It’s every business owner’s nightmare scenario: you know your business needs a sign. You’ve created the perfect sign design. But when you see the final product, the colors are all wrong, and your sign’s graphics are pixelated, blurry, or both. What happened?
Preparing your graphics for printing, especially large-scale printing such as sign graphics, can require a lot of knowledge and familiarity with graphic design and file specs. MRCsigns’ graphic design and printing prep team is ready to help you prepare your sign’s graphics for printing, but if you’re prepping files yourself, here’s what you should know before sending any file to print.
Raster vs. Vector Sign Graphics
Your sign’s graphics can be rendered as either raster or vector. In raster images, hundreds of thousands of tiny dots of color–pixels–are placed on a grid to create your image. Vector images, however, rely on mathematical formulas to calculate the shapes and lines that make up your graphics. Because the placement of the pixels is determined by formulas, your sign’s graphics can be made any size and still look sharp. If you are making your image larger, the formulas will determine where to place new pixels. If you are making it smaller, the formulas will determine where to remove them. With raster graphics, however, the existing pixels either compress or stretch. This means the jagged, pixelated edges become more obvious as your sign’s graphics are scaled up. For this reason, it’s best if the graphics you intend for your sign are in vector format from the start.
Certain programs are specifically designed for vectors. When creating your sign graphics, consider working in Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Inkscape instead of Adobe Photoshop, Canva, or Microsoft Paint.
File Types
The file type you use for your sign’s graphics can also play a part in the pixelation and blurriness of your sign. Certain types of files do not hold vector graphics, only raster; others are the opposite. Some can even hold both.
Some of the types of file that can hold vector images are .pdfs, .ai, .svg and .eps. File types that hold raster include .jpg, .bmp, .gif, .png, and .tif. However, just because a file type can hold a vector image doesn’t mean it does. Make sure that when you are creating the graphics for your sign, you’re using vector tools from the start, not just converting to an .ai file at the end and expecting your graphic to suddenly become a vector.
DPI and PPI
Vector graphics are usually preferable for signage. Raster images, however, do have their uses. For example, you may want to include photography in your signage. Photos are far too complicated to be stored as vector images. Instead, the ideal form for photography is a high-resolution raster image. Resolution of images meant for screens is referred to as “PPI,” or pixels per inch. When printing, resolution is measured in DPI, or dots per inch. This refers to the literal amount of dots of colored ink the printer is told to add per every inch of your design.
Many factors influence the ideal DPI of your sign graphics. If a sign is very large and intended to be viewed at a distance, lower DPI may be acceptable. After all, the human eye can only capture so much detail from fifty feet away. However, don’t make an assumption that your low res photo is a-okay. Higher res is always easier to work with, because making an image smaller is easier than making it larger.
Smaller signs meant to be viewed further away should be printed at 300 DPI. In fact, 300 DPI is a good rule of thumb when working with any file meant to be printed.
Design to Scale
Before you design the graphics for your sign, you should know how large your sign is going to be. When you create your file, be sure your canvas or artboard fits the dimensions of your future sign. This can help avoid any nasty, pixelated surprises when you go to get your sign graphics printed.
Some sign’s dimensions may exceed the limits of your vector program’s artboard or canvas sizes. In this case, many printers recommend you create your graphics at a smaller scale. Try 75%, 50%, or 25%–but not lower, as past this size, you may once again begin to encounter issues with quality.
Raster based image programs also have size limits. Changing your canvas size still works, but you have to increase your DPI accordingly. For example, you can reduce your file size from 8’ x 10’ to 4’ x 5’, a reduction of 50%, but you would need to increase the DPI by 50%, too; for example, from 300 DPI to 450 DPI.
If your graphics were created at a small size or low resolution, it can be nearly impossible to scale them up to the size of a sign after the fact. Sometimes, the only way forward is to remake the entire design. Start with a large, high resolution file so your hard work and graphics aren’t wasted.
CMYK vs RGB
You may have heard the acronyms “CMYK” or “RGB.” These describe the way various devices interpret the colors in your graphics, referred to as color profiles.
Most files on the internet are in RGB, as they are optimized for screens. Screens display color through light. If you’ve ever shone a light through a prism and seen a rainbow come out the other side, you know white light is actually a combination of all colors of light. Screens work by displaying varying amounts of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light. High amounts of red, green, and blue light mix to create white. Low amounts create black.
