With the price of gas today, you probably start calculating how much every car or truck trip will cost you before even stepping out of the door. We’re here to help you turn that around so you can start estimating how much money each vehicle ride is going to make your local business.
Car and truck door magnet signs are an easy way to advertise your business while you’re out and about, just doing what you do. Go to the grocery store…get some new customers. Take the kids to school…get some new customers.
We’ve all seen them; on the pizza delivery man’s car, the local contractor’s van door, and maybe even the neighborhood real estate agent. Vehicle magnet signs are everywhere, spreading the name and messages of local businesses as they travel to and from. One of the most affordable types of advertising, car magnets allow you to advertise your local business across larger distances without paying the high and recurring fees of running television, radio, or newspaper ads. Consider the ways car signs and magnets effectively advertise your business.
Establish a Company Presence
As a small or medium business, branding a company’s name in your local area is important for driving sales. Branding professionals have proven that consumers are more likely to use and recommend a brand if they know and trust that name when the time comes to make a purchase. In combination with that fact, we also know that building brand authority and credibility can be accomplished through the use of car magnet signage. Because car magnet signs allow your business name, logo, and phone number to become a common sight within your community, your business name becomes more credible simply because it is seen and known by more people.
Economical Advertising
Having an advertising plan is important for any business, regardless of what kind of marketing tactics are decided upon. In most cases, the more affordable the plan is, the higher the return that can be expected. While some businesses opt to purchase their employee’s company vehicles equipped with vinyl decals, this advertising route is unrealistic for several businesses. Because car magnets are budget-friendly advertising mediums that require no monthly upkeep, they make an excellent choice for small and medium businesses with a limited budget. Furthermore, their ability to be easily transferred from one vehicle to another makes them a preferred choice with businesses that rely on their employees to use personal vehicles during their shift.
Cover More Ground
While some people believe that only small and medium businesses use car magnets, let us assure you that even the largest corporations rely on them to promote their name over large distances. Limo services, large pizza chain operations, and many service-based companies alike rely on this effective advertising medium to move their business name effectively around town. While stationary signage (such as sidewalk signs, banners, and window decals) is usually limited to one specific location, car magnets are exposed to the public during traffic, while making a delivery, or simply commuting back to the office. Is your vehicle parked? Make sure to park so that people passing by can see your company’s information on the side of your vehicle. You are constantly advertising!
Wearing costumes and using labor to hold signage isn’t exactly new and groundbreaking advertising, but if you think about outdoor advertising, holding signs on the street corner isn’t far off from being a great idea. Especially if the sign spins.
The use of spinner signs has once again made street advertising a strong area to market from because of the ability to reach people at a busy intersection without having to pay the traditional cost of advertising. The skill and creativity of some involved in sign spinning have even sparked a World Championship for this talent.
There are a few things that should be considered when your company decides to implement spinner sign advertising:
Color and Text Size: With all of the spinning and turning, the message needs to be easily seen and eye-catching.
Keep it Simple: The message should be short and sweet. Get to the point.
Double Sided: Utilize both sides of the spinner, offsetting colors to catch the attention of travelers.
Safety: Ensure the spinner sign is not too heavy or cumbersome for the handler. You don’t wish to incur any injuries.
Even in the digital age, the thought and expense of deploying sign spinners can be a productive venture for your company. Potential customers can pass by and experience an emotional response to the talents of the spinner, while combining that with a message about your business, resulting in a stronger bond to the message itself. Are you ready for new customers? Advertise with a spin!
Nine Ways Signs are Impacting Political Campaigns at All Levels
Every year it seems like more and more people are becoming politically active. As the number of political movements grows, campaign managers must step up their advertising efforts to keep from being drowned out by the crowd. These individuals are busy planning events, organizing rallies, and getting the word out about their campaign, so any advertising help they can get is helpful.
Campaign signs are one of the best ways to spread the word about a campaign without spending too much time and effort on advertising. While a good campaign needs to advertise across a broad range of channels, even the slightest increase in visibility can give them a competitive edge. There are many ways to use a campaign sign that can help boost the performance of a larger initiative.
