ABATEMENT: In law, the removal or control of an annoyance, such as a sign not meeting a community's sign code. Most commonly used as term associated with removal of asbestos.

ABRASIVE METHOD: Acid-etching or sandblasting to alter the surface of a material. The material is masked and an abrasive method applied, incising a graphic into substrate.

ACCESS PANEL: Removable or swinging panel, usually flush with adjoining surface, that provides access to concealed equipment or system components for inspection, maintenance, and repair.

ACETATE: A thin flexible plastic sheet usually available in roll form. Durable and stretch-resistant, this clear material is normally used as a substrate in point-of-purchase signs. Available in glossy and matte finishes.

ACID-ETCHING: A method similar to sandblasting, used primarily for marking glass. A stencil of the artwork is either hand- or computer-cut and applied to the glass, which is then brushed with an acid mixture such as ammonium and sodium biflouride. After a specified length of time, the surface is washed and the stencil removed. Also called etching.

ACRYLIC: Often used as a generic term for plastics used in sign making. Acrylic is a type of plastic (Plexiglas, Acrylite, are well known proprietary trade names) characterized by clarity, transparent and opaque color ranges, and paintability. It also has excellent machinability. Cast and extruded acrylics have different qualities and tolerances.

ACRYLIC PAINT: A type of paint or ink with an acrylic resin base, normally used in silk screening and screen-printing and when hand-painting signs.

ADHESION: The ability of two materials to be held together at the molecular level. Normally created by use of an adhesive such as double-sided tape or glue. Can also refer to magnetic adhesion, or mechanical adhesion by suction, Velcro, etc.

ADHESIVE: A material able to hold two surfaces or materials together. Often activated by heat or pressure. Examples include tape, glue, paste, synthetic resin, epoxy or silicone adhesives.

ADVANCE NOTICE SIGN: A sign used to provide an advance notice prior to a roadway, street, or building entrance. Similar to a directional sign, but usually announces a single destination. Also called approach sign.

AIRBRUSH: A device used in hand-painting that utilizes compressed air to generate a fine spray of paint. As air passes through the head of the airbrush, a vacuum is created, siphoning the paint up from its container. Airbrushes come in a variety of sizes with different heads and tips depending on the detail required.

ALUMINUM: A light common material used in sign panels, poles and frames.

AMBIENT LIGHT: The general level of light, or background light, in a given environment. The ambient light level is the sum of all light (direct and indirect) in a given area emitted by natural and manmade sources at a given time. It can affect the legibility of signs, and may require alterations in illumination methods.

A.D.A. (AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT):This legislation was enacted by the federal government in 1991 in order to remove barriers in the environment that limit any individual's ability to function in the physical environment. Within the five titles of the ADA is Title III, which pertains to signs.

ANCHOR: Any device that secures one object to another and does not give way, as well as the process of installing those devices. In signmaking, this term refers particularly to the fasteners that are used to secure awnings and fascia signs to facades. See also J-bolt.

ANGLE: An extruded length of material, usually plastic, aluminum, or steel, in the shape of an L (right angle). A structural angle has rounded, or radiused, interior corners and more inherent strength than architectural angle, which has crisp, 90-degree interior corners.

ANODIZED FINISH: An electrochemical coating applied to the surface of metal, to harden, protect, and enhance the beauty and durability of metal surface. The type of finish typically applied to aluminum may include tints, colors, or clear coatings. The anodizing process builds an oxide film on the surface by making the aluminum the anode, or electrically positive element, in a suitable electrolyte (chromic or sulfuric acid solution).

APPLICATION: The installation of vinyl on a surface. Two main methods are used: wet and dry. Wet application involves the use of a soapy solution or special fluid on a surface, allowing the vinyl and its transfer-tape carrier to be positioned before final placement. Dry application places the vinyl and transfer tape immediately in its final position, and usually involves hinging for setting the material.

APPROACH: The area along a street or sidewalk from where a sign first becomes visible until the display is no long readable as the viewer passes by.

ARC: A curved line segment that is a segment of the circumference of a circle.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNAGE: A term that was coined in the 1960s to identify visual communications and wayfinding information in the built environment. Hence, physical enhancements to a building or space with the purpose of identifying or communicating information.

ART / ARTWORK: All copy, graphics, and logos used in preparing a job.

AWNING: A shelter usually constructed of nonrigid materials on a supporting framework that projects from and is supported by the exterior wall of a building. An awning may or may not be illuminated and/or decorated with graphics to serve as a sign. There are also glass and metal awnings. Also called canopy.

B

BACK-LIGHTED SIGN: A sign consisting of a cabinet containing a light source surrounded by one or more translucent faces, which may be illuminated for visibility.

