Custom signs are so important for your company, no matter what industry you’re in. They help attract people to your business as well as help people recognize and navigate to your business.

Whether you are looking to create a logo sign, a sign to promote a sale, a directional sign, or any other type of sign, this guide to custom sign printing will help you easily bring your sign idea to life.

Planning Your Custom Sign Project

Before you choose the type of sign, put together the details of your custom sign, or begin designing your sign, there are a few things you need to consider so that your custom sign printing project is a seamless process from start to end.

By planning your sign project out and understanding the below factors, you’ll be able to start your custom sign project off successfully.

Your Custom Signs Purpose

Why are you looking to create a custom sign? What is your custom sign going to be used for?

Knowing the purpose of your sign will help you with the important details that come along with custom sign printing. Including choosing the right type of sign and designing your custom sign.

Your Audience

Your business has a specific audience, and that audience needs to be top of mind when creating your custom sign.

Your custom sign should reflect and attract your audience. Outline who your audience is and consider what your audience would be more attracted to. Depending on who your target audience is, will help you with every next step in the custom sign printing process.

Where Your Sign Will Display

Before you can choose the type of sign you want to use in your custom sign printing project, you need to consider where your sign will display.

For one, this is important because there are certain materials you’ll be introduced to that are designed for indoor and outdoor use and others that are only appropriate for indoor use.

And second, knowing where your sign will be seen and how it will be seen will help you design the perfect custom sign that stands out in it surroundings and is readable from its location.

Choosing The Right Type of Sign

Once you have planned out your custom sign project, you’re ready to choose the right type of sign.

Below are a variety of examples you may be planning for and some of the most effective sign options available for each example.

Event and Trade Show Signs

Banners - Banners are a staple at any trade show or event. They are extremely versatile, and you can hang them up or stand them up using an x-stand or retractable banner style.

Table Tents - Table tents or table towers are perfect to place on your event table to share information about your business.

Tablecloths - A branded tablecloth draped over your booth table can increase brand awareness and dresses up your event station in a professional way.

Posters - Custom posters promoting your event are a great way to get people interested in attending your event and are perfect for promoting your business at your tradeshow or event.

Indoor Business Signs

Ceiling Danglers - Custom ceiling danglers are perfect to hang above point of purchase displays (POP,) for promoting a sale, drawing attention to your most profitable products, and so much more.

Posters - A full-color, custom printed poster is extremely effective at promoting a sale, a new product or service offering, and more as people are attracted to posters.

Shelf Danglers - Shelf danglers hang on a shelf like a point of purchase display or other retail shelving and are perfect for promoting a sale or a new product as they draw attention to the specific product you are promoting.

Wall Decals - Wall decals come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they promote your message effectively. Try using a wall decal to promote your logo or brand slogan to increase brand awareness.

Table Tents - Custom table tents are perfect for promoting your happy hour, a sale, your company’s core values, and more. Place them on any table or reception desk where there is a lot of foot traffic for the best results.

Floor Decals - Custom floor decals can help your customers navigate to a certain destination, can help bring awareness to a sale, product, or service, or are perfect for just promoting your brand with a simple logo floor sign.

Wall Signs - Custom wall signs can be created using a variety of materials and come in many standard and custom sizes and shapes. They’re also proven to generate results when promoting your brand or other message.

Banners - Custom banners aren’t just for outdoor or tradeshow use. They are an affordable and effective way to promote sales within your store or to advertise your business, a product, or a service offering.

Menu Boards - If you have a variety of products or services to offer—like restaurants, food trucks, salons, or auto shops—then you need a custom menu board to effectively advertise everything your business has to offer.

Outdoor Business Signs

Yard Signs - Custom yard signs are an affordable and effective way to advertise a sale, a house for sale, an open house, your grand opening, that you’re hiring, that you’re offering a new service, and so much more.

Banners - Custom banners are made using durable and waterproof vinyl and they are a cost-effective way to draw attention to your message.

Window Decals - Window decals come in a variety of materials including permanent and temporary adhesives. Try a custom window decal to advertise your logo, hours of operation, an image or custom lettering.

Aluminum Signs - Custom aluminum signs are very durable and suitable for any long-term indoor or outdoor use. They are great for logo signs, real estate signs, gate signs, dimensional lettering and so much more.

Wall Decals - Custom wall decals come in a variety of materials, including vinyl adhesive which is perfect for long-term outdoor use. Dress up the side of your building with a wall decal to attract attention to your business.

Blade Signs - Custom blade signs hang perpendicular to your storefront or building and can effectively promote your business and help people passing by locate your business.

