1" PVC Work for this Sign?

[RossMosh]

I have my first sign project for a paying customer and I'm second thinking my material selection. Originally I spec'd out 1" white Komacel PVC 40"w x 27"h. I liked it because it would finish quickly and easily and it's durable and stable. I wanted to keep my problems to a minimum and the customer didn't want to spend a lot for a sign. Now my normal distributor doesn't have it in stock and won't for about a week or two, which puts it close to my deadline.

So I have a few options.

1. Luckily I have another distributor close by that has the 1" Komacel in stock. I can just order it and move on with my life.
2. My normal distributor also has 1" Ex-Cel PVC in stock. I never looked into it so I have no idea if it's comparable to Komacel.
3. The last choice is just go with 15lb Duna HDU. I know it's a bit more work to finish and a bit more temperamental with mounting, but this sign is simple enough where it shouldn't become a real issue.

Opinions or suggestions?

[joe]

Ross,

I'd like to make a suggestion or two on your first commercial work.

Either material, PVC or HDU are good choices. How are you going to finish the panel and what routing technique will be used? Are the letters raised or incised?

While the panel shape gets a C+, the layout on the copy needs some help. The way it is now Boaring! It looks as if you just set Times Roman and left it there, all the same size and weight. For the sake of others on the forum, lets see if there aren't other options.

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com

[RossMosh]

Ross,

I'd like to make a suggestion or two on your first commercial work.

Either material, PVC or HDU are good choices. How are you going to finish the panel and what routing technique will be used? Are the letters raised or incised?

While the panel shape gets a C+, the layout on the copy needs some help. The way it is now Boaring! It looks as if you just set Times Roman and left it there, all the same size and weight. For the sake of others on the forum, lets see if there aren't other options.

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com

Assuming I stick with PVC, the idea was Zinnser primer, Sherwin Williams Latex paint, mask with Gerber Yellow, carve/cut, spray White Gloss Krylon Fusion paint for the letters, and paint the sides.

The technique is a simple v-carve for 90% of the sign. I planned on using a 120deg 2" V bit. The CPNJ top part will be pocketed with raised letters. I haven't 100% decided how I'm going to do that top section. The letters are supposed to be purple so I'm thinking of doing something with laser cut painted acrylic.

As for the layout, I agree with a lot of your criticism. Some of the reasoning is intentional and some if it is just due to the limitations of my design ability. The sign is going on a house for those with cerebral palsy. I wanted the sign to be easy to read from a distance and from up close. They wanted the sign to be "medium sized" and they really liked that panel design. Originally it was only 2 lines of text but then it was expanded to 3. I couldn't find a way to change emphasis on one line vs the other without throwing off the balance of the sign or making the certain lines difficult to read from the street/driveway. Also, I was given the impression that the donor felt all of the lines were equally important. Lastly, the client seems to prefer signs like this. We've done various signs for them in the past and they've preferred this simpler style. Now I'll be the first to admit, we're not feeding them the most creative work in the world as a counter balance, but any time we take a step in the other direction, they prefer the original direction.

Hopefully next time I'll get a B-.

[joe]

Ross,

It seems you and the client are satisfied.

There are the Principals of Design, like Unity, Dominance, Variety, Magnetism, etc. Every good sign falls in with these rules. The client doesn't know anything about them or how they are applied. Of the eight, there are three fundamental rules violated. If you're happy, so am I.

If you have mercy on the client, never use Krylon on anything permanent.

Always set the type first. Make the panel fit the copy. It's liberating and gives you lots of options to make the sign more readable.


Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com

[RossMosh]

Happy and satisfied are two words that are hard to use in this industry. I'm positive the sign design could be better. I was simply stating where I was coming from and why various decisions were made.

Next time I'll try starting with the typeset and then fit the panel to that.

[Rob Gunn]

Ross, PVC would work just fine. This is a sign we just finished a few weeks ago and it was 1" PVC. I cut it with a 120 deg v-bit.