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Help Needed On how to fabricate this sign
Hi Peeps,
I have just got an order for a built up sign, this is the first time i have got an order like this as 95% of the signs i do are lightboxes or simple foamex signs. So i am needing some help although im sure its just straight forward for most ppl on here.
i have supplied the customer artwork as attached which they are happy with but all the text on the sign need to be built out with either lights behind (led i think) or lights coming through the letters.
the colours of the sign will be same as pic but all the text exept tel no need to be built up.
Any help will be much appreciated.
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19 Replies
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oops the picture has not attached.
how do i attach pictures?
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you can not attach files in this forum, you need to put then in one that can.
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erm i dont know how to do that, is there anyway i can email you the picture maybe you can help me?
Thanks
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I’m surprised your customer has given you the job without knowing how much it is going to cost. Don’t know what sort of size the text is going to be or how much of it there is but built up illuminated lettering is generally not cheap.
If you are looking for metal letters then they will obviously need to be backlit or if you want the letters to light up then acrylic. You will be limited colour wise if you are using acrylic. Not sure who would be best to supply these. I know the question has been asked before so try a search. I know W.M. Smith do them but not sure who else without checking. -
Unless you have specialised equipment to manufacture – BUY IT!!
Lots of companies make flat & 3D letters & signs as a business, a quick web search should reveal loads of them.
eg. Accent / Centre Signs
Like Martin said – NOT cheap, but "you get what you pay for".
To be honest – if I were you – I’d find out how to do something / source it before attempting to sell it…just a thought!![/img]
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well the thing is the sign is for a new chinese restaurant and the customer has ok’d the design but i need to give them a price tommorrow latest thats why i needed advice.
the overall sign size is 16ft x 4ft, the background will all be aluminium i presume unless anyone knows better and then with the name of the restaurant on one line and description of type of food served on second line, if i could somehow email a picture of the design then maybe someone could help me.
to be honest its a simple sign but not knowing what type of built up text i need is the problem.
The letters need to be lit u so i presume they would have to be acrilic.
unless you can get coloured metal letters that light u too.
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Hi Ali. . I’m feeling helpful so here goes. .
Without seeing your artwork, my advice to you would be the following:
1) Before you do anything find out your clients budget. Every customer would have built-up halo illuminated letters for the price of foamboard !
Make sure they are realistic about what can be achieved for the money they want to spend !2) Ask if they have the relevant permission for an illuminated sign ! ! Ask to see the paperwork ! !
3) Sort out an exact specification. One that your client is happy with, you are happy with and your fabricators are happy to make.
4) Talk to your fabricators, ask them as many questions as possible regarding your spec. make sure you are 110% happy and have everything in writing ( a quote ) before parting with cash. . ( they will almost certainly want all the money upfront for your first order )
5) Make sure you get a big deposit off you customer. . enough to cover all manufacturing and materials costs. Bespoke signage can’t be used on another order like a roll of vinyl !
6) Be realistic about your time scale, and make sure your customer is aware of how long such a sign takes to produce.
7) keep it simple !
It can be very difficult to quote correctly for built up signage.
It is very easy to under estimate the costs envolved.
Finally it can also be difficult designing something if you do not have an understanding of the processes needed to manufacture it !Don’t be put off by this post, it’s not meant to be negative. . I’m just trying to save you from some of the mistakes over made over the years !
Best of Luck
Dave
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If you can access the "Graphic Design – Help & Discussion" forum – you can post up your image there.
Not sure if it’s a ‘members only’ area or not.
Dave
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quote :2) Ask if they have the relevant permission for an illuminated sign ! ! Ask to see the paperwork ! !Alternatively Dave just have a clause in your quote stipulating it is the customers responsibility to obtain any necessary permisssions, your only making the sign let them do the legals 🙂
John
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You might well have wasted your time up until now, built up letters are normally manufactured in a very limited range of fonts, if you have designed the facia using a font that is not available as a built up letter then you are going to have to go back to the customer and explain that it will need to be changed.
Like Dave has said I would check that your customer has planning permission for illuminated letters, it may be the customers responsibility to arrange planning but I would still check that they have applied, plus as Dave has said make sure you get a decent deposit to cover material costs.
What is the lead time on this job as the manufacture of the letters is out of your hands, I would be careful what you say to the customer until you are 100% sure of the price and how long they are going to take to manufacture.
