All boat registrations must be 200mm high, this is required by law.  There is no law regarding boat names and designs, so feel free to let your creative juices flow.  If you have an idea, but are unsure as to how to make it a reality our skilled signwriters will be able to produce a layout for you that will put your thoughts into reality.

Boat registraton sign

Boat signs

• Acrylic paint
• Enamel paint

You can tell the difference between these two main types of paint is what they are thinned and are cleaned up with.

Acrylic paint

1. This paint is thinned and cleaned up with water
2. Quick dry
3. Self-sealing
4. Always remains tacky to the touch in hot weather – therefore if dirt gets onto the surface then it will embed itself in the paint over a period of time – it if is not cleaned

Enamel Paint

1. This paint is thinned and cleaned up with mineral turpentine
2. Slow to dry
3. Not self-sealing – this means that it needs an undercoat, otherwise it will just keep sinking into the surface you are painting
4. Does dry completely – this allows it to be easily cleaned
5. It will retain its gloss for longer than acrylic and is much harder wearing than acrylic.
6. Gloss enamel can be made into a two pack, with an additive added to the enamel called dry add.  This will make it a chemically dried paint, rather than dried by oxygen.  This will ensure that the paint surface is even more robust and last even longer.   This also makes the paint surface much more solvent resistant.

How to pick the best sign substrate for you

There is a wide variety of sign substrates/materials that can be used for your sign.  It is important that you weigh up all the factors before choosing a substrate for your sign.  The facts that you need to take into account should be:

• How long you want the sign to last;
• How much you are prepared to pay for a sign;
• Weight of the sign;
• Does the sign need to be erected with or without a frame, depending on the size and type of substrate;

Common sign substrates:

1. Corflute

2. Vinyl banner material

3. Sign white – colourbond – metal sign

4. Aluminium composite panel

5. Aluminium sheet

6. Acrylic sheet – Perspex – hard plastic

7. Weathertex – wood signs

Corflute Signs

Corflute comes in 2 thicknesses – 3mm and 5mm.  The 3mm will support its own weight at around 900mm x 600mm for a short time only.  The 5mm will support its own weight 1.2m x 1.2m for a short time only. 

Advantages

• For short term projects like real estate signs, it is well priced and is an ideal product for this industry.

Vinyl banner material

This substrate is well priced and with a Kevlar rope edge, will allow the banner to be slide into sail track and will allow the banner to be pulled out tight without any wrinkles and will look like a flat panel.

Advantages

• Solvent based digital printer can print directly onto this material – making it more cost effective
• Printed in long runs – up to 50 m long and up to 3.2m high.  This will eliminate the need for a join.
• As long as the digital print is overlaminated with digiclear, you could expect this to last approx. 3 years.
• Lightweight
• Reasonably priced
• Sign can be removed and taken to new premises, or repositioned

Disadvantages

• Once it needs to be updated, you would need to get a whole new vinyl banner, as you cannot reprint over the old sign.  Even if there is self adhesive vinyl applied to the banner, it is not possible to remove the vinyl and reuse the banner in an economical fashion.
• If Digiclear overlaminate is NOT applied, the white areas on the banner will start to brown
• 3 years is about its longevity as it does break down with sunlight

Sign white – Metal sign

This is a great versatile product.  It comes pre-finished in white, which you can either paint, apply graphics or signwrite directly to the panel.  It comes in 1.2m x 2.4m.

Special considerations:

• It will require a frame if you want it to span reasonable distances.

Advantages:

• Long lasting – approx. 10 years +
• Durable
• UV stable
• Recyclable
• Cut into various complex shapes

Disadvantages:

• Reasonably heavy
• Quite expensive to purchase the product and install as you may need more than 2 installers.
• It has sharp edges
• Large signs will have joins

Aluminium Composite Panel

It is available in 1.22m x 2.44m sheets and can also be purchased at 1.22m x 4.88m

Advantages:

• Extremely versatile and light weight
• Self supporting over a larger area than sheet metal and is much lighter than sheet metal
• It is more ridged than sheet metal
• It is available in many prepared colours and finishes.
• 20 years + durability of the sheet
• Cut into various complex shapes
• Well priced
• Recyclable
• Easy to cut

Disadvantages

• None

Acrylic Sheet

Comes in 1.2m x 2.4m.  it is great looking as it has a high gloss level.

Special considerations: 

It is a far better internal product than external product.

Advantages

• Cut into complex shapes
• Nice appearance
• Sheets are available in many thicknesses between 3mm and 20mm.

Disadvantages

• Quite heavy
• Expands and contracts a lot on the sun
• It will deteriorate over time in sunlight
• It will star/craze in 5-6 years and will become outdoor
• Expensive

Weathertex – wood sign

Not widely used any more as it is too heavy, too expensive and doesn’t last.  

When you are investing in a company for your commercial and corporate signage, you are often looking for many different types of signs, on various media and of different shapes, sizes and construction types.  It is therefore important that you ensure that the sign company that you contact is capable of producing all these signs.  Not only is it more expensive for you the end user if they outsource their signs, there can be difficulties coordinating installation, and it can make the process more difficult when you have multiple people to deal with.

At Signage Brisbane, we are the complete Brisbane Sign Company.  We manufacture and install all our own signs – this ensures that you get a great product at a great price, but you don’t have the hassle of multiple contacts.

We recently did a large job for JLG Ground support, where we supplied them with a large illuminated sign with fabricated letters that was internally illuminated with LED’s, 3D fabricated letter sign for the building, large building sign – constructed of cut out composite aluminium panel, and internal digital prints.

We manufacture and install our own signs

Internally illuminated with LED, 3D plastic fabricated letters

Digitally printed mural for the office

Contact our team at Signage Brisbane today for a quote for all your business sign needs. 

View some of our other commercial and corporate signs

Vehicle graphic and vehicle wrap material

• You should always ensure that your vehicle wrap is produced using one of the 3 major bands – 3M, Avery, and Arlon.  This will ensure that you have a good product.  There are many different brands of materials on the market, but they are not all the same quality.  We only use these brands because they conform effectively to the curves in the car.
• Laminate – all digitally printed vinyl should be laminated to ensure extra UV protection.  You should get at least 3 years before the ink starts to fade.  Ensure that your sign company does this.
• If  a good quality vinyl wrap has been used, then they are easier to remove when you choose to sell the vehicle.  This is important for those companies that lease vehicles.

Removal of a vehicle wrap

• You should be able to remove the wrap with a hair dryer or a heat gun – paint will stay intact.
• If there is any glue remaining then some mineral turpentine can be used to remove any residue adhesive.

Vehicle wrap price range

• It depends on how much of the vehicle you want to ‘wrap’.  A whole vehicle is more expensive than a vehicle that has a wrap on 1 or 2 panels.
• The price range is from $1300 to $5000.

Vehicle decal / cut out vinyl lettering price range

• $150 – $900

Preparation for vehicle wraps/vehicle graphics

• When you bring your car to us ensure that it is clean, but not polished.

Maintenance of your vehicle graphics and vehicle decals

• We only recommend hand washing your car with a light detergent
• We don’t recommend automatic car washes

Important information

Vehicle wraps are a complicated job for even the most experienced professionals.  For this reason you should not attempt to install them yourself.  We would also advise that you assess the company you have contracted prior to having them go ahead with the job.  A reputable company would be more than happy to show you a portfolio of their work and be happy to give you contact details for their past clients.  We would always advise this.  You should also ask for a warranty from the sign company, so you can ensure that they will guarantee their work should their be an issue.

With all the right information, you will be sure to have a vehicle that will advertise your business effectively