Tag: Sign Fabrication

What Materials Are Commonly Used in Sign Fabrication and Which Is Right for Your Brand?

Technician fabricating custom channel letters for a high-visibility storefront sign

For discerning business owners, a sign isn’t just about showing your name; it’s a critical part of your brand identity, a silent salesperson, and a long-term investment. When seeking specialized and high-quality signage, understanding the materials used in sign fabrication is crucial. The right material not only impacts the look and feel of your sign but also its durability, maintenance, and ultimate effectiveness in representing your brand.

Comparing Popular Sign Fabrication Materials: Aluminum, Acrylic, PVC, and More

The world of sign fabrication offers a diverse palette of materials, each with unique characteristics:

Stylish custom business sign, demonstrating expert sign fabrication using premium materials for a modern, branded look. — Sign fabrication involves selecting the right materials and techniques to create durable, high-quality signs that align with your brand’s visual identity.

Aluminum: A powerhouse in sign fabrication, aluminum is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and incredibly durable. It’s often used for outdoor signs due to its weather resilience, offering a sleek, modern, or industrial aesthetic. It can be painted, powder-coated, or have graphics applied. Its stability makes it ideal for larger signs, channel letters, and monument signs.
Acrylic (Plexiglas): Known for its versatility and vibrant appearance, acrylic is a thermoplastic often used for illuminated signs, dimensional letters, and indoor displays. It’s lightweight, shatter-resistant (safer than glass), and comes in a wide range of colors and opacities. Acrylic can be easily cut, routed, and thermoformed, allowing for intricate designs and a high-gloss finish.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): A rigid, lightweight, and economical plastic, PVC is excellent for indoor and short-term outdoor signs. It’s easy to cut, print on, and paint, making it versatile for intricate shapes and detailed graphics. PVC is resistant to moisture and many chemicals, but it can warp in extreme heat and is not as durable for long-term outdoor exposure as aluminum or acrylic.
Dibond (Aluminum Composite Material – ACM): This material consists of two thin sheets of aluminum bonded to a solid polyethylene core. Dibond is incredibly rigid, flat, and weather-resistant, making it perfect for large outdoor signs, facade signs, and architectural applications. It offers a premium, smooth surface for graphics and often outperforms solid aluminum in terms of flatness for large panels.
Wood: For a classic, rustic, or artisanal feel, wood (cedar, redwood, MDO plywood) offers natural beauty. It can be carved, sandblasted, painted, or stained. While beautiful, wood requires more maintenance (sealing, repainting) to withstand the elements, especially in harsh climates.

How to Match Sign Materials with Your Business Goals and Environment

Choosing the right material isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about strategic alignment with your brand and environment:

Brand Image: Modern/High-Tech: Aluminum, acrylic, or Dibond with sleek finishes.
Traditional/Classic: Wood with carved elements or brass/bronze metals.
Vibrant/Dynamic: Backlit acrylic or highly customizable PVC.
Location (Indoor vs. Outdoor):Outdoor: Prioritize durability and weather resistance. Aluminum, Dibond, and certain grades of acrylic are ideal. Consider UV stability to prevent fading.
Indoor: You have more flexibility. PVC, thinner acrylics and even some wood options are suitable, as they won’t face harsh elements.

Visibility & Illumination: If your sign needs to be lit, acrylic is often the go-to for channel letters and lightboxes. Other materials can be externally lit with spotlights.
Budget: While you’re seeking high quality, materials vary in cost. PVC is generally more economical, while large Dibond signs can be a higher investment.
Maintenance: Consider how much upkeep you’re willing to do. Aluminum and Dibond are generally low maintenance, whereas wood requires regular sealing.
Longevity: For a long-term investment, materials like aluminum and Dibond offer superior lifespan and resistance to wear.

To discuss which sign fabrication materials are ideal for your specific business goals and environment, reach out to BSC Signs. We’re here to craft signage that truly stands out.

Sign Fabrication

Beyond the Expected: Exploring Innovative Materials & Techniques in Sign Fabrication

A well-crafted sign is a business’s first impression, and in today’s competitive landscape, that impression needs to be unforgettable. Sign fabrication has undergone a remarkable transformation, with advancements in technology and materials unlocking a world of possibilities for businesses to create captivating and effective signage.

Cutting-Edge Materials in Modern Sign Fabrication

Close-up of a custom sign showcasing innovative materials and advanced sign fabrication techniques — A stunning example of cutting-edge sign fabrication, blending unique materials and modern techniques to create an eye-catching display

The materials used in sign fabrication have undergone a remarkable transformation. From traditional options to cutting-edge innovations, businesses now have a vast array of choices to suit their unique needs and aesthetic preferences.

Sustainable Materials: Eco-friendly materials like recycled aluminum, bamboo, and sustainable acrylic are gaining popularity, aligning with the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility.
High-Definition Plastics: These durable and versatile materials offer exceptional print quality and clarity, making them ideal for vibrant and eye-catching signs.
LED Technology: Beyond traditional lighting, LED technology has revolutionized sign illumination, offering energy efficiency, durability, and customizable lighting effects.
Interactive Materials: Touchscreen and interactive displays are transforming static signs into dynamic engagement tools, providing opportunities for interactive customer experiences.

