Signage – aka Signs, Internal Signage, External Signage, Plaques, Fascia, Lettering, Totem Signs, Slat Signs, Freestanding Signs, Building Signage, Wayfinding Signs, Directional Signs – Not to be confused with – Vehicle Signs, Window Graphics, Portable Signs, Banners & Flags (see parts 1 -3).

Signage usually refers to some marking used to identify a building, to offer information or to brand a premises. As mentioned above there are portable variations when it comes to signage but this entry will focus on the static signs which would make up the more traditional portion of this product sector.

One of the most common forms of building signage, both internal and external, and arguably one of the most attractive, is cut lettering. This is where individual letters are cut or formed from perspex, metal, wood etc. These letters stand proud from the surface they are attached to. This type of lettering is very eye-catching and custommisable but can only be used with lettering of a decent size – smaller lettering will have to be attached to a panel rather than individual letters attached to a wall, for example. A good supplier will be able to include a cut-out of most logos in this of sign.

Another type of well known sign is a neon sign – famous for their visibility – but these signs are very delicate and expensive to maintain. These are rapidly being replaced by LED signs which are just as visible and are cheaper to produce and less temperamental than neon! As with most sign types, there are standard neon signs available (‘vacancies’ for example) or you can have a custom sign made which will cost more and take a bit longer.

Also highly visible are backlit signs – very professional looking signs that can be relied upon to draw attention to your office or shop. Perspex is the most popular choice for the face of these signs as it allows a degree of light through, although laser cut stainless steel is also popular (the light shines through the cut portions). Again you can stick to stock shapes to save time and money, or custom order a sign for an individual look. For these and neon signs you will have to consider a power source for your sign and may need to engage an electrician.

Indoor signs, directional signs and those used in industrial estates or retail centres often incorporate slat or totem systems, which allow elements of the sign to be changed without replacing the whole sign. Another option here is a fingerpost sign, which consists of a pole to which various arms can be attached, all pointing in different directions. Consistency is key here so make sure your supplier can replicate or replace the slats in the future to keep a uniform look.

Building signage can also be in the form of flat aluminium panels, with vinyl or digital print applied. A more refined look can be achieved by having the edges ‘turned back’ or using a metal edging as a border (border can also be used as a feature if its in a contrasting colour or texture). Temporary building signage can be made from foamex or a similar lightweight substrate, with digital print or vinyl applied. Make sure these signs are over-laminated if they are for outdoor use though. Consider materials such as anodised aluminium or finished dibond which are durable but allow you to customise your look with a wood laminate, or hammered metal or brushed metal finish for example.

Brass plaques mounted on wood have traditionally been used as smaller signs beside office doorways or reception signs. These give a traditional and formal image but because the materials and

labour required are expensive these are a dear option. A more contemporary version is a stainless steel plaque or ‘reverse tray’ sign, or a glasslook plaque, which still look very professional and are also generally cheaper than brass plaques.

When you haven’t got a wall to fix your sign to, you can use posts to support the sign or hang the sign from a support if you have a sheltered area to do so. Bear in mind that sinking posts will often require concrete to be cast and fitting signs at great heights will incur extra labour costs and the hire of a cherry picker or crane.

Health and Safety and Braille signs are often available in stock versions which will save a lot of money and time – custom versions of braille signs especially will take time to produce and incur a premium. Make sure you comply with regulations for Health and Safety and Braille signs, available by clicking on the above links.

Of course, your needs or wants may not fit into any one category, or maybe your premises does not provide any easy or obvious place to support a sign. In that case your only option is to contact a custom signmaker with a good track record to engineer something specifically for you.

Things to look out for when ordering signage:

**Check what stock options are available, as opposed to custom made signage, to save you time and money

**Think about where you want the sign to go – the higher the position the more it will cost, but this may be offset with extra visibility achieved. Is it necessary to sink poles to support your sign? Is it in an exposed area where it could be damaged by harsh weather or vandalised?

**Make sure your signage is fit by an expert – the heavier the sign material and the more elements involved, the more important this is, both for durability and safety. For very heavy installations the services of a civil engineer are advised.

**Engage a designer who specialises in designing for large format uses – a sign must be easily legible to be useful and this type of design differs greatly from business card or web design for example.

