Eyes wide open


On-going developments

in technology are

encouraging sign-makers
to come up with inventive
ways of communicating

with the public. Rebecca Paddick finds out which companies are

leading the way in these evolving sectors


In creating signs for the public arena, sign-makers have always had a lot to consider, often causing projects to become less of a creative process and more of a box ticking balancing act. Design, manufacturing and installation, are initial obstacles, but location and target audience also has an immense impact on the sign-makers choice. Add constantly evolving technology and strict regulations to the mix, and this make for very a very complicated process.

Developing technology is causing sign-makers to include new ideas with more traditional ways of working. Discussing current industry trends, Noel Palmer, managing director of Palmers Publicity Services, says: “We have worked on several projects where we have been asked to include a mixture of signage and display imagery. We are now incorporating a number of ideas and elements into one job.”

Whilst at work on a restaurant refurbishment in London, Palmers printed temporary metal diabond panels for the entrance of the restaurant, designed as a cover to the build site. These prints were made to imitate the final doorway. PPS then added a 50” plasma TV in a waterproof secure housing on the reverse of the diabond, playing images and illustrations of what would be the finished restaurant.

Incorporating ideas

The family run design and large format print company was established by Noel in 1988. During this time the firm has seen some drastic changes in the sector, and keeps abreast of the latest buying patterns.

“There has been increased interest in LED illuminations since the price for this has come down,” says Palmer, adding: “Anything that is illuminated is more popular because it stands out, and we are now being asked to incorporate illuminations in a lot of our public signage.”

Work on the Museum of Lancashire saw the firm cover a 16 x 3m wall in textured wallpaper, printed from the Agfa Anapurna flatbed. The paper was then split across the middle by a rail containing two rows of multi-coloured RGB LEDs. Mounted on top of the wallpaper was a variety of other displays ranging from simple flat cut lettering on raised stand offs for the main exhibition title, to 18" picture viewers playing short video clips and assorted historical photography.

A series of slimline light boxes with four historical maps of Lancashire and more picture viewers also helped make up the display.

“These continually moving displays are something we see developing in the future. As more people become aware of what technology is available, more will want to include it,” explains Noel.

Dual messages

In creating way-finding and tactile signage, sign-makers are faced with another challenge, they must have an awareness of their target audience. For example, they can incorporate tactile signage into their business by identifying key target markets based on current regulations. In this respect, government buildings, public institutions, universities, almost any public-use building, has a need for tactile signage.

Accessibility guidelines specific to the signage industry are intended to assist those with visual disabilities. A growing trend catering to this market is dual message signs.

“There are primarily two groups of people with visual disabilities, the blind and the visually impaired,” explains Dave Miller, business director at Nova Polymers, global manufacturer and distributor of photopolymer sign products.

He adds: “This is why dual message signs are becoming more prominent, as they address the needs of both groups in very different ways.”

The top part of this sign is not tactile, but does heavily contrast with the background making it easily seen by those that have sight, but have a visual impairment. The lower part of this sign does not contrast, but does have tactile lettering and Braille, which addresses the needs of those that are blind.

Strong bonds

Accessible signage has in the past been manufactured by using processes that require a great deal of labour. The processes used have varied from sand blasting to the tedious process of engraving, gluing appliqué on base materials for tactile lettering and drilling Braille balls into the surface of a base to create tactile lettering.

While each of these processes are capable of creating signage that provides conformance to current guidelines and regulations, it does require the use of a great deal of labour, which inevitably increases cost. This ultimately creates a sign that is manufactured by mechanically fastening various components together which can contribute to vandalism concerns.

Photopolymer, specifically Novacryl, can create ‘Architectural and Accessible’ (ADA compliant) signage. Novacryl is a photo-reactive material that when exposed to ultraviolet light hardens and creates an integral bond with a variety of base materials. This bond, or chemical weld, is created using equipment that uses only UV light and tap water to create a single piece construction sign that requires very little labour and cost. The integral, single piece construction of a sign fabricated using Novacryl ensures longevity in the commercial application and offers the opportunity to provide anti-vandal characteristics.

Miller comments: “As budgets continue to tighten and cycle time for signage, which is typically the last component installed in a project, continue to be reduced, it is important to be aware of processes and materials like Novacryl. This is because it requires little labour, improves quality and consistency, allows for increased capacity, meets all international accessibility guidelines and ultimatley allows the fabricator to realise high margins, all while creating accessible signage that fits with the interior design of a project.”

More and more often signs are manufactured using materials that already have design elements incorporated into the materials. These materials that are encapsulated into the base of the materials actually compliment the design of the interior for which they are being installed, as Miller explains: “Using a material like Novacryl - ECR, which incorporates 40 percent post industrial wasted and Green Guard certified materials address design, productivity and environmental issues.”

Treating tactile

Tactile signage has seen major changes take place in recent years, due to developing technology and emerging consumer trends. Traditionally, producing tactile signage would have relied upon using engraving technology such as Roland’s EGX-350 to etch into metal plates, glass or plastics.

However, the very latest techniques for producing tactile signage centre on UV inkjet printing.

“The market for tactile signage has always been relatively buoyant – supported by the need to make buildings and public spaces accessible for the visually impaired and serviced by engraving technology,” explains Rob Goleniowski, business manager for sign and graphics at Roland DG UK.

He continues: “Although the barriers to entry have been lowered by the advent of UV technology, the expected increase in competition in the market has been tempered by a growth in demand thanks to legislation and regulations that make signs suitable for the hard of sight a legal requirement in certain situations.”

Roland’s solutions in this area are the VersaUV family of products—desktop LEF-12, the LEC-330 or 540 printer/cutter and the VersaUV LEJ-640 printer. Each is available in a choice of three ink-configurations: CMYK + White + Clear, CMYK + White + White or CMYK + Clear + Clear. Goleniowski adds: “It is the clear ink that is layered to produce rich, tactile special effects ranging from matte and high-gloss finishes for area highlights or floods to custom-textured effects such as faux leather, crocodile skin and even Braille.”

The VersaUV offers a number of benefits for printing tactile signage; colour from the point of view of sighted people, but it can also layer inks and glosses for raised text, diagrams or Braille for people who are hard of sight. UV inks can bond to almost any surface, meaning a diverse range of substrates is available for use, from traditional display media such as vinyl, diabond and foamex to glass, aluminium or leather. The result is more choice for the customer and ultimately more value too.

Advanced UV printing has cut time and costs for tactile signage makers, and has lead to the production of more effective and well targeted public signage. Using a combination of ideas to produce signs for visually impaired and blind people in one product is now easily achievable.

Whilst technology is simplifying the complex task sign-makers have in these sectors, it is also allowing them to be more creative. Mixing signage and display with illuminations is adding to the interactive element, something which we are sure to see more of in the months ahead.