Backlit Signs - Backlit signs are printed on acrylic, polycarbonate, or polystyrene and are illuminated by a light source. These types of signs are perfect for monument signs, ground signs, blade signs, logo signs, and more.

Plastic Signs - Custom plastic signs can be used for wall signs, blade signs, and any other type of custom sign you’d like to use to promote your message. They are made using PVC and last for many, many years.

Ground Signs - Ground signs are placed low to the ground and are typically at eye-level or below to attract anyone who passes to visit your business or to take action and react to your message.

Feather Flags - Feather flags are perfect for promoting your message near a road, or outside of your store. They flow in the wind and add movement to your message to really draw attention to your advertisement.

Custom Vehicle Signs

Window Graphics - Custom car window graphics are printed on a special material so that you can see through your window but from the outside, your audience sees your advertisement.

Car Magnets - Custom car magnets are an effective way to advertise your business from wherever you travel. They last for an exceptionally long time and can withstand any weather condition.

Magnetic Menu Boards - Magnetic menu boards are large car magnets where your menu is printed onto your custom sign. These types of custom signs are perfect for food trucks and other businesses that operate on the road.

Vinyl Decals - Custom vinyl car decals are safe for your vehicle and are the perfect way to promote your brand, website, slogan, and more.

Office Signage

Acrylic Signs - Custom acrylic signs are a sleek way to display your logo, company name, or employee names, and can be placed in your lobby, at your reception desk or in your office.

Aluminum Signs - Custom aluminum office signs are perfect to use as directional signs, logo signs, and more. They’re very durable and add a professional look and feel to your custom sign.

Wall Decals - Custom wall decals within your office, lobby, or above your reception desk are a great way to promote your business’s brand, slogan, or core values.

Table Tents - Place table tents on tables in your lobby, or at your reception desk to promote a new service, a partnership, or other offering.

Designing Your Custom Sign

We go into more details on custom sign design in our blog “How to Design an Eye-Catching Business Sign,” however the below sign design overview will help guide you is designing the perfect custom sign.

Select Easy-to-Read Fonts

When designing your custom sign, choose a typeface that is easy to read. As you can see on the right, some fonts are easier to read than others especially if you step back a bit.

The goal of your custom sign is to attract your audience or to inform and if your audience can’t read your sign, then your sign won’t work to your advantage. You may be tempted to choose an appealing font style, with fancy details, but it’s incredibly important for signs that you choose a clean and clear font so that it’s readable from any distance.

Also, make sure to use bold text and large text for your headlines and call to actions to really draw attention to your custom sign.

Limit Your Design Elements

Depending on the purpose of your sign, just including your logo can be enough. However, if you need to include more details within your sign design, gather all elements that you need. And then limit those elements to only the crucial ones. For example, include your logo, a short message, an image, your call to action, and that’s it.

You want to keep your custom sign design simple and straight to the point to really grab your audience's attention.

Choose Colors That Get Attention

When designing your custom sign, choose colors that will get a response. It’s recommended to choose colors that are within your branded color scheme to better generate brand awareness. However, if you decide to go with another color palette, choose colors that reflect your message and colors that evoke the certain feeling you want your audience to feel.

It’s also important to consider your custom sign’s surroundings when choosing your colors. For example, if you’re placing your sign on a red brick wall, you want to avoid using too many reds or avoid using red altogether. Or if you’re placing your sign near other companies’ signs, make sure your sign’s colors stand out from their signs’ colors.

Make Sure There is High Contrast

High contrast within your custom sign design will help you attract more people to your sign and help with readability.

For example, if you’re using light colored text, graphics, or if your logo is light colored, then choose a dark color for your sign’s background.

Image Quality Needs to Be High

When printing anything, you need to make sure your images, graphics, and your logo, are all high-quality to ensure they are printed crisp and clear.

Make sure images are large enough that you don’t need to enlarge them too much or at all within your design platform. Also, make sure that their resolution is at least 300 DPI. For logos and graphics, it’s recommended that you include them within your design as vector graphics to get the best results.

Choosing The Right Custom Sign Printing Company

Choosing the right custom sign printing company can be overwhelming because there are so many out there.

However, to get the best results with your custom sign printing project, you need to choose a printer who can help you every step of the way, who offers the options you need, and a printer who has experience.

And at Conquest Graphics, from choosing the right type of sign and materials that meets your goals and budget, to helping you design the perfect sign, we’re here to help you along the entire process, and we have the experience you would expect from any printer of over 100 years old to have.

If you’re ready to get started on your custom sign printing project, click the button below to get started today.