Local Politics
National elections draw a lot of attention, but local politics is where voters can make the biggest difference. Using a campaign sign to encourage voters to participate in their local government can help unify the community and bring power back to the hands of the people.
National Elections
If there’s one thing that recent elections have taught Americans, it is the power of grassroots political campaigns. Getting media attention during a presidential election is challenging for less well-known politicians. Campaign signs can help put their name in front of thousands daily with minimal effort.
Ballot Initiatives
Ballot initiatives are an important way for citizens to get an issue on the ballot during the next election. These initiatives require many signatures before they can be brought to a vote. Campaign signs can direct citizens to a website to read about the initiative and sign their names.
Judicial Elections
In several jurisdictions, judges are appointed to an office by a popular vote. Whether they run a campaign to be newly elected or keep their office, campaign signs can increase awareness of their campaign and encourage voters to support them.
School Board Elections
In most cities, members of the board of education are elected into their position. The number of people that run for these seats can be overwhelming, making it difficult for a candidate to stand out. A well-designed campaign sign can help a candidate get the public’s attention, giving them a competitive edge over others.
Law Enforcement Elections
Some law enforcement positions rely on an election to determine who fills them, such as the Sheriff and Chief of Police. Individuals who want these positions have to run aggressive campaigns to win over the public. Campaign signs can help these individuals get publicity and encourage voters to vote in their favor.
As Part of an SMS Marketing Campaign
SMS marketing strategies use 5-digit shortcodes to encourage individuals to opt-in to a marketing campaign. This is more effective than email marketing, making SMS marketing a huge asset to politicians running for office. Rather than send emails that are never read, candidates can use campaign signs printed with the shortcode on it to encourage citizens to receive text messages directly from their campaign.
Solicit Donations
Campaigns rely heavily on donations from the people that support them. Soliciting donations from these individuals often involves various tactics, including fundraising events and social media advertising. Campaign signs can be printed with information on where to send donations, giving campaign managers a passive way to solicit donations from the public.
Raise Awareness About a Cause
Most political campaigns are built upon a specific cause, such as climate change or equal rights. Individuals who feel passionately about a cause and are part of an organization to address it can use campaign signs to increase public awareness. These signs are viewed by thousands of people each day with minimal effort.
Raising awareness about a campaign is integral to getting a person elected to office or getting an issue onto a voting ballot. The number of candidates from which to choose can be overwhelming, which discourages many voters from engaging. Campaign signs passively raise awareness about a campaign so voters become familiar with the cause and are more likely to support it.
A magnetic car sign is a versatile advertisement generally made from vinyl and, instead of being backed with an adhesive, is backed with a magnet. These signs often attach advertisements or messages to vehicles without permanently attaching the sign. This helps to preserve the vehicle’s paint and allows the user to add and remove the signs whenever they would like. Many companies love these advertisements because of the opportunity it gives them to quickly and effectively spread the word of their business throughout the entire neighborhood. These mobile signs are a great alternative to some of the more expensive forms of advertisement.
There are many different ways that magnetic car signs can be used. Because of their unique properties, they are extraordinarily versatile. Here are four different ways that magnetic car signs can be used to enhance businesses.
Car Magnets for Political Campaigns
Running for a campaign can be an extremely stressful time. Candidates have a limited amount of time and certainly a limited amount of resources. They must find creative ways to get their name recognized without spending a lot of money. Car magnets are a great way for candidates to advertise their campaigns wherever they drive around the neighborhood. These signs can be attached to any car and will be used advertising anywhere that the car drives. This is proven to help in gaining name recognition as well as reminding individuals in the community that an election is on the horizon. All of these factors can contribute to gaining more votes for the candidate. Car magnets are also much more affordable than other advertisements, such as on television or radio.
Mobile Magnetic Signs for Local Real Estate Pros
Car magnets are a wonderful way not only to advertise a real estate business but also to serve as a mobile billboard to advertise specific properties. These are ideal because they can be exchanged as often as needed without causing any damage to the vehicle. They also come at affordable prices that don’t strain the budget. These signs have the potential to match prospective homeowners with the perfect properties as they see these updates posted on the vehicle next to the information of the realtor.
