When you have questions about custom signs, full-color graphics or vinyl banners, you need answers on-the-spot so you can make timely decisions. And if you're under a pressing deadline, it's even more critical to get your sign questions answered right away so you can put your mind at ease.

Dear Fellow Business Professional:

Are you still trying to figure out the best type of signage or graphics to use, all by yourself?

Do you even know what your options are? Unfortunately, reaching the right sign decisions on your own can be time consuming and difficult. And if you don't take certain precautions, you could end up making a costly mistake. So where do you start?

The best place to start is with a targeted message
Your advertising message should connect with the people whose attention you most want to attract and impress. Who is your perfect customer? What problem does your company solve for them? What your message says is critically important.

It's not just what you say though, it's how you say it.
The real magic of all great signs is in the design. And here's the world's greatest example:

Do you think McDonald's would have become the icon it is today with just these plain, boring words? Just look at the difference!

The most recognized sign in the world!

Ahhhhh … those golden arches! By following the right design principles, any small business can become a well known icon in their local business community.

Want a more down-to-earth example of how a simple design can dramatically affect public perception? Let's look at our very own business sign as a case in point.

In discussions with clients, they often assume we are this huge company or part of a national sign franchise due to the appearance of our name and logo. However, we are a classic example of "Small Business America".

No, we're not a franchise.

All Cities Signs is certainly not huge either (in fact, don't be surprised if you catch me answering your call). But the professional looking image of our sign automatically attracts new clients day after day. And if you make all the right decisions, your new business signage can do the same for you too!
 

We're Not Satisfied With Your Design Until You Are!

Your satisfaction is so important, every order automatically includes a 100% Design Satisfaction Guarantee. How can we offer such a bold guarantee? Over the last 21 years, we have developed a 13-Point Design System which quickly spots and strengthens design weaknesses in these critical areas:

1. Spelling
2. Typestyle Usage
3. Letter Size
4. Leter Spacing
5. Use of Color
6. Shape
7. Margins
8. Spacing Between Design Elements
9. Alignment
10. Centering
11. Grouping
12. Overall Design Balance
13. And Last (but certainly not least), Image Quality and Resolution

We leave nothing to chance
If you send us your logo, a photo or other artwork to use, we still run it through our checklist to ensure optimal design quality. And if the Art Department sees any design flaws or potential issues with image quality, we will consult with you first before your order goes into production.

Your design satisfaction is guaranteed upfront

Before the art department releases your order for production, we will e-mail you the design in color for your final approval.  If you want to see any changes, just let us know.  We’ll make all the changes you want at no extra charge.

As soon as you give us final approval, your order will go straight into production.  When you receive your order, it will look just like the design you approved, only bigger!

I would consider it a privilege to work with you on your project so if you have any questions or would like my personal recommendation, please feel free to contact me directly.

 

When Only Quality Will Do, Acrylic Signs Are The Perfect Choice

Acrylic Signs from All Cities Signs have an extremely slick, smooth surface which naturally displays a premium quality appearance. Acrylic Signs are lightweight, thin and easy to mount with screws, double-sided tape, adhesive and a blind fastener system available in our shopping cart.

The Acrylic material comes in clear and in several standard, High Gloss Brilliant colors. In recent years, the raw materials and manufacturing processes of acrylic sheeting have vastly improved making Acrylic Signs a highly sought after product. The pigments in Acrylic Signs hold their colors better than ever before. Dimensional stability has also improved making mounting and installations more secure.

Acrylic Signs are inexpensive to purchase, yet highly durable and professional in appearance. Acrylic Signs are often used inside Offices, Retail Stores, as Hanging Signs, Promotional Signs, Sale Signs, Directional Signs, Point of Purchase Signs, Identification Signs, High End Trade Show Signs, Interior Signage, Exterior Signage, anywhere you need to professionally display your message.

What Are Some Acrylic Signs Finishing Options

Most commonly, Acrylic Signs are finished with a bevel effect. This gives it a nice professional taste and looks great on doors and hallways.

Since most small Acrylic Signs are placed on doors and hallways, they include predrilled holes in the corners for screw mounts. The mounting process is usually done by the contractor or handy man.

Though we do not supply the screws, we can drill the holes to any specification provided it will not damage the Acrylic Signs.

Are Aluminum Signs Getting Too Expensive?

Do you even know what your aluminum sign options are?

