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1 Comment Artistic Signs Finished In Gold Leaf – How To Shine Up Another Brick In The Wall
Letter Love
The workshop at Sign Depot has been filled with various letters and numbers over the last few weeks. So many in fact, that I figured multiple signs were being constructed at once.
Although we had fun with our Word Jumble earlier this year, I figured this time around I would find the word within the word(s) and this is the one I came up with.
But I’m not sure that was what the client had in mind, so I waited patiently for the finished product.
And the finished product had a specialized finish of its own.
Getting To Know More About Gold Leaf
In order for the letters to stand out from the red brick background, they were finished in gold leaf, otherwise known as guilding. Gold leaf guilding is an intricate process. It is a process where small amounts of genuine gold leaf is applied evenly to a surface to create a full coverage and a brilliant shine. We only use 23K gold leaf from Italy when it comes to our artistic signs, as it is top of the line when it comes to gold leaf. This type of sign finish not only creates eye-catching contrast, it also adds shine to the brick backdrop.
As busy intersection requires something that will catch your eye quickly, and that was accomplished with the use of dimensional letters with a gold leaf finish. It is always important for your signs to visible to both vehicle traffic as well those walking by. Your sign is a 24 advertisement of what your business does best. Make sure it is a great representation of you and your company. Find ways to incorporate artistic elements into your business signage and your signs will become landmarks that stand out from the surroundings.
All in all it’s more than just bricks on a wall.
Gold Leaf Gilding Gilt
Although the above terms are the same by definition according to Wikipedia
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as “gilt”.
Here at The Sign Depot it meant we would be Gilding a Sign for Gilt Restaurant with Gold Leaf.
Getting Ready To Glisten
The dimensional sign for Gilt Restaurant began with CNC cutting the structure for the custom sign
and then the gilded finish was applied to the sign give it the shine that can only be acheived by 23 karat gold leaf.
Not only does gold leaf attract the attention of passers-by, it is an finish that withstand the elements which makes it a great choice for an outdoor sign.
Additionally the custom sign for Gilt Restaurant was equiped with LEDs to ensure that the sign would glisten both day an night.
Once assembled the exterior sign was prepped for installation
After the sign was affixed to the building exterior, temporary signage was displayed in the window to build buzz about the restaurant for downtown core.
For more examples of the types of signs we make for dining establishements, be sure to visit our Restaurant Signs gallery. If you are looking for gold leaf sign then contact us first! I think you’ll take a shine to us!
Thanks @TheSignDepot we absolutely love our sign! #amazing #kwawesome #openingsoon pic.twitter.com/zxbavv6mVq
— Gilt Restaurant (@giltrestaurant) August 26, 2014Business Sign Grants And Funds
Investing In Local Businesses
Many businesses are looking for economical ways to raise awareness of their company in hopes to increase profits. Mashable suggests that brick and motar businesses should act like startups when it comes to funding. That is one of the many approaches that businesses should look at when it comes to their finances. Another way is to look into grants and funds that the local area has to offer. Many City Halls and Business Improvement Associations offer Facade Grant Programs to revitalize areas in their communities.
Facade Grants And Funds
Many Facade Upgrade programs see business signage as a big part of improving storefronts and streetscapes. They will want to know that you are working with a professional sign maker before the approval process can begin.
Steps To Sign Up For A Business Sign Upgrade
There are several steps in acquiring approval for a Facade Grant. These are some starting points to find out how much your business qualifies for when it comes to funds and grants.
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Talk to an expert sign maker about what type of sign you will want to have placed on your storefront
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Let them know if they should request the sign permit or if you will be taking the task on yourself
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Contact the administrator of the grant/fund program to find out about any stipulations and/or timelines you need to meet
Although this may seem like a big task to undertake, a grant can take your business from this
to this
You can read more about this Business Sign Project on our post about giving Downtown Kitchener A Facelift
Below are list of 10 areas in Ontario that are offering Facade Upgrade Grants. If you think your company qualifies for a new business sign, be sure to Contact Us and we can help start the process!