Advertise Local Businesses with Car or Truck Magnets
Small businesses can be difficult to advertise. Whether it is a small clothing boutique, a music lesson studio, a dog walking service, or a bakery, getting the word out can be a challenge. However, a car magnet can provide a colorful and striking advertisement that catches the eyes of other drivers or pedestrians and encourages them to use these services. These signs are large enough to stand out, and they can be placed anywhere on the vehicle. Their mobility ensures that many people throughout the community will be aware of the business and contact it when they need that particular service.
These signs are a perfect solution for contractor businesses. Landscaping, roof repair, painting, plumbing, and handyman businesses often use large vehicles from which they operate. Vans, trucks, and other vehicles house tools and are an important part of the business. Therefore, it can be crucial also to include a sign on the outside both to advertise and to make the vehicle easy to identify. Instead of applying a permanent solution such as adhesive signage or paint, a magnetic sign can give the same professional effect.
Thinking Outside the Box/Car
These are some of the most common uses for magnetic car signs, but these signs can be used for other creative purposes. Because they can adhere to any smooth, steel surface, magnetic signs can be used in many other places as well. They can be used inside the business for announcements or advertisements that are regularly changed. For example, they can display a variable menu in a restaurant. On a steel surface, a worker only needs to peel off the sign and replace it with another. They can be used to advertise opening hours or provide after-hours information outside of a business. They can also be displayed on buses or other public places such as steel park benches, trash cans, or any other smooth steel surface.
The uses of magnetic signs are seemingly endless. Although they are most often used to advertise a real estate business, contracting business, or small business on a vehicle, they have many other uses as well. Their affordability, attractiveness, and versatility make them the perfect solution for almost every advertising need.
Could custom yard signs be the missing link when it comes to publicizing your next big event? With yard signs, you can quickly and easily create a customized message that will resonate with potential attendees – but only if they’re carefully planned and designed correctly!
It’s not just what kind of signs you use or where they’re installed – EVERYTHING matters, including when you order them, what they look like, and how you install them. We have some tried and true tips explained below that will help you find “sign success” for your next event.
When to Order Your Custom Yard Signs
The most important part of throwing a good event is planning. That’s why you should order yard signs at least one month before your event (or as soon as possible). While this might seem like an unnecessarily long period of time, many things can happen between now and then. Typical sign production at our shop can take around five business days, and we’re much faster than most. Then, you should expect to add another 2-4 days for shipping. Even if you don’t have this kind of lead time, make sure you don’t put off ordering your signs until the last minute. Rush jobs always add stress and cost to the project and you might end up with a sign that says “Hapy Graduation” (even though our design team prides itself on its incredible attention to detail).
Where to Place Your Yard Signs
Audiences require convenience, so your event signage must accurately and simply direct guests to the intended location. It’s a poor strategy to have guests getting lost or meandering around the countryside – and this is especially true if they’re a necessary part of the event.Signage should be placed in a yard or along roadside corners to be seen without obstructing traffic.
Use Common Sense and Obey Local Regulations
When posting yard signs on someone else’s property, asking landowners politely can go a long way – especially if you throw in an invitation to the event.
When you receive your yard signs, be respectful of where you place them. You want to place your custom yard signs on a busy thoroughfare or corner, but not if it’s along a high-speed highway, on-ramps, off-ramps, or utility poles. Sign placement might be allowed on state and county roads, so long as they don’t create traffic hazards or block traffic and stop lights.
Even if you want to post a sign in your own yard for a short while, be sure to check local ordinances regarding sizes and quantities of signs. You wouldn’t want an unpleasant encounter with law enforcement, so always consult the appropriate authorities before posting anything.
When Should I Place My Yard Signs Outside?
When to place event signs depends largely on the type and location of the event. If you’re hosting a political fundraiser, a good rule is to place event-specific and standard campaign signs outside about two weeks before the event, then take them down within 24 hours.