The choices for Custom Aluminum Signs are broader … and more confusing than ever. Once you know the strengths and weaknesses of each type of aluminum sign material available, you'll be able to properly select the one best suited to your individual needs. 

What Are Your Options With Aluminum Signs?

1. Aluminum – Solid metal sign material with a baked on enamel finish, these are extremely durable in high traffic, wet and heavy equipment areas. Available in three grades from standard .040" gauge for real estate yard signs to medium duty, .063" gauge to heavy duty, .080" thickness material.
2. Alumalite – is a corrugated plastic re-enforced rigid sign panel that is a little easier to handle and install than the thicker, heavier Aluma-wood signs. It doesn't have quite as much panel strength as Aluma-wood, but is still a highly durable product rated for 10 years outdoors.
3. Aluma-Plastic – is a lighter weight rigid sign panel ideally suited for wall mounted signs, smaller post mounted signs and hanging signs. When you are looking for a product that is substantially stiffer than standard gauge aluminum signs, Aluma-Plastic is a solid choice.
4. Aluma-Wood – is much stronger than traditional aluminum signs because it is reinforced with a wood shell and is the strongest of all the rigid sign panels.

Let's Begin With The Simple, Traditional Aluminum Sign Panel

Custom aluminum signs are strong, light-weight and among the most durable of all sign materials. Even with the steady price increases world wide in the raw cost of aluminum, this sign material is still quite cost effective and remains in high demand for its unbeatable qualities.

When you are looking for a perfectly smooth, baked-on, high gloss factory painted finish, custom aluminum signs project a first class image. Aluminum customized signs are guaranteed by the manufacturer not to peel, flake, rust, corrode, or fade for a full 10 years. Additionally, a custom aluminum sign can never rot or deteriorate like a standard wooden sign.

What Are The Most Common Uses For Aluminum Signs?

Real Estate Contractors Commercial Marine New Business Directional

Informational POP Displays Industrial Safety Signs Corporate Construction

Parking Lots Trailers Exterior Walls Street Signs Gates Fences

What Are The Most Popular Sizes For Custom Aluminum Signs?

Since real estate agents and contractors buy so many aluminum yard signs, one of the most common sizes is 18" height x 24" width. We also stock real estate sign frames which accommodate a 24" height x 18" width aluminum sign panel as well.

Keep in mind though that aluminum sheeting can be easily cut to any "odd" size to meet your individual needs. Odd size pricing just uses the next standard size up.

Other popular sizes include:
• 2' height x 3' width
• 3' height x 2' width, and
• 2' height x 4' width.

The sizes above can also fit into a sturdy angle iron step stake for a convenient and portable display. If you are in an area which has seasonally high winds, you should strongly consider upgrading the thickness of your custom aluminum signs for these larger size signs.

The thicker the aluminum, the less likely aluminum signs will buckle or be ripped from the bolts which attach the sign panel to the sign frame. Increasing the thickness of your custom aluminum sign from a standard .040" to a medium duty .063" or extra heavy duty .080" gauge aluminum will enhance the durability of your aluminum signs. Generally, the larger the size aluminum sign you want, the thicker the metal material needs to be.

Which Aluminum Signs Material Thickness Is Best For Custom Building Signage?

When buying custom aluminum signs to mount to a building, you can use .040" gauge aluminum for signs up to 2' x 4' in size. Technically, you can use .040" gauge aluminum for sizes all the way up to 4' x 10' provided you mount the metal flat against the a wall with enough screws. The larger the sign panel size though, the greater the tendency to bend. As a result, large thin gauge aluminum signs can have a wavy or rippled appearance when installed, especially on a corrugated metal building.

Therefore, when you want a bigger building sign, we recommend increasingly thicker gauges of aluminum with the optimum heavy duty thickness being .080" gauge aluminum. The next thickness down is .063" medium duty thickness. On smaller size signs (up to 2' x 4') even a modest increase to .063" gauge aluminum substantially increases the stiffness, appearance and rigidity of the metal sign panel.

What Is The Recommended Thickness For Hanging Aluminum Signs?

For exterior aluminum hanging signs, you can use .040" for sizes up to 18" x 24". Some people use this thinner .040" thickness all the way up in size to 2' x 3', but we don't recommend it. For sizes over 18" x 24", we recommend at least .063" thickness aluminum signs. And for larger hanging signs like 2' x 4', 3' x 3' or 3' x 4', .080" gauge aluminum works best for these heavy duty applications.