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they do have permission already, they showed me the papers.
i think if i persuade them just to go for flat cut acrilic letters or aluminium 3d letters without any lighting then it will be a cheaper sign to have fabricated?
if thats the case i will advise them to get some external lighting fitted and save on the illuminated part?
also where can i get the backing board from? i believe its alu panels i need or a made to measure painted metal board?
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If they have planning permission for illuminated built up letters then you won’t be able to put up external illumination such as trough lights without the risk of being told to take them down.
As for a backing panel you should be able to get di-bond or an equivalent board from you usual foamex supplier.
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Martin why
quote :Like Dave has said I would check that your customer has planning permission for illuminated letters, it may be the customers responsibility to arrange planning but I would still check that they have applied, plus as Dave has said make sure you get a decent deposit to cover material costs.your making extra work that way – then customers mither you about all sorts of unrelated crap that doesnt earn money IMHO – let them sort it out cover your ar se and dont worry
john
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to be honest, i’d just sub the whole job out to another firm, and just do the installation myself, there are plenty of firms aorund that will make the whole unit, you’d just need to install, and get a qualified sparky to hook it up to the mains.
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well im wanting to get someone else to make the sign for me so that i have to just fit it and wire it up but the problem i have is i dont know how to tell the sign maker what it is i want, i can show him the design i have but then i need to tell him what type of lettering etc i need on the sign
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Royal Palace
Chinese Cuisine – Sushi – Tapan
Tel: 01876 234567
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16ft x 4ftIm wanting something like this but the first 2 lines need to be letters coming out and illuminated!!
or is it best if i just forward this to the company that can make this sign for me then just explain over the phone what it is i want?
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John, when I said to check that the customer had planning permission I only really meant that I would ask them. I wouldn’t ever get involved in the process as you say it wastes time which could be spent a lot more profitably.
I will however quite often explain to them what the council will generally allow and what they won’t as I feel that is to my benefit as well as the customers. -
quote Ali:well im wanting to get someone else to make the sign for me so that i have to just fit it and wire it up but the problem i have is i dont know how to tell the sign maker what it is i want, i can show him the design i have but then i need to tell him what type of lettering etc i need on the sign———————————————————————-
Royal Palace
Chinese Cuisine – Sushi – Tapan
Tel: 01876 234567
———————————————————————-
16ft x 4ftIm wanting something like this but the first 2 lines need to be letters coming out and illuminated!!
or is it best if i just forward this to the company that can make this sign for me then just explain over the phone what it is i want?
What you want to do is not hard IMO.
But, I’d send the whole thing off to a company that will do it for you this time, and explain it over the phone, better still, I’d see them personally as you be able to explain it better.
Paul did a demo of something similar some while back, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to see it, given you are not a member http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=17636
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ali, i dunno where you’re based, and it’s not something i could do for you anyways, many of us here would sub it,
a couple of places i know that’ll make it are graffitti design (GDI) in uckfield, east sussex, or i think sign2000 in paddock wood, near maidstone.
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Hi Ali,
I´m sure, if you show the artwork to the sign maker, every experienced built-up letters fabricator would have a suggestion for you, what type of lettering is the the best way to go.
We do a lot of lettering, so please let me give you some advices for installation. Sometimes, it can get very complicated to mount illuminated built-up letters. It is always a good idea, to consider the installation while making the artwork. Generally, the easiest way to install lettering is on a framework, but some artworks looks not that good with a framework, so an letter-by-letter on the wall installation is required. You also have to think about, how to hide the wiring. The installation of lettering takes a lot of time. In example, an installation of an light box 360×60 CM in elevation max. 4 M takes at most 2 hours. But the same sign as lettering affords at least 5-6 hours, when everything works fine.
If you have any questions, I will try to response.
quote Ali:well im wanting to get someone else to make the sign for me so that i have to just fit it and wire it up but the problem i have is i dont know how to tell the sign maker what it is i want, i can show him the design i have but then i need to tell him what type of lettering etc i need on the sign———————————————————————-
Royal Palace
Chinese Cuisine – Sushi – Tapan
Tel: 01876 234567
———————————————————————-
16ft x 4ftIm wanting something like this but the first 2 lines need to be letters coming out and illuminated!!
or is it best if i just forward this to the company that can make this sign for me then just explain over the phone what it is i want?
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