specifications have persisted, even though in many cases sheets of those sizes are no longer manufactured. Paper is described as, say, 24 pound weight if one ream (500 sheets) cut in the basic size would have a mass of 24 pounds.


Type of paper Size (in inches)
Bible 25 X 38
Blanks 22 X 38
Blotting 19 X 24
Bond 17 X 22
Book 25 X 38
Cover 20 X 26
Glassine 24 X 36
Gummed 25 X 38
Index 25 1/2 X 30 1/2
Ledger 17 X 22
Manifold 17 X 22
Manuscript 18 X 31
Mimeograph 17 X 22
Newsprint 24 X 36
Offset 25 X 38
Onionskin 17 X 22
Opaque 25 X 38
Poster 24 X 36
Tag 22 1/2 X 28 1/2
or 24 X 36
Text 25 X 38
Tissues 24 X 36
Vellum bristol 22 1/2 X 28 1/2
Writing 17 X 22

Jeez. What's a guy to do!

 

[J Hill Designs]

me: So what size did you need this to be?
customer: just make it the standard size. that will be fine.
me:

 

[300mphGraphics]

me: So what size did you need this to be?
customer: just make it the standard size. that will be fine.
me:

Every_flippin'_day.

 

[TammieH]

Remember back in the day, real estate signs were normally printed on Duron (a very hard tempered Masonite)

Duron was extremely inexpensive,

We used to buy 18x24's and 6x24's by the 1000's, and we had a roller-coater, so we would coat out our own panels in whatever background color needed

Anyways, the supplier could get 10) 18x24's and 2) 6x24's out of one sheet no real scrap.

We also produce a lot of 24x24's and 24x30's, although city ordinances started putting a kibosh on the larger sizes.


a 16x24 has its limits as far layout, you figure an 18x24 is more versatile for layout purposes.

Anyway like a lot have already said, you can make your own standard sizes.

 

[OldPaint]

the only STANDARD SIZE.........mostly referred to is from BUILDING MATERIALS. SIGNS are put on these so someone decided to use BUILDING TRADE sizes to come together with signs for application simplicity. 4'X8' std sheet of plywood/mdo. most signs where made from that. so anything that used 32 sq ft of board without any waste became sign standard. cut it in half, you got 2- 4'x4'. cut it the other way you got 2-2'x8'. 16x24 does work better on this then 18x24, but if your doing a 16" x 24" and need a 2" support or hanging edge 18x24 makes it right. i used to buy .024 sheet metal. 12" and 24" on rolls......024 is a little thin, .032 works better, .040 would then be the best choice for small stand alone signs
also hanging SIGNS on buildings, they had to conform to building standards. 16" stud or 24" std. multiples thereafter became so called standard. get into VEHICLE LETTERING and all sign standard sizes go out the window.