When in doubt, it's better to go too thick than too thin because the heaviest .080" gauge aluminum we stock is still less than 1/8" thick.

Are Custom Aluminum Signs Suitable For Installation Between Two Posts?

While you can install larger aluminum signs (like 6', 8' or 10' long) on or between posts, you have better options to choose from:

1. Aluma-Wood is the strongest and most rigid exterior grade sign panel available with it's dense, ½ inch thick solid wood core
2. Alumalite (½" thickness) has almost the same sign panel strength as Aluma-Wood making it a popular choice for larger signs. ½" Alumalite is the 2nd strongest sign material
3. Alumalite (¼" thickness) is still a strong, highly rigid sign background material and has the 3rd highest panel strength
4. Aluma-Plastic sign panels have 10 times more strength than .040" aluminum sheets. Aluma-Plastic is not quite as stiff as Alumalite, but is still considered a rigid sign material making it #4 in strength

On a scale of 1 to 10, with "10" having the highest relative strength, here's how each aluminum sign background material compares to one another:

Many standard aluminum colors are readily available including:

Black Yellow Green Blue Red

Brushed Silver Mirror Silver Brushed Gold Mirror Gold Orange

However, these factory painted aluminum colors are only available up to .040" thickness! White aluminum is available in thicknesses all the way up to .080".

When you need a more rigid sign panel in a color other than white, you have three great options to choose from:

1. Unpainted aluminum sheeting can be completely covered with self-adhesive vinyl at our shop in your choice of any color. By the way, all street signs are simply covered with reflective vinyl. They're not painted.
2. We can spray paint or powder coat thicker aluminum sheets any custom color you choose.
3. You can choose a rigid composite aluminum sign material which has a broader range of factory painted colors available such as Aluma-Plastic, Alumalite and Aluma-Wood.

Usually, Option #3 is not only the best choice, it's the most cost effective (but not always). For example, if you are looking for a gold metallic background color for a 2' x 3' x .080" aluminum sign, the most cost effective solution would be to simply cover the metal sign panel with gold metallic vinyl. It's fast, it's easy and highly durable.

Setting up to paint such a small sheet from stock or having to buy a whole 4' x 8' sheet just to get a small section of a special color isn't always practical. We'll gladly provide you with the best option to suit your individual needs at the time of your order.

Life Span For Aluminum Signs

Aluminum Signs will usually outlast the vinyl lettering that is put on them. Intermediate vinyl lettering is intended for short term outdoor signs and is rated for 3-5 years. Our High Performance Vinyl Graphics will last 7-10 years outdoors, even under extreme environmental conditions.

Does The Thought Of Buying Cheap Corrugated Plastic Signs worry you?

When does background plastic signs material that looks like “plastic cardboard” become a good choice?

Just because corrugated plastic signs are cheap, doesn’t mean they have to look cheap.  Most people looking at signs don’t know what they’re made out of anyway… nor do they really care.  When you look at signs, what do you see?  The message, the colors and any graphics, right?

You can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your advertising display by focusing on these design elements.  With an attractive layout and color scheme, an otherwise ordinary piece of “plastic cardboard” can be turned into a highly effective sign for your business! When you’re ready, our Art Department can create an alluring, eye-catching design for you.

Coroplast Brand, Corrugated Plastic Signs

Coroplast is a tough, waterproof, corrugated plastic sign material which resembles the appearance of “plastic cardboard”.  The hollow-fluted design of Coroplast makes this sign material extremely lightweight, easy to handle and display in a number of ways.

Corrugated plastic signs are not as flexible as banner material or as rigid as solid plastic sheets.  Although custom corrugated plastic signs are commonly used outdoors, high winds can damage the corrugated sign material.  Corrugated plastic signs are intended for both interior signs and short term outdoor signs, up to 2 years.

The lightweight properties of Coroplast have made it a popular alternative to rigid Acrylic Plastic Signs and PVC Plastic Signs.  Corrugated plastic is also commonly preferred over poster board and foam core mounting board.  Foam core is not waterproof and the surface is much more sensitive to damage than corrugated plastic.

Common uses for Coroplast corrugated plastic signs include:

	Yard Sign Real Estate Signs Garage Sale Political Signs Special Event Signage Directional and Informational Signage Industrial Golf Tournament Sponsor Signs Contractor Promotional Signs Point of Purchase Window Signage Temporary Signage Advertising Signage Trade Shows