**Consider incorporating a panel which can be replaced if you have information which may change – patches and other changes can be very visible on well established signage.

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Banners and Banner stands (aka Pull Up Stands) are often mixed up and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably – although these items might seem similar enough to mix up, they are used in very different ways so it is important to know exactly what you want when ordering or pricing these items. In this installment of the Display Product Guide I will concentrate on the features and variations of Banners, (please refer to previous posting for info about banner stands).

Banners – aka Vinyl Banners, Mesh Banners, Building Wraps, Banner Signs

Banners are traditionally made of vinyl or PVC and used outside, for short-term use. Vinyl is a durable material, so its perfect for external use and it can take a battering from wind and rain (once it is tied securely). Vinyl is also a flexible material meaning it can be tied tightly to a fence, frame etc. for a smooth finish, and it can be rolled up for storage and transport – a solid sign of a similar size would be bulky and unwieldy. Banners of this type are also relatively cheap, hence their popularity for short-term use to advertise seasonal promotions, once-off events, temporary sponsorship etc. Vinyl Banners are also easy to erect – unless there is height involved – all that is usually needed is a few cable ties or bungee cords and a sturdy fence or railing. What’s more, digitally printed vinyl banners offer high print quality and sharpness, with no limit on the amount of colours etc. So, no need to compromise on quality or design when commissioning a banner as a short-term or low cost signage option.

Another material which is often used for banners is mesh – this is particularly popular for extra-large banners called ‘Building Wraps’. Building wraps are used to cover part or all of a building or wall – they literally turn the building into a huge billboard, and mesh is used so that light is not obscured from entering the building. I am a huge fan of building wraps as I think their impact is so huge and they are a great value item for the amount of attention they demand – click here to read more…

A 3rd fabric which is sometimes used for banners is Canvas – chosen for aesthetic reasons, it cannot be used outside and the print quality is not as sharp as it would be on a finer material. This is part of the attraction really, and people often want this grainy effect for posters or decoration pieces rather than for imparting information.

Nylon is also sometimes used for Banner Prints, again it is an option for indoor use only and is not as opaque as vinyl so the effect can be washier. Like Canvas, this is popular for indoor decoration such as in Museum and Shopping Centre Displays. Indoor Banners are often used with pockets sewn top and bottom and wooden rods, called ‘Dowels’ slotted into the pockets for hanging. Remember dowels will have a slight effect the cost and portability of the banner. Canvas and Nylon are really the only option suitable if you are thinking of getting a banner printed to use indoor as a stage or event backdrop, as vinyl will bounce light back and look awful in photos.

So, Banners are often tied to a fence or railing, hung from the side of a building, or suspended from a wall or ceiling using dowels, but how else can banners be used? Frameworks, both portable and static, are popular for supporting banners at various locations like sporting events and outside shops and garages. Vinyl banners can also be used to make attractive and striking windbreakers for the exterior of cafes, bars and restaurants. “Curtain Sider” Trucks and Static trailers can also utilise vinyl banners as advertisements, and pitchside advertisements are sometimes created from vinyl banner as an alternative to more costly solid signs.

Things to look out for when buying a Banner:

**Check how the image or text will be applied to the banner Digital print will give a great finish suitable for photographic images. If text only is required, cut vinyl might be sufficient Make sure the method suits your design.

**Check how the banner will be finished – banners should have hems sewn or welded in to protect the edges and should have metal eyelets to enable effective hanging. If dowels are being used a pocket should be sewn or welded top and bottom.

**Make sure you have somewhere suitable to suspend or support your banner – if not consider getting a frame and make sure it is sturdy enough for outdoor use if you will be using it outdoors, and that the frame itself breaks down if you will need to move or store it when not in use.

**Be meticulous about tying your banner – there is nothing worse than a loose banner flapping about in the breeze. Your message will not be easily legible or visible on a crinkled banner, and whats worse – it may come free and you lose the banner all together or cause an injury to a passer by. A taut banner gives a very professional image.

**For a building wrap, make sure you have a professional survey the building as some buildings may become hazardous when a building wrap is applied, especially if there are areas where the wind may catch behind the banner.

