Events
Signage Facts
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)  
Videos
Links

Events

 

Signage Facts

Typestyles
Sans Serif
Sans Serif fonts project a strong durable image.  They also effectively communicate quick bursts of information.
Script
Script fonts project an elegant image.  Unfortunately they are often characterized by poor legibility.
Serif
Serif fonts project a more sophisticated upscale image.  They also make it easier to read large bodies of text.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)  

Q: What kinds of materials are used for sandblasted signs?
A: Redwood, Cedar, HDU (High Density Urethane)

Q: What is LED?
A: An LED (light emitting diode) is an efficient, effective and ultra-bright alternative to incandescent light bulbs. The LED in a sign typically last as long as 100,000 hours and they require significantly less power to operate.

Q: What is the difference between Neon and LED?  Reasons to consider LED?
A: Neon emits light due to gases in the neon tubing being bombarded by electrons. To generate a stream of electrons, very high voltage is required.  LEDs emit light due to the flow of electrons but do not require high voltage-it is a property of certain materials. When space is restricted (such as the width of a letter) LED may be the answer. Also, low operating costs and low voltage are also reasons to consider LED as a source of illumination.

Q: What’s a raceway?
A: A raceway is an enclosure for enclosing electrical components. In many cases this is a UL requirement. When used with illuminated letters it may be exposed with the letters mounted to it and the transformers with associated wiring contained within.

Q: What is the difference between a reverse channel letter and a standard channel letter?
A: A standard channel letter has a translucent face on the front of the letter with the source of illumination behind it so that the face is illuminated.

A standard “reverse channel” letter has typically a metal face with a clear back and the source of the illumination behind this clear back. The result is that light shines onto the building giving a “halo” of light around the letter.

Q: Is signage expensive?
A: Signage is the least expensive, yet most effective, form of advertising for independent and national retail businesses. You pay for the sign once and it works for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for years. Use of other media requires paying month after month and you never have the benefit of ownership. You also have no assurance that you're reaching potential customers. From a business owner's perspective, a sign should not be viewed as an expense, but as a capital investment. When you factor in your return on investment, signs are not expensive. An effective sign will most likely pay for itself many times over.

•  In as few words as possible, clearly communicate what you are selling.
•  A picture depicting your product or service adds impact and clarity.
•  Present the image you want to project that will attract customers and entice them to stop, shop, and buy.
•  Determine the best sign type, size, colors, and placement, keeping in mind what the sign will look like from the street and sidewalk. The proper design of your sign is critical to its effectiveness.
• Crowding the sign with too many words or lines of text makes it impossible to read from a distance. Use as few words as possible.
• Don't try to sell your customers with the sign -- save that type of information until they are in your place of business.
• People are looking through a windshield, in traffic, day and night and in all types of weather. Help your customers both see and read your sign easily.

Q: What items should be included with my order?
A: The Order Process & Requirements:

• The exact copy on the sign
• A site plan, indicating the exact location of the sign.
• We will produce a sketch for your approval - We will not start any work until we receive an approval signature on a sketch via fax or e-mail.
• We will also apply for a permit if necessary. Most villages require permits. Permit and procurement fees do apply.
• We schedule a staking and put flags in the ground, indicating the sign location. We call JULIE/DIGGER for a utility check, and the JULIE/DIGGER clears in two (2) business days.
• We are licensed, bonded & insured. Copies of Insurance Certificates etc. are available upon request.

Q: What are the requirements for Art files?
A: ART REQUIREMENTS:

NOTE:  Digital image files should be sent in PC format.  In very few cases, we can accept MAC files, but these must have been created using Adobe Illustrator and saved in outline vector art versions of (.ai) or (.eps) format.  MAC fonts of any type, however, are unusable. 

• E-mail
• Upload to our Portal
• Diskette, Zip disk or CD-ROM
• Camera-ready art

• Adobe Illustrator (.pdf) or (.ai) 
• Encapsulated Post Script (.eps)
• Tagged image file format (.tif) 
• Joint photographic experts group (.jpg)

NOTE:  While (.jpg) files may be used for sketches during the design layout sketch process, they are not acceptable in most applications of manufacturing.  You may be required to provide better format for manufacturing purposes if the graphics is very detailed and cannot be “hand corrected” by our designers.

          No Quark Express files

Videos

Links

To learn more on signage facts click on the links below.  Please note you will be leaving the Parvin-Clauss Website.

Why Use Signage – by the Small Business Association

Types of Signage – by the Small Business Association

Understanding the Value of Signage – by the Small Business Association

Signage: Your Voice on the Street – by the International Sign Association

Signs: the Bottom Line – by the International Sign Association

Parvin-Clauss Sign Company Becomes Trade Ally with Com Ed

January 31, 2010 - Carol Stream, IL

Parvin-Clauss Sign Company announced today that it has become a trade ally with Com Ed and its “Smart Ideas For Your Business” program.

The Smart Ideas program allows businesses to improve the value they receive from electric energy dollars and in the process save money and protect the environment. 

As a provider of illuminated signage, sign maintenance, parking lot light and retrofitting services, Parvin-Clauss assists its customers in becoming more energy efficient.

“It’s very rewarding to help our customers reduce their energy costs, increase the efficiency of their signs, reduce maintenance expense and help the environment at the same time”, states Bob Clauss, President of Parvin-Clauss. “Now a financial incentive from Com Ed’s Smart Ideas program is available and our customers benefit even more.”

A few examples of Com Ed’s Smart Ideas incentives include:

• Changing neon channel letters to LED: $20/letter for letters greater than 2’ tall
• Upgrading T12 lamps and ballasts to T8 lamps and ballasts: $1-$6/lamp
• Replacing old generation Exit signs with new LED models: $20/sign

To help its customers take advantage of this Com Ed initiative, Parvin-Clauss will conduct a survey of a company’s current sign and lighting program, suggest ways to reduce electricity consumption and related maintenance expense, determine possible lighting incentives available from Com Ed and assist the customer in completing the Smart Ideas application.

To learn more about this exciting program contact Parvin-Clauss at 630-510-2020 or toll free at 866-490-2877.