Signs of the Times - February 2013 - (Page 20)

VINYL APPS By Steve Aust “In ST’s offices, we love the saying ‘A business with no sign is a sign of no business.’ This maxim applies doubly to window signage and graphics.” Window Treatments A few examples of top-flight graphic fenestrations In business withwe love the asaying, ST’s offices, “A no sign is sign of no business.” This maxim applies doubly to window signage and graphics. Pedestrian passersby will notice signage at eye level – in all likelihood, windows – before looking up for overhead or building-mounted signs. And, in many cases, it’s easier for motorists to view street-level messages. Although we love traditional, handpainted window splashes (see ST, June 2012, page 58), we also appreciate digital graphics’ capabilities to yield whimsical, retro or elegant printed graphics. Say It Simply Debby McDermott, the owner of the Simply Something Café in Palmerton, PA, a town of approximately 5,000 near Allentown, wanted inviting window and door graphics for her eatery. Something classy and cordial, but not pretentious – in other words, suitable for a place that’s offered chicken pot pie and bacon cheeseburger soup as specials, and touts “Baby Back Ribs Night” on its Facebook page. She hired Jason Nale, proprietor of Nazareth, PA’s Originale Designs, to develop the graphics. Describing himself as “the son of talented artists who never dreamed of being anything else,” Nale offers wrap and banner production, 3-D-sign fabrication, and an array of illustration and branding services. When making his color and typography choices for the logo, Nale considered what he’d find most appealing if he wanted to find an upscale diner. First, he wanted a vibrant color contrast; red, white, black and a few other complements would grab attention. Then, he wanted to layer three fonts attractively. For the top row, he chose the upbeat, underlined A&S Signwriter script, with an appetizing photo of a cold-cut sandwich and soda. For the middle layer, within a slightly arched banner scroll, he used East Market (a personal favorite, Nale said), with a subtle, gold-to-white fade. (“Something” is a word that piques curiosity anyway.) For the last layer, “Café” is rendered in LHF Valencia. Nale printed the logo, which measures 77 x 64 in., with Oracal’s Orajet® 3651, a 2.5-mil, calendered film with a transparent, permanent adhesive intended for flat surfaces or those with simple curves or contours. The company outsourced printing to wholesaler Signs365. com. He now subcontracts printing because a lightning strike on Nale’s 20 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / FEBRUARY 2013 / www.signweb.com building fried his printer’s electronics, and he declined to incur the expense and upkeep of a new printer. “Normally, I don’t like to seam any graphics I produce,” Nale said. “But, because of the size, I thought it was necessary for this logo. To make the seam inconspicuous, we did it horizontally on a curve below the bottom edge of the ‘Something’ banner. It’s almost invisible, and I’m very pleased with the end result.” The border and complementary lettering on the door graphics were produced with FDC vinyl, which Nale cut on a GCC VE Jaguar cutting plotter. All told, the installation required approximately a day and a half for both the window and door. Although Nale hasn’t eaten the food at Simply Something – he cites a strict diet – he said the place is best known for its blue potato chips. http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - February 2013

Signs of the Times - February 2013
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Electric
LED Update
Software Update
Technology Review
Technology Review
Sign Museum News
New Products
Dressed to Impress
Uniqlo’s In-store Digital Signage
Pursuing a Different Rout
Word on the Street Signs
Industry News
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - February 2013