Gold Leaf And Custom Artistic Sign Making
Go For The Gold
One of the custom sign making techniques that we get a lot of inquiries about is the application of gold leaf. There is no substitute for the shine achieved by 23K gold leaf. It is multiple step process which requires a lot of expertise in order to properly apply the gold leaf to a sign or artistic sculpture. The best example of well known gold leaf application recognized worldwide would be the Queen’s Flotilla. To learn more, you can read our post Fit For A Queen, to see how The Royal Barge was sculpted using many of the same techniques that we use right here in The Sign Depot Workshop.
See The Sign Making Steps
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First Gold Size Oil is applied. Gold size is an adhesive that is applied to the surface of where you want the gold leaf to be.
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Next the sheets of Gold Leaf are separated to ensure even application.
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The Gold Leaf is applied with a specialty brush
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The last step is letting it set. In order to ensure the longevity of the finish, you must make sure the Gold Size Oil and Gold Leaf are completely dry before moving the sign.
Below you can see a quick recap of how we apply gold leaf to our custom signs. It adds quite an artistic touch to the finishing process.
Custom Sign Making Techniques
Curious about other custom sign making techniques? We have a fix for that! Be sure to RSVP to the upcoming Sign Depot Demo Day by clicking the image below. There you will get a behind the scenes look at what goes on in our sign manufacturing workshop. Peter Moir and the staff of The Sign Depot will be on hand to answer any questions and you’ll be amongst some of the top marketers in the business industry.
Click The Image Above To Register for The Sign Depot Demo Day
Custom Wood And 3 Dimensional Sign Questions And Answers
Q & A From Conestoga College Graphic Design Students
We are always happy to welcome the Graphic Design Students from Conestoga College into our Sign Workshop. This year a group of thirty first year design students came by to learn about the sign design process. They will be creating their first sign project shortly and had a lot of great questions for Peter. Running a custom sign shop for almost 20 years, Peter has a lot of insight about sign design and how it compliments the graphic design field. Below is a list of some of the questions the design students asked along with the answers Peter provided to help them with their first custom sign project.
Q: How did you get into the sign industry
A: I worked at a sign shop in my teens. Then I went on to get a degree in Fine Arts at University Of Guelph and then decided to start The Sign Depot
Q: What type of sign work do you prefer
A: Something that is challenging, often large scale 3 dimensional signs require a bit of problem solving, so I enjoy creating signs that get me thinking about how it can be created.
Q: How do you decide how on how big a sign should be?
A: I take photos of the building and put them into my software. When I design a custom business sign I can see what it will look like on the building. Trust your eye. You know what looks best.
Q: Any recommendations for an on site sign versus a highway sign?
A: When designing a sign for a high traffic area think of the message you want to get across while traffic is going by quickly. Less is more. Make the sign memorable not messy. For on site signs such as the restaurant signs we do, it is about relaying the message of experience you will have when you visit that establishment.
Q: I noticed that you have won an award for the 3 Dimensional Sign for Beertown, can you tell us a bit about that sign?
A: We wanted the look of the retro sign but wanted give it a modern feel. We used LED lights as a stand in for marquee light bulbs, as for the mural there was a template made that was spray painted on the building followed by artistic hand painting on the sign.
Q: What if you didn’t agree with client’s sign idea? Do you let them know?
A: I believe it is my responsibility as a designer to let them know about what makes for good sign design and I would make recommendations. Let them know that a good sign is a good investment for their business. So many customers have let me know that their sales increased because of their new sign. Additionally I think all of our signs stand as a business card for Sign Depot, we always think of how it will reflect on this business.
Q: When it comes to your gold leaf signs why do you choose 23K gold leaf?
A: We are very familiar with this type of gold leaf and know the kind of shine it can bring to our custom signs.
Q: How big is your customer base?
