We talk to a lot of clients who have been asking themselves that same question: Now what? They know that they have a need for business signage, but they have no idea where to begin. This is where we come in! With some basic information, our talented team at 12-Point SignWorks can take your ideas and turn them into the sign of your dreams. Ok, maybe that's a bit grandiose; however, we will definitely turn those ideas into something high-quality and customized to fit your needs.

We fabricate and install everything from interior logo signs to exterior monument and building signs. If you have an idea - or even a crazy thought - let us know! We will do what we can to make even your most unique idea a signage reality.

As soon as you feel that need for a sign, we have some simple steps for you to take to begin the sign making process.

Know Your Surroundings

When you begin the sign making process, ask yourself these questions:

• Where will I hang my sign? Will it be inside or outside?
• What are the dimensions of the wall where my sign will hang?
• What are the approximate dimensions of the sign that I want?
• What type of wall do I have (drywall, masonry, stone, etc)?
• If it is drywall, what is the current paint color of the wall?  Will the paint color change before the sign is installed?
• How do I want to hang my sign?

The answers to these questions factor into the overall design of your sign. We will use the location of your sign to recommend specific materials. The dimensions assist us in using the proper scale so that your sign isn't too big or too small. The type and color of wall also play a part in the design of the sign and the colors that we suggest and use. We certainly don't want the sign to clash with your paint color!

How you want your sign to hang will tell us a lot about the style of your sign. Do you want it mounted away from the wall with standoffs, or do you want it flush against the wall? The Franklin Synergy Bank sign above gives an example of a sign installed on a stone wall with standoffs. (You can see five of the six standoffs in the photo.) The Russ Cook & Associates sign, however, includes individual dimensional copper letters and a separate etched copper plaque mounted directly onto the wall. 

Research Other Sign Styles and Materials

It helps us to know what type of signage catches your eye. Have you seen something around town that you like? Take a picture or two. Have you looked at the Products & Services on our website and our Project of the Week posts? Maybe something there will appeal to you. Our designers appreciate knowing what you are drawn to so that they can create proofs that fit your needs. It also saves us time when we have a better understanding of what you like.

We want to know if you have a preference for the materials used to make your sign. At 12-Point SignWorks, we fabricate signs from a variety of materials, including wood, plastics, acrylic and metals. Be prepared for us to make suggestions for using other materials on your sign. For example, you may want your sign to be made out of metal, but the weight of the sign and the overall cost may not fit your needs. We have other materials we can suggest that will still give the appearance of metal while being lighter and more cost effective.

We also need to know if you are trying to match other signs that exist in your office. If so, sending a photo will help us determine what we need to do to create a sign that blends with what you already have. 

Details, Details, and More Details

Haven't we asked for enough already? There are additional details that we will need before we can begin creating a proof for your sign. 

• Logo and/or text files. We need to know what information you want on your sign. Is it a logo sign? Please send us your logo! We need to have it in vector format to be able to create your sign with the best visual quality. If you are wondering what vector format means (and many people do), please read this blog post written by our very own Rich Novia. For a more informative sign, we need to see what text you want. Any details from font style to proper spelling will help us get a good start on laying out your sign.
• Budget amount. Your budget will tell us quite a bit about how we can make your sign. Fortunately, there are many materials out there that can create a specific 'look' to fit a variety of budgets.
• Specific colors. If your logo or text requires a specific color, please let us know. We will use the PMS color(s) to ensure that you are getting the exact hue that you need. If you aren't too picky, we often can use a stock color (especially with acrylic materials) to get pretty darn close to most colors. If it's truly customized, our talented team can hand paint the material to match your specific color(s). There are many options to get the color you need on the sign that you want. 
• Your location. Where you are located will assist us when creating your sign design and factoring in shipping options. Will you need assistance with the installation? We install signs around the Middle Tennessee area. If you live outside our area, that's not a problem. We help many of our clients find reputable companies to assist them with installations all over the country.

The sign making process will be easier and faster if you have all of the above information ready for us. If you don't have all of it, don't worry! We can start with what you have and work from there. We are happy to meet with you in our shop where we can show you samples of specific colors and materials, or we can meet you at your facility (if it's in Middle Tennessee) to help you visualize the details of your signage. Tell us what works best for you!

Are you ready to get started with your new sign? Contact us today for a free estimate.