Sign making: Take advantage of the expanding market

The sign making industry in general has been expanding for the past decade and grew at 20% per year for the last three years, according to a recent survey in Sign of the Times magazine. In addition, the market for interior ADA-compliant signage has been growing much faster than almost all segments in the sign market. Gravograph offers a wide range of equipment, material, and supplies for ADA sign making, including everything necessary for you to create your own interior ADA-compliant signage. Topics below on ADA interior signage, like Applied and Inlaid signs, will help give you more insight to how the signs are made.

Why use Applied and Inlaid signs?
Reliable/Vandal-Resistant – Applied letters are bonded to the sign face with pressure-sensitive adhesive, making them very secure. In some cases, such as schools, prisons, and high-traffic areas, signs need to be made more vandal-resistant. Inlaid signs feature letters chemically bonded under the sign surface, making them virtually indestructible.

Excellent value
Applied and Inlaid signs can fit any signage budget. Prices are determined by the materials and intricacy of the design. These signs can be also be produced economically in small quantities.

How do Applied and Inlaid signs work?
ADA Guidelines for Signage require tactile text that rises at least 1/32” above the sign surface. Applied letters are attached to the sign face with pressure-sensitive adhesive that holds them firmly in place. Here’s how the signs are made:

Sign making process for Applied signage:

1. Place a contrasting piece of 1/32” Gravo-Tac™ engraving material with pressure-sensitive adhesive on the sign face.
2. With a computerized engraving machine, cut an outline of each letter or number through the attached piece of material. Remove the excess material to reveal the tactile text.
3. Squeeze the letters to the sign surface to fully activate the adhesive and hold them securely in place.

The Inlay method of sign making creates vandal-resistant signs with letters that are permanently bonded to the sign face. Choose Inlaid signs to address any concerns you might have about letters being removed or defaced.

Sign making process for Inlaid signs:

1. Glue two pieces of 1/32" sign face material together and cut the letters out of the top piece of material with a computerized engraving machine. You could also choose to route spaces for the letters out of a thicker piece of plastic.
2. With an engraving machine, cut out 1/6" letters out of a contrasting color material.
3. Place and glue the letters into the spaces cut out in step 1.
   The Inlaid letters are bonded to the sign substrate under the surface of the sign, making them impossible to remove.

Click on topics below to learn more about our sign frame systems and Raster™ Braille sign making method to create great-looking Applied and Inlaid ADA Signs, as well as other types of signs.

Raster™ Method of Braille

Using the Raster™ Method, you can create Braille text on an ADA sign by inserting a Raster™ into a hole. It's that simple!

Modular Frames

Designed for interior signage. Frame construction provides flexibility for installations and sign inserts.

Aluminum Modular Frames

Perfect for indoor or outdoor signage, these premium aluminum frames use picture frame technology to offer countless size combinations.

Slatz Frames

Our exclusive engraver's sign system combines silver and gold aluminum shapes and injection-molded plastic into a unique system of interchangeable components for single signs and directories.