Selecting signage for your business requires multiple considerations, from the physical location of the sign to its design, construction, and application. Most businesses, companies, and brands will require a combination of signage types to create environmental branding that suits the function of their space.
Metal signage is often used in conjunction with other signage types, like vinyl signs, to create bold designs or to stand up to environmental elements. A custom metal sign can also act as an eye-catching display or type of wall art. Metal fabrication provides numerous opportunities for customization and is a top choice for business signage.
What Are Custom Metal Signs?
Custom metal signs attract customers to your business, draw interest to informational displays inside a store, and communicate essential information to clients and shoppers. These high-quality signs are often chosen for their durability, as metal can stand up to harsh weather better than other materials do.
Custom metal signs are used in a variety of applications, from the roadway signs you see on your daily errands to the business signs that hang on the exterior of a building.
What Do Metal Signs Cost?
The cost of a personalized metal sign varies greatly depending on the materials chosen, the design of the sign, and its placement. For example, a simple, unpainted sign made of vinyl will be much less costly than a fabricated sign with paint. At Reveal Graphics, an expert will walk you through the costs associated with your signage plan so that you can understand budget considerations before starting the fabrication of the sign.
Types of Custom Metal Signs
Materials used in metal sign fabrication are lauded for their durability. Aluminum and steel, used in countless other applications that get significant wear, make for sleek, long-lasting signs. But other metal materials, like brass, copper, and silver, offer similar hardiness, though with a more unique look.
Aluminum Signs
Aluminum signs are an incredibly practical choice for exterior signage, as they are not impacted by weather conditions or environmental factors. Aluminum won’t warp in intense heat or cold, and it won’t rust in wet conditions like rain or snow. Compared to other metal materials, aluminum is lightweight. It may also be a more cost-effective material than other metal signage, depending on the design of the sign.
Steel Signs
Steel signage is hardy and durable, though much heavier than aluminum signage. Like aluminum, it won’t warp or break in harsh weather, but steel can rust over time. For some, the potential for rust is a positive — it can enhance the appearance of a sign and harmonize with the aesthetics of the space.
Brass and Bronze Signs
Brass and bronze signage offers a timeless, sophisticated look and stands up to a variety of conditions, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications. To understand how bronze signs will last over time, consider the numerous sculptures and art installations made of bronze. They may develop a patina over time that only enhances the appeal of the material. Brass and bronze are well suited to engraving, or etching, which makes it possible to design complex images and lettering on the material.
Copper Signs
Copper signage provides a luxe look in a durable material. Like brass and bronze signs, copper will develop a patina over time — think: the Statue of Liberty — which can make the sign even more appealing.
Silver and Mirrored Finishes
Silver and mirrored finishes can be applied to metal signage to enhance the appearance of the sign and make it more eye-catching. Both finishes are durable, but a sign with a mirrored finish may require more maintenance — and be more difficult to read — in exterior applications.
Designing Your Custom Metal Sign
At Reveal Graphics, all of our signage is custom-made for clients with the help of our skilled design team. From etching a logo and business information into a metal sign to creating metal wall art with a mirrored finish to outfit your office, our team understands the nuances of each sign application and can consult with you about the best choices for your project.
Factors to Consider in Design
Sign Placement
When designing a custom metal sign, your first consideration should be application: Where do you intend to use the sign? Metal signs function effectively as outdoor and indoor signs, but the local climate and general placement of your sign can determine the best material for your project.
Additionally, the place of your sign will determine how large or small it needs to be. A metal sign used in the interior of a building will likely be smaller than an exterior sign over a building’s entrance.
CNC Routing and Printing Techniques
Most metal signage requires CNC routing. This method allows for precision in the design, which makes it ideal not just for lettering but also for logos and other unique and custom design elements. Printed elements are applied directly onto the material, which offers greater versatility and can yield a more precise design.
Adding Color to Metal Signs
Should you want to incorporate color into your sign design, there are multiple options. Painted signs have a custom, artful look and direct printing offers plenty of color in a more precise application. Applying printed vinyls to metal signage is another way to add color to a metal sign, if you prefer something less permanent.
Metal 3D Dimensional Lettering
Metal can be used for 3D dimensional lettering, too, which stands out in interior and exterior applications. Many businesses choose dimensional lettering for their primary store or office signs. This design type can be more visible than engraved signage, especially when used for wayfinding signage or building signage.
Lighting Metal Signage
Finally, metal signage is well suited to lighting — and there are countless lighting options to choose from. Whether you want a back-lit steel sign with a dramatic look or a face-lit copper sign that captures attention, Reveal Graphics can provide the best lighting type for your signage project.
Applications for Custom Metal Signs
Metal signs can be used as business signs; for addresses on offices, warehouses, or public buildings; as wall art; and for wayfinding signage. The material’s durability and vast potential for customization make it a common choice for business signage.
Business Signage
Businesses should first consider metal signage for outdoor signs because of the long-term durability of the material. An investment in a metal sign can last years, if not decades, when made of high-quality materials and applied in appropriate locations.
Address Signs
Address signs are critical for commercial uses, and metal is often the best choice because signs are hardy in external applications and can be scaled for visibility. For companies with large warehouses or campuses, metal address signs improve traffic flow and make it easier for individuals to navigate from one building to another.
Wall Art
Metal signage makes for attractive wall art inside an office, in a hallway, or in a waiting room. Mirrored signs also help to reflect light, which can improve the look and feel of a space with limited windows.
Event and Promotional Use
Metal signs are heavier than other signage types often used for events or promotions. This construction can be preferable for outdoor events or promotion outside of buildings because signage is less likely to fall or blow away in the wind.
Design Your Custom Metal Signs With Reveal GFX
As you build your brand’s signage plan, consider metal signs for applications throughout your business. They can serve both form and function with superior durability and multiple opportunities for customization. If you’re ready to establish a signage plan, contact the experts at Reveal Graphics today to get started.