Print files, on the other hand, use CMYK. Ink shows color in the opposite way light does; combining three standard ink colors; cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y); creates black (K). Adding no ink leaves white.
RGB color profiles can be converted to CMYK color profiles, but the conversion process isn’t one to one. While not a sign-destroying error, the colors of your sign’s graphics may not come out exactly like you imagined. The options to change color profiles are available when you create a new file in your program of choice. If you plan to print, be sure your sign graphics are in CMYK from the start, not RGB.
Printers interpret images as CMYK.
Screens interpret images as RGB.
Trust the Sign Graphics Pros
These basic tips should help you optimize your sign graphics for printing. However, every sign project is unique, and not everything can be accounted for in a basic guide. Some things can only be learned through years of experience, and some techniques are specific to the signage industry. That’s where MRCsigns’ design team steps in. Our team preps your sign designs and graphics for print. We also install and maintain your signage. Reach out to our sign designers today to get a quote for your signage design, printing, and installation!
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You’ve learned about the why and how of signs, what type of sign could be best for your business, and how best to light your signs. Now, it’s time for possibly the most important part of your signage: your sign design and placement. A poorly designed sign will never bring in foot traffic even if it’s on a beautiful monument. The brightest spotlight on the market can’t save a sign that’s blocked by a tree. But if you’re reading this, it’s not too late. We’re here to give you the guidelines you need to design your business an attractive, readable sign. And don’t worry–if this all is too overwhelming, remember that MRCsigns’ graphic design team has you covered.
Sign Design
Signage design uses the same basic principles of design as anything else, but with some exceptions. Because signs are designed to be viewed from a distance, signs have to be clear and readable first and foremost. The most important factors that affect your sign design’s readability are its colors, text, and complexity.
Sign Colors
Your brand probably has its own colors, especially if you already have a logo. How you apply these colors on the sign, however, can make or break your signage’s design. High contrast colors, such as black and white, make signs more readable when used sparingly. Low contrast colors, such as blue and green, can muddy the design of your sign. Easy rules of thumb when designing your sign include making sure you don’t put light colors on top of light colors or dark colors on top of dark colors, as well as making sure you don’t add too many colors. For example, which of the below signs has a more readable color scheme?
The design of this sign features low-contrast, hard-to-read colors.
The design of this sign uses high-contrast, readable colors.
Sign Text
The text of your sign is crucial. Without it, how will customers know what you’re advertising, what your business’s name is, or what you do? At the same time, however, it’s important to make sure you don’t include too much. No one can read an entire paragraph while speeding down Main Street at 45 mph. The most important text on your sign also needs to be big enough to read at a distance, and quickly.
The font you use also matters. Calligraphy or script fonts look beautiful and may suit your business very well, but they are harder to read. Studies have shown that script- or handwriting-style fonts can be more than three times less legible than standard, non-script fonts. Consider putting information on your sign in clear, large font. After all, which of the below signs would you be more likely to read on your commute home?
The design of this sign features hard to read script-style fonts.
The design of this sign uses high-contrast, readable colors.
Sign Complexity
Much like simpler fonts make your sign more readable, simpler designs make your sign more readable, too. Though you may be tempted to add your logo and your business name and your tagline and the services you offer and your latest sale and a QR code to your website and a picture of your dog, don’t. Too many elements in your signage will reduce it to background noise in your customer’s eyes. Instead, focus on the most important elements, and make sure each element has enough room on your sign.
The design of this sign is too crowded and busy to be legible.
The design of this sign features a simple, easily readable layout.
These graphic design principles can get your signage design from mediocre to eye-catching. But if it’s still an intimidating concept or if you just don’t have time, MRCsigns has you covered. Our graphic design team can take your existing brand and design you an eye-catching sign to suit your business’s needs. Reach out to our sales team now to get a quote for your signage design.
Sign Placement
Where you place your signage is the most important factor of all. Good signage can make your business eye-catching for potential customers, make your business easier to find for new customers, and reduce friction for existing customers–but only if it’s visible.