Innovative Techniques Transforming Sign Design

In addition to material advancements, innovative techniques are reshaping the sign fabrication industry. These techniques enable businesses to create visually striking and impactful signs that stand out from the competition.

3D Printing: This technology allows for the creation of intricate and customized sign elements, offering endless possibilities for design and dimensionality.
Digital Printing: High-resolution digital printing has replaced traditional methods, providing unparalleled image quality and color accuracy.
Laser Cutting: Precise laser cutting enables the creation of complex shapes and designs, adding a level of sophistication to signs.
Illuminated Channel Letters: These signs combine the classic look of channel letters with modern LED technology, creating a captivating and eye-catching display.

By embracing these innovative materials and techniques, businesses can create signs that not only capture attention but also effectively communicate their brand message.

Are you looking to elevate your business with a truly exceptional sign? BSC Signs specializes in cutting-edge sign fabrication, combining creativity with expertise to deliver outstanding results. Contact us today to bring your vision to life.

Sign Fabrication

A Custom Lit Channel Sign Is The Ideal Building Sign

No one gets more excited about a custom lit channel sign than the BSC fabrication team. Channel letter signs are some of the most classic building signs for a business, regardless of industry. They are versatile, fully customizable, and allow your brand personality to shine. If you’re looking to grow and expand your business, talk to us about a custom lit channel sign.

The Benefits of a Custom Lit Channel Sign

We love a custom lit channel sign because it gives us multiple areas to be creative and tailor each sign to bring out your brand personality.

Elements to bring out brand personality:

Signature font and colors
Proportions and placement
Custom lighting

Capture Signature Brand Font and Colors

Channel letter signs are custom formed in our state-of-the-art facility, where we have the space to create large building signs for businesses and commercial establishments. We can make your brand larger than life, perfectly replicating your signature brand font and colors.

Similarly, we can color-match, increasing brand recognition and cohesion.

Proportions and Placement

Because each letter is individually formed, we can customize channel signs in shape, size, and proportions to flow with your building and storefront giving the most pleasing aesthetic. While most custom lit channel signs live on a building façade, we can also tailor channel signs to sit on top of an awning. Proportions and placement are significant players in the overall impact of a channel sign.

Custom Lit Channel Sign

Custom lighting is the main characteristic associated with a channel sign. There are several lighting styles:

Front-Lit
Reverse-Lit (Halo-Lit)
Combination
Open Face

Modern custom lit channel signs use LED lighting systems for cost, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. However, if an open-face lit channel sign is the right style for your brand, neon is typically the style of choice.

Work With BSC on Custom Lit Channel Signs to Grow Your Business

Our team will guide you from idea to installation. Contact us today to get started.

BSC SIGNS is an award-winning full-service licensed sign contractor and custom fabricator based in Broomfield, Colorado. We design, build, and install signage for businesses and organizations in Denver Metro, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and throughout Colorado and southern Wyoming.

Custom Exterior Business Signs Fabricated For Your Brand

Modern monument signs made from durable materials, showcasing clear and professional business branding

Your custom exterior business signs need to be designed and fabricated with your brand, goals, and customers in mind. There are many different types of exterior signs to choose from; finding the right style and then customizing it to represent your brand is what will set you apart from the competition. Some of the most common signs that businesses need to include, but are not limited to, storefront signs, monument signs, parking lot signs, wayfinding, and directional signs.

Design Tips for Custom Exterior Business Signs

Before you decide which signs are right, you need to clearly define your brand and the goals you want each sign to accomplish. For exterior signs, the main purpose is to attract the attention of your target audience and to guide them to your front door. Implementing a complete exterior sign strategy may require a number of signs acting as beacons and guideposts throughout the community and neighborhood. Putting yourself in the shoes of your customers will help us help you find the right signs to drive more traffic to your business. Here are a few tips that will help you determine the right custom exterior business signs you need to successfully grow your brand:

Identify Your Brand – Every sign should be customized to include brand identifiers (font, colors, logo, imagery) or to mirror other branding for consistency and recognition.
Identify Your Customers – Understanding your customers, where they are, and what they are drawn to will help you create signage that speaks to their lifestyle, likes, and needs.
Placement/Location – Understand what your customers need to find you and to get to your business. Signs should be placed in the right areas, creating touchpoints along the way so that you can seamlessly guide your customers.
Environment – The physical environment, whether it’s a free-standing monument sign, channel letters, pole sign, or building/wall sign, will have an impact on the design and materials we choose.

Custom Sign Fabrication

We look at each sign as a continuation of your brand story. Our design experts will help you fabricate a complete exterior signage strategy with the right signs to attract more customers and drive more traffic. Every brand is unique, and we want to find your uniqueness and highlight those qualities in every sign. We make your brand come to life and ensure that you look great in the local landscape. With a sign fabrication area of over 21,000 square feet, we can handle any signage project from idea to installation, ensuring that your brand makes the best impressions in the right places at the right times.

Channel Letters Custom Exterior Business Signs Exterior Signs Sign Fabrication