Signs of the Times - September 2012 - 81

DaVinci Sign Systems Inc. (Windsor, CO); John Shaw, president DaVinci Sign Systems serves Colorado and Wyoming with custom-fabricated signs and, as shown here, it designs, builds and installs high-quality channel letters. Note the raceway-mounted Sunflower sign’s curvature – not an easy task. Note, also, the crisp, well-kerned Edwards letters, attached to a modernist, multi-material base. Most cool is the Stuft burger-bar combo, with neon trim. (970) 203-9292; www.davincisign.com. channel-letter bending machines, CNC/digital routers, vinyl cutters and digitally printed channel-letter faces. However, newer materials have enhanced – and complicated – lighting, face media and color choices. At the high-dollar end, you can set clear, trim-capped acrylic faces over fitted, RGB-lamped, matrix-wired LEDs to create multicolor, animated channel letters, but, frankly, few sign buyers can afford such a system. Another novel idea is to apply perforated vinyl to white Plexiglas® acrylic faces to create different day and night colors, but you need to test the concept first, because your lighting and face choice may change the face color gamut. Frankly, the available, day/night acrylic faces remain your safest, two-color bet. Uniquely imaged, digitally printed channel-letter faces are easier to provide and apply than, say, cut patterns of multi-colored vinyl, but, before you get too excited, check the fade warranty on the digital prints. A south-facing sign may lose color faster than your sign buyer expects. Further face cautions involve the print’s ink saturation – is it dense enough to hold color when backlit? And, because digital prints are affected by the lightsource and face-media mix, it’s important to determine if the face illumination shifts the digitally printed colors. An illuminated, milk-white face, for example, always softens any applied face colors; add white neon or LED backlighting and worsen the effect. Such combinations require serious, in-shop testing, so you’re not later experimenting in the field, expensively. And oh, there’s the UL screw thing. Read the details in publisher/ editor Wade Swormstedt’s August column (see ST, August 2012, page 96), but, for now, know that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has recently said “self-drilling thread cutting and thread-forming screws shall not be used to secure a cover or component or be utilized as a terminal type screw that will be removed or replaced during field servicing or as a result of servicing.” Trim-capped, channel-letter faces fit this description. Wade talked with some signmakers at the ISA Supplier/ Distributor Conference (Chicago, June 5-7) who had communicated with UL’s Lee Hewitt. Lee is the principal engineer for signs and specialty luminaires at UL. Wade’s column end note says “…I subsequently spoke with Lee on Friday, July 6, and he said its most likely that these standards will revert back to what was published in UL 48’s 14th edition.”

Channel-Letter Site Surveys
Generally, salespeople conduct the initial survey, but, if it’s an unusual site, the install foreman should accomplish the task. Here’s a general reminder, for persons who conducts surveys. • Know the storefront – Record the distance from the sign base to available truck parking, plus the sign height and the mounting-surface (façade) composite, because it may affect the install time and cost. Will the crew need street-parking permits? What are the landlord restrictions? Also, can the sign be installed during regular working hours? • Know the building interior – Explore all space that lies directly behind the letter-mounting area. Are there any surprise obstructions? Is there adequate room for your install crew to work? Will your crew need to move any furniture or displays to access the sign’s back area? • Know the equipment demands – Will the install crew need special equipment? You should know your shop’s equipment inventory and discern if other gear is needed. If it’s an unusual site, it’s best to have your install foreman accomplish the survey. • Know the electrical demands – Is a dedicated, switched, electrical circuit available at the install point, or is it inside the building? Is it adequate to handle the new sign? Is there a clock control? In addition, examine the building’s electrical boxes and wiring terminals to see if they appear in good order. If not, a licensed electrician must make corrections or install any new circuits. Who will pay for that work?

SIGNS OF THE TIMES / SEPTEMBER 2012 / www.signweb.com 81

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Signs of the Times - September 2012

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