It’s important to consider the size of your sign when deciding where to put it. A small banner may be effective above your business’s entrance, but it won’t be nearly as effective by the side of the road. Similarly, a sign placed perpendicular to the road is relatively easy to read, but the same design placed parallel to the road may need to be up to 70% larger in order to be read in time.
If you want passing drivers to be able to locate your business, it’s important that your signage be visible from the road, and from far enough down the road that it can be read before the driver passes it. Signs need to be large enough to read and large enough to be eye-catching. These signs can take the form of your business’s own monument or pylon sign or a multi-tenant sign arranged by a landlord for all the businesses in your complex. Additionally, you’ve got to make sure your signage isn’t blocked by any landscaping, architecture, or other obstacles.
Don’t forget, local ordinances may have restrictions around where you can place your business’s signage. But you don’t need to make big signage decisions or wade through legal jargon by yourself. MRCsigns’s signage and permitting experts can make sure your sign is placed in the most optimal location with no fuss.
Now It’s Your Turn
Now that you’ve read all of our Signs 101 series, you’re ready to plan the perfect signage for your business. Need a refresher? Missed our previous installments? Check out why your business needs a sign, all the different types of signs, and the details of signage lighting on our previous blogs.
If you want a useful guide for choosing the best signage for you, we’ve got a cheat sheet to make choosing your signage as easy as M-R-C. Enter your email below to gain access to our signage cheat sheet and other future offers!
Once you’ve finished your cheat sheet and know exactly what type of sign you want, be sure to contact us for a quote for your signage project!
Over the past two weeks, we’ve discussed why your business needs a sign and all the types of signs your business could have. This week, we’re talking about how lighting can take your sign from good to great.
If you’re happy with your current signage design, placement, and type, but still feel your sign is missing something, the problem might be its lighting. No matter how great your sign is, if it’s invisible at night, it’s only reaching half of its potential. Lighting can do more than just spotlight your existing signage. It enhances your sign and your brand by helping your sign stand out, creating different moods, and giving your sign personality.
Types of Light
When you think of illuminated signs, do you think of glowing, colorful letters reading “Open!” or “No Vacancy”? These are classic examples of neon signs. Neon signs have historically been a go-to option for signage. Popular throughout the first half of the 20th century, they work by passing electricity through a glass tube full of gasses, primarily neon. Different gasses and gas ratios produce different colors.
Make no mistake: neon signs can give your business a unique retro flair. On the other hand, they can also give your business a massive headache. Neon signs are fragile and prone to leaking gas, require significant upkeep, and have a shorter lifespan than other lighting options.
LED, or light-emitting diode, is the bread and butter of modern signage lighting solutions. It is the most energy efficient and cheapest of all of your lighting options. LEDs use 75% less energy than incandescent lighting and last nearly twenty-five times as long, according to the Department of Energy. Additionally, LEDs and LED signage are incredibly versatile. In fact, it’s likely that many of the signs around you that you think are neon are clever LED replicas.
Would you use LED lighting for your business’s sign?
Types of Lighting
Lighting is often categorized in two ways: “lighted” or “lit” signs, which are lit with one of the several types of external light, and “illuminated” signs, which are illuminated from within through a variety of techniques. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Be sure to establish what exactly you’re talking about with your sign professionals.
External Signage Lighting
External lighting is a flexible lighting option that can achieve many different effects. Existing signs can have exterior lighting installed, making your signage work overtime to promote your business even at night. Mounting lighting strategically can enhance your signage as well. Lighting can be used to spotlight interesting textures or architectural features on or around your signage. Different colors, luminosity, or amounts of lights can enhance the mood of your signage. For example, the scalloped effect created by having multiple, smaller point lights is very different from the soft gradient effect created by a single linear light.
You have many options when choosing how to light your sign. Some of the most popular and accessible types of external lights include:
Flood lights: Flood lights can light up large signs and the surrounding areas. If you need cost-saving, multifunctional lighting, this may be most effective.
Linear lights: Linear lights are very popular, in part because they provide even, comparatively soft, but still clear lighting.
Spotlights/point lights/bullet lights: there are many names for smaller, more focused lights, but all are versatile and useful. When used singly, they are effective at bringing attention to a feature, be it graphic or architectural. When used in combination, they can light up an entire sign and create unique visual effects.