Two weeks typically provide enough advance notice for attendees to clear their schedules. Be sure to record where all of your signs are placed since having old signs perched around town is a poor sign of organization.
Lawn Signs for Closed Events
For events that are closed to the public (like graduation parties and weddings), signs can be placed 1-3 days beforehand. It’s assumed that guests have invitations and directions, but big directional signs can be extremely helpful for getting folks where they need to go.
Make Sure You Have the Right Signage
Yard signs are an affordable, highly visual opportunity to promote nearly any event, including:
With nearly unlimited options to channel your creative side, it’s important to match an event’s advertising with its personality. So how do you do it?
How to Make Your Own Yard Sign
Our super cheap yard signsoffer flexible designs and durable materials to get your event the publicity it needs. Start with our straightforward online ordering process – you’ll create your custom yard sign in minutes.
Stay organized and plan to make your event a hit.
Join the thousands of businesses that trust Super Cheap Signs for their signage needs. See why we’re the go-to choice for affordable, eye-catching signs. Explore our store page today!
You might be wondering what the best material is for your next sign. Well, there are plenty of options available to you, and aluminum seems like a popular one – so why not take advantage? Super Cheap Signs has everything from high-quality signs made with this sturdy metal down to affordable kits that let anyone create their own custom message without breaking into a sweat or spending too much money!
The durability of aluminum is one reason it’s such an ideal material for signs. Signs constructed from this metal can withstand even the most extreme conditions with no problem!
For example, if your outdoor sign has to stand up to harsh weather — like extreme heat, snow, or rain — then nothing survives and thrives like aluminum. Make sure your signs look great for years by using durable .040 gauge sheet aluminum.
Aluminum is the most cost-effective material for making signs and awnings. With proper care, it can easily outlive other materials like plastic or wood by being both lightweight and durable in nature! Signage made from this metal typically has an affordable price tag compared to its longevity which may surprise some people who expect them to be not only expensive but also disposable after just one use
Does Printing a Sign on Metal Affect the Way it Looks?
Just because aluminum is affordable does not mean it is cheap quality. In this regard, aluminum keeps costs down while conveying the utmost professionalism. That’s because people typically associate metal finishes with class and expertise. Metal lends an air of permanence to the sign and the company behind it.
Aluminum Is Versatile
It’s hard to find a material that can be used outdoors and inside the building. But aluminum is perfect for all sorts of applications, making it an excellent choice compared to other materials like wood or PVC!
These three options might seem like they have similar properties – but there are some major drawbacks associated with each when compared to aluminum. For example: PVC will bend in high winds, and wood will eventually rot if exposed to rain and snow, but Aluminium retains structural integrity even after being subjected to wet and windy weather, which makes it invaluable for permanent, outdoor signage applications.
Aluminum Can Be Customized
Another reason aluminum is amazing is its ability to be customized to your specific needs. For example, it can be printed in a full array of colors, allowing your message to stand out the way you designed it. You can even cut the aluminum into a custom size, giving you plenty of room to impart a little personality to your signage.
When you work with Super Cheap Signs to create your signage online, you will achieve a thorough understanding of how your sign and associated print will withstand the external environment, including excessive exposure to rain and sunlight. You can also get an idea of how your signs will look in shaded conditions, under direct sunlight, and in the context of divergent color palettes.
When customizing your signage, it is important to remember that the result needs to be readable, so don’t get too carried away with the aesthetic side of things. The seasoned professionals at Super Cheap Signs are more than capable of helping you decide on a layout that will work better in terms of visibility and readability. Additionally, they will help you identify what size works best for your specific application and budgetary needs.
To review, aluminum is one of the most popular materials in the sign industry for the following reasons:
Durability
Affordability
Versatility
Elegance
Ability to be customized
Professional look and feel
Now that we have expounded on aluminum’s most desirable properties, let’s explore its appearance a little more in-depth.
Standard aluminum signs sport an iconic, professional look that renders them ideal for business solutions, construction sites, parking lots, and even homes. So if you are looking for something tried and true, this is the best path forward. Regarding holding the print, standard aluminum supports high-quality UV inks, such as those offered by Super Cheap Signs.