A: We are well established here in our community, as well as nationwide and have shipped our signs in the USA market too.
Q: Have you ever made a sign that was too big for your shop?
A: No, that goes back to our problem solving and business sign solutions that we design for our clients and why we have such a big sign workshop.
Q: Have you ever been approached by a show like Restaurant Makeover?
A: Not yet, you can go ahead and set that up though! We are involved in a lot of restaurant design builds and some of the experiences we have come across would make for some great reality tv!
Advice For Young Designers
Peter also had some parting words for these aspiring graphic designers
Always strive to be the best in class. When you’re out looking for jobs you want to let people know you are the best of the best.
Think Outside The (Cake) Box
Making The Move With A Little HDU – High Density Urethane
When The Cake Box changed locations it was an opportunity to create a look and feel that matched what they do. The Cake Box prides themselves on high standard cakes and their signage needed to reflect that. Being that they are set back from the street with a parking lot in front, the sign needed to be eye-catching to grab the attention of those travelling in that high traffic area. The inspiration for this sign came from decorative picture frames. Framing a sign is a way to make your info noticeable without it looking out of place. The key is to make it reflect the business it represents. In this case a gingerbread style frame fit the bill.
Frame and Fortune
When creating this dimensional sign we chose to work with High Density Urethane otherwise known as HDU. The design was carved on the CNC router table then given a high gloss UV finish. The Cake Box individual letters were pin mounted to a backer and we gave Sweet Indulgences portion of the sign the golden touch by finishing it in 23K gold leaf.
Final Finishing Touches
As you can see, the sign was installed and the project shows very well from a distance.
Creating ways to catch the eye of those already walking through the plaza was also considered. Using window frosting vinyl The Cake Box specialties were displayed and a bright banner brought attention to the corner window.
Finding ways to think out of the box are normal occurrences here at The Sign Depot. We hope they have encouraged you to get inside The Cake Box.
If you’re looking for ways to change the look of your business signage, or if you’re planning an upcoming move to a new establishment, make sure to contact us and we’ll help create something creative for you.
What Does Heritage Sign Making Have To Do With Disney?
Timeline of Signs
Sign making is a craft that originated in ancient times according to Wikipedia. Fast forward to the modern day where the function of signage is described as a means of…
communication, to convey information such that its receiver can make cognitive decisions based on the information provided. In general, signage can be classified into the following functions: (a)Information: signs giving information about services and facilities, e.g., maps, directories, instructions for use, etc. (b)Direction: signs leading to services, facilities, functional spaces and key areas, e.g., sign posts, directional arrows, etc. (c)Identification: signs indicating services and facilities, e.g., room names & numbers, toilet signs, number of floors, etc. (d)Safety and Regulatory: signs giving warning or safety instructions, e.g., warning signs, traffic signs, exit signs, rules & regulations, etc.This description makes signage sound like a rather dull concept. We think the contrary. Making noticeably unique signs are tasks that professional sign makers tackle every day. Using heritage sign making techniques like hand painting, carving, routering, blasting, and guilding (gold leaf applications) are just some of the ways that the sign crafters of today create bold looks and eye catching signs.
Behind The Scenes
Finding the best technique to suit what the sign represents can be challenging, but through different methods of design and construction the desired look will be achieved. Take a look at this behind the scenes video of the Disney Sign Shop
They use several of the same processes we do. Both traditional heritage looks and modern style sign making processes (and sometimes a mix of the two) make the signage industry a far more interesting concept, while still making signage functional.
Signs of a Great Sign Maker
Choosing a sign maker that has expertise in a variety of of sign making techniques ensures you have the signage that meets your requirements and exceeds your expectations. The art of sign making requires high attention to detail as well the ability to produce outstanding results. Make sure your sign maker of choice provides you with the choices you need to suit your needs as well as your sign budget. Taking the time to listen to your preferences and consider the options that will make your sign stand up and stand out is what makes for great sign maker.