Internal Signage Lighting
Illuminated signs, or signs which are primarily lit from the inside, are incredibly common for modern businesses. Any design you can dream of can be illuminated, making it pop without sacrificing detail. Illuminated signs can be divided into two subcategories:
Channel letters: Have you ever seen a business whose name just glowed? That was probably a channel letter sign. These signs can either be face lit, meaning the light within shines out only through the face, or front, of the letter; or backlit, with the light shining out of the back of the letter to create a halo effect. Despite the name, this technique doesn’t just apply to letters. Your logo can pop, too!
LED lights sit inside channel letters.
Channel letter signage makes businesses glow.
Cabinet signs: These signs are also referred to as “lightbox” signs, because a lightbox sign is a box… with a light in it! In cabinet signs, a frame holds your design(s) with light behind or between, depending on whether both sides of the sign are visible. Cabinet signs are especially useful for detailed designs such as photography.
If you want a useful guide for choosing the best signage for you, we’ve got a cheat sheet to make choosing your signage as easy as M-R-C. Enter your email below to gain access to our signage cheat sheet and other future offers!
Once you’ve finished your cheat sheet and know exactly what type of sign you want, be sure to contact us for a quote for your signage project!
We’ve all had that experience. You’re driving home from a long day at work. At a red light, you glance to the side, and- woah, that logo looks cool. What a creative business name. Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow. Or maybe you’re on an errand and spot the glowing letters of your favorite fast food chain. Looks like a new location has popped up, positioned conveniently between your house and the grocery store. Score.
On the other hand, we’ve all experienced this, too: you’re trying to find a specific location, maybe to drop off a package or pick up that niche supply you’ve been needing. “Your destination is on the left,” intones Google Maps, but when you crane your neck, you don’t see it. It takes three loops around the block and a lot of cursing before you find an unmarked entrance in the back of the building. You grumble as you get out of the car. How does anyone find this place?
According to the Sign Research Foundation, 36% of American consumers have gone out of their way to visit a new store because of the sign, and 61% of American consumers have failed to find a business because their sign was too small or unclear.
Making an excellent first impression–or an impression at all–is a crucial part of drawing customers into your business. Signage is your opportunity to introduce yourself and your brand, increase brand awareness, direct customers to the right location, and even advertise deals or specials all in one place and for a much lower price than a long ad campaign or TV spot.
But creating signage, like any other business venture, can be complex. Here at MRC Signs, our goal is to help you create signage that wows and to make that process as easy and transparent as possible.
How Signs Are Made
“Signs are easy, right? You just design it, manufacture it, and put it up.”
If only! The behind-the-scenes of sign creation is complex. Many hands must touch a sign to make it successful. At MRC Signs, we drive this process from start to finish:
Sales: Signs start as an idea. Our sales staff work with you to decide on your budget, needs, goals, and aspirations, then put it all together to send to our designers.
Design: Our designers work with you to create the perfect sign that incorporates your branding, logo, color, and business name with any technical limitations you may have.
Quote: Once you know what you want–or if you already know what you want–our sales team sends you a quote.
Permitting: After you approve the quote, our team has to do some heavy lifting: paperwork. Our permitting team works with local officials to make sure your signage complies with local laws and regulations.
Manufacturing: Also called fabrication, our team uses the best materials to manufacture your sign.
Installation: The big reveal: your sign goes up! Our fully equipped vehicles install your signs with the highest quality workmanship.
Maintenance: To keep your sign as enticing as the day it was installed, schedule regular, preventative maintenance.
MRC Signs has committed our expert team to making this complex process as easy, transparent, and professional as possible. Give us your dream sign idea and we’ll make it work.
Essential Characteristics of a Good Sign
Signs can be as creative as you and your business are, and come in many shapes and sizes. Four main characteristics describe every sign: its type, its lighting, and its design and placement.
Each of these features impacts how your brand is viewed by potential customers, so nailing them is crucial to making a good first impression. See our next post for an in-depth discussion of types of signs, or skip straight to sign lighting, sign design, or sign placement.
If you want a useful guide for choosing the best signage for you, we’ve got a cheat sheet to make choosing your signage as easy as M-R-C. Enter your email below to gain access to our signage cheat sheet and other future offers!
Still have questions? No worries, we’ve got you. Get our next installment directly in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter, or if you’re ready for the next step, reach out to our team to get a quote.