Our standard aluminum signage is printed in matte, giving you plenty of options regarding the overall look and feel. When printed, they are much more vivid than standard signs.
It is a good idea to consider where your sign will be located. As noted, standard aluminum is ideal for indoor and outdoor use. So, if you need something that can function as a sign and decorum, a standard aluminum sign will suit you just fine.
Standard aluminum is durable and does not require any extra coatings. That said, you can certainly anodize them if you please. Doing so will help prevent staining and guard against fingerprints.
Your sign will be exposed to daily elements like rain, mud, dust, and bird droppings. You want your aluminum signage to last as long as possible; after all, that’s why you pick aluminum over other available types. So how should you clean and care for your sign? Simply use a mixture of water and light soap, and your sign will be as bright as when it was first purchased. Be sure not to use anything stronger, as some abrasive materials might scratch the metal or damage the print. Always dry the sign with a soft cotton towel after a good wash. Care for your investment by cleaning it regularly. Your aluminum sign is there to work for you.
When you purchase your signage, you will need something to support it. Fortunately, Super Cheap Signs has a vast array of sign accessories sure to meet your needs. Whether your application requires metal frames, plastic frames, or sign riders, Super Cheap Signs has all that and more.
Plastic and steel sign frames are ideal for prolonged outdoor exposure since they are much more rigid and will protect your sign better, helping it to last longer. If you are needing a little extra sturdiness, 72” U-channel posts are perfect. Their tapered ends facilitate expedient installation without needing digging, and their hole-per-inch design means you will not have to struggle to make any adjustments. The black steel yard sign frames are perfect for use with aluminum signs, providing two pre-drilled holes for adding a bottom rider sign. If you need something more lightweight, plastic frames made of high-grade engineered polyethylene provide durability without the fear of rusting. These plastic frames hold an 18” H x 24” W sign and 6” H x 24” W rider sign, making them perfect for Real Estate signs and other uses.
Our Promise to the Customer
Super Cheap Signs products are manufactured in the United States and are shipped directly to you at an economical rate and quick delivery time. Do you still have questions? Please contact Super Cheap Signs today at 512-833-9900 or online. Ready to purchase? Use our Builder to start your custom order today!
In addition to their affordability, yard signs are both lightweight and portable. With this in mind, it’s no wonder why they are so popular with both large and small businesses alike. That’s because no matter the size of the business, yard signs are an excellent means of capturing the attention of anyone who passes by.
However, while yard signs do contain a ton of potential, there are other factors you need to consider to amplify their effectiveness. After all, a sign without a coherent strategy isn’t all that effective, is it? So before you spend so much as a dime, ensure that the text you are using is proportional to the overall size of the sign and the distance of visibility you hope to achieve. Additionally, make sure your color scheme is simplistic and straightforward to capture the maximum amount of attention.
Needless to say, yard signs can be appropriated for various uses and applications. To help give you a better idea of potential uses, here is a list of 10 creative ways to use yard signs.
1. Yard Signs Are Ideal For Home Businesses
Working from home comes with distinct advantages—unfortunately, crowds are not one of them. While most businesses attract a decent amount of foot traffic, working from home may mean you are tucked away from all the action. However, a cleverly placed yard sign will ensure that you can capture a sizable customer base by appealing to them as they drive by. It will also attract the attention of your neighbors and any visitors they may have.
When placing a yard sign in front of your home, check local ordinances, as you may be able to carry out some tricks that will give you another leg up on the competition. For example, you may be able to place a few signs at the end of your block, cul-de-sac, or even at an intersection. Even better, yard signs are inherently mobile and can be moved wherever you desire.
