Ready made signs

Seton Identification Products  http://www.seton.com
P.O. Box 1331
New Haven, CT 06505
800-243-6624

"World's largest source for identification products"—a catalog brimming with signs, tags, labels, and related products and services.  Issued several times a year.  A good source for ideas for in-house signs as well as for purchases.
 

Plastic holders and components

The Spindle Company
3710 Park Place
Montrose, CA 91020-1623
800-724-5507

A good source for extrusion (molding to hold stand-up sign boards and end range signs), suction cups, menu clips, acoustical ceiling grid work hooks, and all sorts of components and connectors.

Beemak Plastics, Inc.  http://www.beemak.com
7424 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
800-421-4393

Lowest prices we have found for clear acrylic literature display racks, free standing or wall mounted.  Many other kinds of display holders are in their catalog.
 

Sign board materials

SINTRA  is a versatile plastic material that can be used for wall signs, hanging signs, or free standing signs.  It is lightweight, flexible, and comes in a variety of colors in 4' x 8' sheets.  Adhesive vinyl letters are easily applied and removed, making your signs recyclable if you cut them in modular sizes.  Retail cost is about $40/sheet for 3 mm(1/8") thick in black.  White costs slightly less and colors may cost slightly more.  SINTRA can be cut with a saw, drilled, glued, and painted.  It weighs only 14 lb. for a 4' x 8' x 1/8" sheet.  SINTRA is made by Alucobond Technologies, Inc., Benton, KY.  Call 800-626-3365 for the name of a local distributor.  Available on the web at http://www.lairdplastics.com/graphic/sintra.htm

TROVICEL is the same type material, but a different brand that comes in slightly different colors, from: Huls America, Inc., Somerset, NJ (800) 344-6080.  Available on the web at http://www.wps.on.ca/acrylic/trovicel.html

KOMATEX is still another version of this material, with a wider variety of colors, from Kommerling USA, Inc., 210 Summit Avenue, Montvale, NJ 07645.  (800) 253-3363.  Available on the web at http://americanplastics.net/page55.html

GatorFoam is like foam core, except the outside face is made of lucite (plastic) instead of paper.  It comes in one thickness (3/16") and in black, white, and natural (brown) colors. http://www.gatorfoam.com

Masonite hardboard panels are made from pressed wood fiber bound with glue.  This material is good for making inexpensive overhead signs and free standing signs, whether permanent ones or prototypes.  Hang with picture hanging wire of compatible strength for the weight of the signs.  Comes in 4" x 8' sheets, 1/4" thick, for about $8 at building supply stores.  Be sure to ask for masonite that is smooth on both sides, not "tempered" which has one waffled side and is sometimes difficult to paint.  Masonite needs to be painted (and touched up when letters are removed) and is much heavier than SINTRA and other plastics.

Crescent mat board comes in 32" x 40" sheets for $5-6.  Once you've picked your sign colors, buy mat board in quantities from an art supply store for a lower price than single sheets.  Mat board is useful for all kinds of signs, but hanging signs will warp eventually.  Hang with fishing line, stick on walls with two sided foam adhesive tape, or make stand up signs.  Adhesive letters leave marks or tear the finish, so when the text needs to change you must toss the old signs and begin anew.  Available on the web at http://www.BindersArt.com and other online artist supply stores.
 

Lettering

Chartpak drafting appliqué film is an 8 1/2 x 11" adhesive backed clear vinyl sheet that you can run through a laser printer or photocopier to make all sorts of signs—instructional, identification, advisory—when you want to place a sign exactly where the information is needed.  Comes in 8 varieties.  Be sure to order "matte top sheet" because "clear" is very shiny.  We use DAFPB8L:  matte top sheet, permanent adhesive, paper backing sheet, for a laser printer.  The adhesive isn't permanent but perhaps stickier than "temporary."  Comes 100 sheets to a box for about $82.  Some dealers stock a 10 sheet package for about $14.  Call (800) 628-1910 for a local distributor, or order from their web site at http://www.chartpak.com Click on Catalog>Surfaces>Drafting Appliqué Films>Paperback

Adhesive-backed vinyl for lettering systems.  Order the size you need for your cutter (below), usually 15" wide.  Be sure to get matte finish.  If you can get indoor vinyl it's a lot cheaper than outdoor vinyl.  You'll need white and black.  Look on the web for the best deals.
Try signage vendor sites such as:

http://www.gbcsign.com/
http://www.signagespecialist.com/
http://www.signmaking.com/
http://tonasgraphics.com/signmake.html

Braille alphabet
http://www.nbp.org/alph.html
http://www.hotbraille.com/
 

Cutter/Plotter Systems

Hardware.  Investigate the Roland Digital Group's Camm-1 desktop rollfeed vinyl cutter/plotter.  We have been very satisfied with the 15" model which is no longer made.  Other possibilities are the 12" (about $2000) or the 24" (about $2500).  It can be used with either a Mac or PC.  Visit their web site for more information at http://www.rolanddga.com/ Prices aren't listed so you have to call around or e-mail for the best deal.  You can look up local vendors at the Roland web site.

Another option for a desktop cutter is the SummaCut D60.  Check it out at http://www.airmark.com  This one features a USB connection for newer Macs and PCs.  Scott and Gerber also make vinyl cutters

Also investigate the equipment at signage sites such as:

http://www.gbcsign.com/
http://www.signagespecialist.com/
http://www.signmaking.com/
http://tonasgraphics.com/signmake.html

Software.  You need cutting software that is compatible with your cutter, your computer, and your drawing/lettering software.  There are many choices.  If you are only making letters for signs (and not intricate, multicolored graphics), choose something simple and low-end to go with the equipment and software you already have.  For example, if you already have Adobe Illustrator on a Mac or PC, ask for something you can use with that.  Look at CASmate PRO, FlexiSign, PrintCUT, SignMate, or WinPlot at the signage web sites listed above.  Sometimes the software is bundled with the purchase of a cutter.  Ask for a deal.
 

Miscellaneous

3M Adhesive Spray Mount is available at art supply stores and building supply stores for about $10 a can.  This is a recommended extravagance.  We've had bad luck with cheaper brands.  Use with good ventilation, preferably outside.

Adhesive-backed Velcro is available at hardware, building supply, and fabric stores.  We've tried gluing the less expensive plain Velcro.  It's not worth the discomfort, and the fumes are probably illegal.  Comes in several colors and widths.  Black 1" is very useful.

Goof-Off is the best product we've found for removing adhesive residue from walls and signboards.  Rub it on with paper towels.  Alternate rubbing with scraping with a razor blade.   Be sure to wear heavy rubber gloves when using this stuff, and provide good ventilation (work outside if you can) because it really stinks.