A sign in the window of a business can be one of the most valuable attributes to get clients in the door. A well-made sign reflects the theme of a business and what is being offered. Hand-painted signs date back hundreds of years. By choosing a theme, font, color scheme and shape of the sign, a completely original design can set a business apart from all competitors. Painted signs also are an attractive way to display a name or coat of arms at the entrance of a house or on a bedroom door.
Wood
Choose plywood at least 1/4 inch thick. Masonite, which is compressed wood, is easy to find at an art store already cut down smaller sizes---perfect for sign making. Choose the shape and size of your sign. Usually lumberyards will offer to cut wood down into squares and rectangles. Sometimes they may charge a small amount per cut.
The wood should be smooth to the touch before painting. Prime the wood with a prime coat or gesso from either a paint store or art store. This should be weather resistant and get rid of unwanted insects that may inhabit the wood.
Fonts, Logos and Color
If you already have a logo, print it out to the actual size that you will want it to appear on the sign. A copy shop can help to enlarge the image. Choose a logo that suits what the message is that is trying to be conveyed. Imagine what that logo will look like when shrunk down to the size of a postage stamp. If it cannot be read or understood that small, consider choosing another logo or reducing the information in the image.
Fonts should be easy to read from a distance. San-serif fonts or bold letter fonts are good choices. There are thousands of fonts to choose from that can be downloaded for free from the Internet. The font should relate in feeling to your logo to make a cohesive statement.
Colors are a significant part of making a sign. They evoke emotion that can draw attention. Blue is a calming color and is often seen used at seaside shops. Red is a bold color and oftentimes is trying grab attention. Green is peaceful and used oftentimes by spas. Complementary colors create a "Pop Art" feel to a sign and can be seen from far distances. Consider making your sign two complementary colors; red and green, orange and blue, or purple and yellow.
Acrylic paint is good for indoor or outdoor use and is less expensive than purchasing house paint. If your sign is in a heavily trafficked area or will easily be damaged by sun or rain, consider all-weather house paint from a hardware store.
Transfer
A simple method to transfer computer printed information onto a sign is to coat the back of your printout with colored chalk, powdered graphite or charcoal. Put the printout face up on the sign, the same way it will appear when painted. Trace the photocopy with a sharp pencil, outlining the logo and all of the text on the photocopy. The result will be a fine outline on the primed sign. At this point, carefully paint in all of the information.
For signs that will remain indoors, they do not require a top coat of paint. For signs that will be affected by light and weather, consider an acrylic topcoat to go over water-based paint. Topcoats can be found at either hardware stores or art stores.
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