Important Terms relating to Banners:

Hems – Sames as on clothes, the edge of the material should be folded and fixed by either heat welding or sewing, to protect the edge and give a smooth finish

Eyelets – Holes are made around the edge of the banner so it can be hung with rope etc. The wholes should be reinforced with metal eyelets, preferably brass

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Pop up and Pull up stands are often confused by customers, and even by some vendors who have come to the display business late in the game. But they are really very different, with different strengths and uses, as I will explain in this installment of the Display Product Guide…

Pull Up Stands – aka Roller Banners, Roll Up Banners, Roll Up Signs, Banner Stands, Banner Signs, Penguin Stands, Banner Displays, Pull Up Signs, Pull Up Banners, Portable Banners.

Pull Up Stands/Banners are so called because, to assemble the stand, a printed panel on a roller is pulled up from the base and hooked to the tip of a telescopic bar, so that it forms a vertical banner effect, and is self supporting.

In pure layman’s terms, these are long thin displays, similar in shape and size to a strip of wallpaper and they function like an upside down roller blind, where the ‘blind’ is actually a digitally printed graphic panel.

These stands are usually in the region of 2 metres tall and 80cm to 1m wide. For this reason they are compact and versatile displays and are popular for uses as varied sales presentations, exhibitions and trade shows as well as in-store displays, and promotional displays in bars, shopping centres and hospitals.

Another major advantage of Pull Up or Roller Banner Stands is the portability they afford the user. For this reason it is important to choose a pull up banner which is as light as possible – they range in weight from around 4 kilos to 8 or 9 kilos in weight depending on the materials and components used. They travel in a bag with a shoulder strap, and unlike Pop Up Display stands, these stands can easily be transported by someone travelling on foot or on the bus!

Compared to Pop Up Display Stands, Pull Up Banners have the obvious advantage of being about 10-15% of the price of a 3m Pop Up Stand. However they are obviously much smaller and have less of a presence, which can pose a problem for those wishing to avail of their portability and low price, but needing a backdrop or wide effect from their display stand. There is an answer to this and it lies with clever graphic design – 2, 3 or more pull up stands can be designed in such a way that they form a continuous image when placed side by side. This way, the stands form an attractive display about 2.5 metres wide, and often they can be used separately as well, giving you the utmost return on investment from these clever little stands.

Another thing to bear in mind is that these stands can be purchased with 2 rollers in the base, meaning the same stand can be use to promote 2 different products, events, faculties etc. Also with all the different brands and types of stands on the market, it should be possible to replace the printed panels at a reasonable cost as many times as you like.

So, these stands will never provide the sheer presence of a Pop Up Display stand, and they can’t support plasma screens, or be joined together to create an impressive 6m backdrop display. However the portability, versatility and low cost of these stands means they are perennially popular with literally every kind of business. Bear in mind the following when purchasing a Pull Up Banner Display to ensure you get the best quality and value for money.

Things to look out for when buying a Pull Up Display stand:

**Check the hardware warranty that comes with the stand – there should be at least a year’s warranty

**Check that if the Pull Up Stand becomes damaged, it can a) be repaired, b) be repaired cheaply or for free, c) where do the repairs take place (effecting repair time and shipping costs), d) can small components, e.g. spring, top bar, be replaced easily

**Check what the panel is made of – laminated paper panels are notorious for curling at the edges and cracking. A vinyl panel is often more durable and attractive

**Check the weight of the stand – is it light enough for you to carry comfortably over your shoulder

**Look our for stands with a stable base, without fold out legs which may add weight and increase the stand’s footprint

**A stand with 2 rollers in the base may be a great investment buy IF the stand is of a high enough quality to bear repeated use through the years

**Check the price to have a new panel added or a second side added to the stand

**Look for a stand where the telescopic pole is connected by elastic to prevent losing a piece

**Check that accessories such as spotlights can be added and that they can be transported within the shoulder bag

** Ask to see the Pull Up Stand in the flesh and to practice putting up the stand before you buy so that you can compare quality – these stands are on the cheaper end of the display stand scale but very cheap stands without warranties are a false economy as they will not withstand repeated use

Important Terms relating to Pull Up Banner Stands:

Panel – The printed panel visible at the front of the stand when assembled

Print – see panels

Graphic – see panels

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I have been meaning for a long time now to get started on a comprehensive guide to display and signage products. There are a plethora of different terms used for various display stands, signs and materials, and if this causes problems for us working within the industry, I am sure it causes major confusion for customers who might understandably be unfamiliar with the jargon or technical terminology.