2. Raise Awareness For Nonprofit Organizations
As far as your nonprofit organization is concerned, yard signs make it that much easier to make an impact. Whether you aim to point people towards a secure donation box or initiate a dialog with one of your representatives, yard signs work best when erected in high-traffic areas with ample visibility. To further inspire people, you could even include some of your talking points and desired results or explain more about how donations will be used. However, you should be cautious of cluttering your sign too much, as doing so could drive people away. What better way to raise awareness for a particular cause than with a yard sign? Placing a sign in your yard is a great way to compel your neighbors to do the same, which will only serve to further amplify awareness and rally even more people around the cause. Just be sure your sign contains a concise summary of the objective, as well as legible contact information so anyone wishing to obtain additional information can do so.
3. Ever Thought Of Using A Yard Sign For A QR Code?
This one is a little more esoteric but is becoming more imperative by the day. Yard signs are great for displaying QR codes. Simply use an online generator to create your code, print it to a sign, then place that sign in your yard. If programmed correctly, the QR code should link to a page that will enable you to provide potential clients with more information, as well as monitor the effectiveness of your yard sign.
4. Give Your Political Campaign An Extra Edge
When it comes to political campaigns, name recognition is essential. This is precisely why you see so many political campaign signs pop up as election day gets closer and closer. Indeed, these yard signs have become essential to running an effective political campaign. So if you are planning on using a yard sign to raise awareness about a campaign or cause, be sure they include the name of the candidate or cause, as well as all necessary information required to make an informed decision when it comes time to vote.
5. Promote School Fundraisers Throughout Your School District
Do you or your children have a school-related fundraiser coming up? This is the perfect time to place an attractive yard sign on every street. Regardless of whether your fundraiser is a one-off or recurring event, a few cleverly placed yard signs are sure to lure many prospective customers.
6. Buy and Sell More Real Estate
Yard signs are perfect for real estate companies looking to raise awareness about specific properties available for sale or lease. However, you may have noticed that they are quite overused. With this in mind, your sign must stand apart from the competition, at least if you want to capture a decent share of the market. Here is a short list of effective tips, followed by more comprehensive descriptions:
Conceive a creative color scheme
Make sure your yard sign has a distinctive shape
Use an effective tagline
Affix a brochure that customers can use to glean more information
When it comes to color schemes, don’t be afraid to take the time to decide exactly what works best for you. Changes may be dictated by demographic preferences as well as natural surroundings. A good rule of thumb is to notice what colors are popular within your area, ascertain the reasons why then implement them into your own designs where applicable.
As far as selecting a distinctive shape is concerned, make sure to choose something that the surrounding area does not see every day. A sign with abstract dimensions that simultaneously provides extra room for additional graphics, text, or negative space will help underscore your brand. However, be careful not to clutter your sign with too much information, as this will detract rather than attract. Additionally, try to focus on a single unifying message that will simultaneously entice buyers and push your brand.
Yard signs and taglines go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just be sure to take the time to craft an effective tagline rather than rushing through it just to get your sign-up. Keeping your primary goal and focus at the forefront of your mind will help you assemble the perfect text.
Finally, attaching a brochure box will enable prospective buyers to find more information about the property, as well as obtain an efficient means of contacting you.
7. Personalized Yard Signs for Parties And Other Celebrations
Make your next social gathering a smash with a personalized sign. No matter whether the event is a birthday party or that pool party you’ve been waiting for all summer, a prominent yard sign will ensure that your guests will know where the party is at. If your event is reasonably large or located in a hidden place, you may want to consider purchasing multiple signs with different instructions on how to navigate the area. Additionally, you could use signs to direct guests to key areas such as restrooms, trash receptacles, and food stations. Think back to your own childhood experiences on days like Easter. Wouldn’t an egg hunt have been much more fun with a couple of creative signs? In addition to informing people about the celebration in the first place, a few well-placed yard signs will result in even more fun. Just think about how you could confuse people or give understated hints about the location of specific eggs.
8. Yard Signs to Help Recruit the Best Employees
If you are a business owner looking for a way to accelerate your hiring process, look no further than a few yard signs. Placing a few of these puppies here and there will promote more visibility than other forms of signage and give you more control over how your message is displayed. Before printing your sign, consider what questions potential employees may ask, such as those pertaining to wages and hours, and be sure to include them in the text.
