A Veritable Vinyl Cabaret

Since its mass introduction to the sign market during the mid 1980s, vinyl has become nearly as all-encompassing as death and taxes. From banners to channel letters to monument signs, vinyl prevails as a sign-decoration staple due to its versatility and durability.
Every year, International Sign Contest entries emphasize the broad cross-section of projects that require the material. Although the following projects didn’t capture awards, they gave clients vital exposure – thanks, in large part, to vinyl’s staying power.

Limber Signage
ARTfx Signs (Bloomfield, CT) fabricated this corner-mounted sign for a yoga studio. The base comprises welded, 0.125-in.-thick, plate aluminum that’s encased in 15mm, green argon. The circular logo, outlined in 155m, clear-tube, gold argon, features a white-argon-backlit, stencil-cut, 0.125-in.-thick, aluminum face with push-through acrylic decorated with Gerber Scientific Products’ translucent vinyl. The three, acrylic cabinets, which serve as backdrops for the sign’s verbiage, were also decorated with Gerber translucent media. For these components, fluorescent lamps provide the backlighting.

Standing Tall at the Plaza
Gordon Sign (Denver) fabricated this series of monument and pylon signs for an office park in Cherry Creek, an affluent Denver suburb. Brick planters were rebuilt with inserted support structures and fortified masonry to accommodate signs. Gordon developed a custom paint finish to mimic Cor-Ten patina-finish steel. The shop decorated the waterjet-cut, ½-in.-thick acrylic faces with white, translucent vinyl. Fabricators coated the aluminum surfaces with Matthews’ brushed-aluminum, blue and gray acrylic-polyurethane coatings. SloanLED modules illuminate shallow tenant cabinets, and SloanLED Colorline border tubing provides accenting, cabinet-face downlighting that complements the T-12 internal lighting.

On the Horizon
Construction sites no longer need be eyesores thanks to fence or barrier messages that tout the future business. Creative Sign Designs (Tampa) fabricated this 300-ft.-long, mesh-banner windscreen to promote a forthcoming assisted-living facility. The shop designed the program using CorelDraw X5, SAI’s FlexiSign 8.5, AutoCAD 2007 and Adobe Creative Suite 5. Creative Sign Designs produced the lengthy graphic in 15 sections on Key Banner’s 9-oz., mesh material using the shop’s Graphtec solvent-ink printer. To create the borders, fabricators used a hem-and-grommet machine.

Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude
Jimmy Buffett’s music tends to elicit strong reactions, both positive and negative. But, his commercial success is undisputed, as is the attractiveness of this neon sign. Signature Sign & Image (Niagara Falls, ON, Canada) and several other companies produced the sign; exposed-neon channels render his name, and frontlighting and halo-lighting illuminate Margaritaville, his restaurant chain’s moniker. The palm trees, sun, surf and the parrot comprise 6-in.-deep, channel boxes that feature digitally printed 3M Scotchcal vinyl and exposed neon installed over the boxes. E.J. Hannes Co. Ltd. built the can letters; Commercial Digital Print (St. Catharine’s, ON, Canada) output the graphics; and Jiri Sir, also of St. Catharine’s, fabricated the neon.
 

Raise a Little Ale
“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name…” Poyant Signs (New Bedford, MA) fabricated the pylon sign’s aluminum face on its 12-ft.-long Cybernetic Instruments CNC router and formed and installed a neon border around the arrow’s perimeter using 15mm, yellow neon from Nepco Signs and France transformers. Grand Image Inc. (Hudson, MA) produced Barrett’s digital graphics on a Mimaki JV3-250SP solvent-printer with FLEXcon’s LiteCal white, backlit material.

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Got Apps?
ST’s Vinyl Apps column displays distinctive, digitally printed vinyl (or vinyl alternative) graphics monthly. We’re seeking cool applications. Whether it’s a funky vehicle wrap, an impressive mural or an eye-catching banner, please send us your best work. Contact Senior Associate Editor Steve Aust at steve.aust@stmediagroup.com or (513) 263-9308 to send information.