For example, ‘Pop Up Stands’ versus ‘Pull Up Stands’ – these terms are used interchangeably these days, but these are two distinct display stands types with significant differences. Today in part one of this series I will focus on Pop Up Display Stands…Part two will contrast these will Pull Up Banner Stands, so stay tuned…

Pop Up Stands – aka Pop Up (or PopUp) Display Stands, Pop Up Displays, Display Frames, Pop Up Frames, Backwall Displays, Spider Frames, Spider Displays, Graphic Backdrops, Pop Up Display Systems

Pop Up Stands are an older technology than Pull Up stands and Banner Stands – they were invented in 1975 by Nomadic Display and are still hugely popular for use as exhibition stands, conference backdrops and stage displays and for press and training events to name a few. They can be curved or flat and range in size from about 1.2m wide to 6m +, but the most common size would be in the region of 2.4m-3m wide and 2.4m tall. After all these years, these stands may seem conventional and, dare-I-say-it, boring! But they don’t have to be – they can be used to create interesting shapes, different height displays and used with plasma screens or funky endcaps, (click to see the ‘Esker’ Pop Up Stand on the top right) to update the basic stand. See also ‘stretch fabric panels’ below for a thoroughly ‘different’ look based on Pop Up Technology. These stands have a aluminium frame work which ‘pops up’ to form a lattice-like wall, to which magnetic bars are attached and in turn fabric or graphic panels or ‘strips’ stick to the magnetic bars to cover the stand with a seamless covering. Often these stands are used with a full graphic covering allowing for an impressive photographic image to be displayed. However fabric panels can also be used in two ways – firstly, carpet-like Velcro Friendly fabric panels (alone or in combination with graphic panels) are used by people who wish to change the images or info on display quite often, or on pop up stands which are rented and need to provide a generic background for different customers. Secondly ‘Stretch Fabric’ panels can be used to provide a funky modern look – Pop Up stands with stretch fabric are much lighter as there are no magnetic bars and are quicker to set up as the panels stay attached to the stand even when it is packed up.

Things to look out for when buying or hiring a Pop Up Display stand:

**Check that the stand has cross bars (x-shaped bars) as these add greatly to the stability of the stand

**Check that the magnetic struts are connected for ease of use

**Check that if the Pop Up Stand becomes damaged, it can a) be repaired, b) be repaired cheaply or for free, c) where do the repairs take place (this affects lead time and shipping costs), and d) can small components, e.g. wheels on case, be replaced easily

**Bear in mind that if a Pop Up Stand has integral magnets rather than bars the whole stand will need to be returned to the factory for repair if the magnets become damaged or worn

**Make sure that other pop up stands can be connected to this stand in the future – allowing larger stands in different shapes to be created and adding versatility and length to the life of the stand

**Make sure that accessories can be added to the stand e.g. lights, shelves, plasma screens, showcases, backlit panels – You may not need them now but in the years to come it might be very handy & cost effective to add a plasma screen etc.

**Check the case in which the stand comes – do you want to split the stand into 2 cases for ease of lifting etc. or do you want an all-in-one case which can turn into a counter – you should have a choice of casing options

**These stands are available with two-year warranties and lifetime ‘no-questions-asked’ warranties so it doesn’t make sense to buy one that is not guaranteed

**Ask to see the Pop Up Stand in the flesh and to practice putting up the stand before you buy so that you can compare quality

Important Terms relating to Pop Up Display Stands:

Struts – the magnetic bars attached vertically to the frame to hold panels up

Panels – the ‘wallpaper-like’ strips that you hang on the stand to form the covering

Graphic Wrap – see ‘panels’

Skins – see ‘panels’

Pod – case that becomes counter

Tension Fabric - Same as Stretch Fabric – lightweight stretchy material which is digitally printed and attached to the stand in various configurations to create a ‘patchwork’ or overall look. Attached with buttons instead of magnets

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