9. Conventions, Conferences, and Other Large Events
Even if the concert or convention you are promoting has been sold out for months, it never hurts to have a little more signage here and there. While signs can certainly raise awareness about an upcoming event, they can accomplish much more.
For example, in the case of a sold-out event, a prominently placed sign is the perfect way to direct the crowd to essential stations, such as restrooms, food, designated exits, will-call, and ride-share pickup locations, and much more. You can even tell people where not to go using signs with messages such as “Keep Out” or “Restricted Access.” The possibilities are virtually endless.
10. Spread Your Own Personal Brand of Joy in a Troubled World
What if you just want to place a sign in your yard because you feel like it? Nowadays, we are so bombarded with sales and related messaging (not to mention divisive political ads) that we forget life is supposed to be fun. Bring some much-needed cheer into your neighborhood with a random sign that conveys a funny or sentimental message that will brighten everyone’s day and bring us closer together.
No matter the use, or whether you opted for I-frame or wire stakes frames, a tactfully placed yard sign is sure to get the point across. As with any public display, be sure to check with local authorities regarding specific rules governing signage. Doing so will help you avoid any unwanted confrontations.
Depending on the intended use, you may want to consider one of the following: ordering multiple copies of a single design or ordering multiple copies of several unique designs. Multiple copies of a single sign are great for handing out to friends and neighbors, but they could cause people to overlook the message if too many are placed in the same vicinity. On the other hand, ordering several unique signs gives you the option of diversifying your message to yield a much higher return.
Making an effective yard sign is more tedious than one would probably think. First, you need a design or an image you want to put on a sign. Afterward, you will need to make a stencil for that image; that alone is a multi-step process. Furthermore, the stencil gets matched with a piece of corrugated plastic, so the design registers correctly with a blank sign. We’ll take some ink and transfer the image onto the corrugated plastic. Finally, you have to let the ink cure for a long-lasting, permanent finish that will stand up to any elements and conditions it may be up against. Now that you’ve done all the hard work, you’ll have a high-quality and durable plastic sign ready to start working for you.
Making a Yard Sign Stencil
Let’s back up and start from the beginning once you choose a design or image you want to use for your business advertisement or campaign sign, it’s time to make a transfer film. This film, in essence, is the negative image of your sign. With the film made, we take it to a dark room and transfer it to a silk screen that has already been coated with emulsion. The emulsion is a photo-sensitive material that comes in the form of a liquid. It’s extremely viscous and needs to have sensitizer added to it. This process makes the emulsion photo-sensitive. Take the mixed emulsion and add a very thin coat to the screen; wait for it to dry. The screen is now stencil-ready.
We take the film from earlier, place it on an exposure table, and then cover it with the prepared screen. Go ahead and fire up that exposure table so it can begin to emit ultraviolet light. Some emulsion on the screen will come into contact with that UV light. As a reaction, those areas of emulsion get trapped on the screen. The film blocks out the rest of the light from touching the rest of the emulsion. For about 30 seconds, we wait for the UV light to do its thing.
Time to rinse. Remove the screen from the exposure table for this next part. Hit the screen with water, and the unexposed emulsion should fall right out. This works best with pressurized water. Once you’ve gotten the image rinsed out, you’re left with the stencil that will be used for making the actual yard sign. Again, it needs to dry.
Now we’re ready for printing. From here, we put the stencil onto a printing press or printing table and firmly secure it. This will stop the screen from moving during the printing process. Now we have to register a blank sign under your stencil, then add some ink. This is usually UV ink, so it will last longer outdoors. Next, you will have a squeegee that swipes the ink through the entire image from top to bottom. If done correctly, you now have a freshly printed yard sign with wet ink. The final step is to leave your sign out to dry, or you can cure it quickly with direct exposure to sunlight.
This is just one description of how the screen printing process can be done; however, there are multiple ways of accomplishing the same task. Here at Super Cheap Signs, we use automated presses to do the same thing and achieve a higher level of productivity. Hopefully, this helps give a better understanding of how an idea turns into something that can be showcased for all to appreciate.
