What We At Signs and More Enterprises Do

Your Business, Our Products

Custom Business Signage, Graphics & So Much More

Your business needs to be seen, and Signs and More Enterprises has a wide variety of products to help communicate your message to prospective customers and clients. Our expert team can assist you with everything from custom signs and graphics to digital displays, interior décor, signage solutions. and everything in between. Each business is unique and will require a different approach, which is why our team will take the time to learn about your needs and recommend the products and services we think will best help you reach more people.

Why is sign shopping so dang tough? 

We understand how hard it can be to find the right sign company, especially in this highly volatile business environment. 

Figuring out the best commercial signage to use outdoors can be an equally time-consuming task.

Cut that time in half by connecting with
a Signs and More Enterprises Sign Specialist today!

It’s an astounding fact – about 85% of your potential customers pass by your business each month. 

The best way to take advantage of that is to put a well-designed, well-placed sign on your property. You are paying good money for your location to make it work to your advantage. A custom outdoor business sign provides the opportunity to convert your business location into cash. Additionally, outdoor signs create a visual identity for your business and attract customers.

What are the best sign materials for outdoor use? 

1. Dibond 
Invented in 1965, Dibond has stood the test of time outside as one of the most durable construction materials available in the entire sign industry. Rigid, aluminum-plated Dibond custom sign panels are:

• Unusually versatile
• Strong
• Waterproof
• UV stable, and
• Unaffected by hot & cold temperature extremes.

2. Alumalite 
The engineered, honeycomb structure of Alumalite provides 240% greater panel strength for areas prone to high winds. The impressive, weather-resistant characteristics of Alumalite signs are the same as Dibond.

For rectangular or square shapes, Alumalite remains one of the best materials to use for exterior signs. Other types of materials are preferred when custom sign shapes are required.

See All 7 of the Industry’s Top Outdoor Signs

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Options for Custom Outdoor Signs:

• Aluminum: Custom aluminum signs are strong, lightweight and super durable. Aluminum is the thinnest of all metal sign composites.
• Alumalite: Alumalite is a metal sign panel made of a corrugated plastic core sandwiched between 2 large aluminum sign boards.
• Dibond: Dibond is a metal sign panel made of a solid plastic core sandwiched between 2 large aluminum sign boards.
• ARMOUR-Wood: ARMOUR-Wood is a metal sign panel made of a solid wood core sandwiched between 2 large aluminum sign boards. This is the strongest metal sign composite.
• Coroplast: These are made from a durable corrugated plastic and are therefore extremely lightweight. They are also waterproof, making them preferable to foam core mounting board, and more professional looking than poster board.
• Dura-Wood: These classic wooden signs are still popular for a number of reasons. They are extremely strong and weather resistant. We also use rot-safe wood.
• A-Frames: A-frames (also called sandwich boards) are a sharp looking and easy-to-install way to display your outdoor signs on sidewalks or in the center of town plazas. We have a wide selection of styles and sizes for your signage.

The Importance & Physical Characteristics of Legible Custom Outdoor Signs for Businesses

Legibility plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of custom-designed outdoor business signs. The readability factor of outdoor advertisements directly impacts brand visibility, recognition and customer engagement. Creating legible and visually appealing outdoor signs is essential in attracting new customers and driving business growth for companies of all sizes.

Studies have shown that a well-designed and legible outdoor sign can generate 2.5 times more foot traffic than a poorly designed one (Sign Research Foundation).

In fact, 75% of consumers have entered a store or business simply because of its outdoor signage (FedEx Office Survey). With these statistics in mind, let’s explore the physical characteristics and design elements that contribute to the legibility of commercial outdoor signs for businesses.

Proper Typeface & Font Selection for Professional Signage

The word “font” comes from the Old French word “fonte,” which means “a casting” or “a founding.” It originally referred to the process of casting metal typefaces for printing presses. In modern usage, “font” refers to the specific style, size and weight of a typeface, which is stored as a digital file on a computer for sign makers to use. The choice of typeface, style & font plays a significant role in the legibility of custom-designed signs displayed outside.

What is the difference between a sign font, a typeface and typestyle?

The terms font, typeface and typestyle are often used interchangeably in the sign industry, but they have distinct meanings in typography.

A typeface refers to a family of related fonts, such as Times New Roman or Aria which companies often use for 3D Letters. Each typeface for bespoke signs includes a range of fonts with different weights, styles, and sizes. For example, the Arial typeface includes fonts such as Arial Regular, Arial Bold, Arial Italic, and Arial Black giving sign designs more personality.

A font, on the other hand, refers to a specific weight, style, and size of a typeface. For example, Arial Regular in a 12 inch size is a font, while Arial Bold in an 18 inch size is another font.

Typestyle refers to the variations within a font family. For example, a font family may include regular, bold, italic, and bold italic type styles commonly seen on billboards. Each style of type has a unique appearance but retains the same basic characteristics of the typeface adding variety for creative sign companies.

To summarize, a typeface is a family of related sign fonts. Fonts designed for customised signs are a specific weight, style & size of a typeface and type style refers to the variations within a font family.

How exactly does the letter size affect legibility in outdoor signage?

Larger sign letters are more visible and easier to read from a greater distance. As the size of the letters increases, so does the optimal viewing distance. This is particularly important for outdoor signs, as they are often meant to be seen from far away, such as by drivers or pedestrians. Smaller letters may not be easily discernible from the intended viewing distance, reducing the effectiveness of the sign.

Visual acuity:

Human eyes have a limited ability to distinguish small details, especially at a distance. Larger letters displayed on signs allow the viewer’s eyes to recognize the shapes and contours of the characters more easily, improving legibility. Smaller letters may blur together or be difficult to differentiate, leading to confusion and reduced comprehension.

Reading speed:

Larger letters are generally quicker to read on large outdoor signs because they are more easily recognizable. Smaller letters can slow down reading speed, as the eyes need to work harder to identify and process the information. In outdoor settings, where viewers may have limited time to read and comprehend the sign (such as when driving), larger letters can improve the effectiveness of the sign’s message.

Contrast and visibility:

Larger letters provide more surface area for contrasting colors between the text and the background. This increased contrast makes the message on outdoor advertising displays stand out more, making it easier to read, especially in environments with varying lighting conditions.

Viewing angle:

Larger letters are more legible from a wider range of viewing angles. This is important for outdoor signs, as viewers may approach the sign from different directions or viewpoints. Smaller letters may become illegible or distorted when viewed from wider angles, reducing the overall effectiveness of the sign.

The size of the letters affects legibility in outdoor signs due to factors such as viewing distance, visual acuity, reading speed, contrast, and viewing angle. Designing outdoor signs with appropriately sized letters ensures that the sign’s message is effectively communicated to the intended audience.

The International Sign Association recently updated their recommendations regarding letter legibility for 2023.

The maximum readable distance for a 1 inch tall letter on an outdoor sign is approximately 25 feet. Every additional inch of letter height on exterior road or wall signage adds 25 feet of viewing distance. The previous study on sign legibility conducted 37 years ago suggested 30 feet for every 1” of letter height.