BACK-TO-BACK: Two or more sign faces mounted on a common structure but facing in opposite directions; many pole signs are back-to-back or double-sided.

BAKED ENAMEL: A type of metal finish. Special enamel paint is sprayed or screen-printed on the metal surface, dried, and then cured. The result is an extremely durable surface similar to that found on many appliances.

BALANCE: In design, the relationship between the design elements such that opposing forces have equal distribution of weight in the layout. The overall quality of a design that makes it feels right.

BANNER: A sign made of fabric, plastic, or other nonrigid material which has no enclosing framework. It may be painted, screen-printed, digitally printed, or decorated with vinyl. See also flag.

BASE:  1. The trim beneath the bottom molding of a sign or bulletin. 2. The foundation or support of freestanding sign. See also footing. 3. The first or background color(s) in screen-printing.

BILLBOARD: A large outdoor board used for posting advertising. The name comes from the traditional practice of posting bills, or pre-painted messages. In the 19th century, it became common for businesses to lease separate board space for their bills, hence the name billboard.

BINDER: A substance that binds two other substances together. For instance, lacquer is used as a binder when painting with some metallic dusts. Many paints require binders.

BLEED: In screen-printing, bleed refers to the portion of an image that extends beyond the area of the finished print. When the print is cut or die-cut, the bleed is cut away. Bleed is also used to describe the area where one color overprints or traps another for purposes of registration. See also trapping.

BORDER: Most commonly a line or repetitive design used to emphasize or set apart all or portions of a sign's art. In electric signs, illuminated tubes and arrows or decorative molding may also serve as borders.

BRAILLE: Raised bumps or dots set in established patterns to communicate letters and words to the visually impaired. Grade 2 Braille is required by A.D.A., due to its more widespread use in the visually impaired community. System created by Louis Braille (1809–52) by modifying the Barbier "point writing" system used for coded army messages.

BRONZE: An alloy of copper and tin with traces of other metals (zinc, nickel, and lead), used for sculpture, sign plaques, and dimensional lettering. Letters or forms can be cut out of solid material (using a band saw or a water jet). It can be cast (sand-cast, ceramic mold-cast). It can be fabricated from thin sheets to create dimensional letters (fabricated and soldered). Bronze signs may be lacquered to prevent oxidation, pre-oxidized, or left to oxidize naturally. Many finishes are available; patinaed, oil-rubbed, clear-lacquered, polished, brushed, etc.

BRUSHED FINISH: A non-reflective, textured finish mechanically or chemically applied to metal for decorative purposes. Grained effect is usually created using sandpaper. Long grain finish applied by hand or via belt sander. Short grain finish applied by using a drum sander.

C

CAD: Computer-aided design.

CAMERA-READY ART: Artwork that has been prepared for production via photographic process. Has been replaced with scanned and digital imagery.

CAN: An informal term for the edge and components of an electric sign. Some sign companies buy ready-made cans and only manufacture the faces of electric signs. Also called sign cabinet.

CARVED LETTERS: Usually v-carved, u-carved or squared-carved into wood or stone. Created by hand-carving with chisel and mallet, sandblasting technique, or by a computer-controlled router or engraver. Two types of carving, bas-relief and incised, are generally done by hand.

CARVED SIGNS: Letters or shapes incised or relieved into sign substrate surface. Can refer to routing process but normally used as term with regard to hand-carving or sandblasting into stone, wood or glass.

CAST DIMENSIONAL LETTER/NUMERAL: Typically cast aluminum, bronze, acrylic, or resin.

CAST METAL SIGN: Usually aluminum or bronze plaque or sculptural element.

CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: A sign on which the copy can be changed, either manually through the use of attachable letters (usually plastic), mechanically using rotating panel elements,

CHANNEL LETTER: The outline of a letter, with metal returns, into which a neon tube is placed. The depth of the channel may vary, depending on the viewing angle. The channel letter may be open-faced, plastic-faced, or a reverse channel letter with halo illumination.

CLEARANCE: The shortest distance between the lowest portion of a sign or awning and the finished grade level. Also called height above grade.

COATING: The process of applying a protective film to a sign. Coating includes such diverse activities as applying a layer of varnish over gold leaf to laminating clear vinyl over a digitally produced graphic.

CODE: Typically refers to a municipality's sign regulations or sign code.

COLOR CONTRAST: The differential between foregound lettering a sign and the background panel

COLOR SEPARATION: In screen-printing, the pre-press process during which each individual color in the art is isolated for creation of its own stencil. In process-color printing and digital printing, the image is divided into separate stencils for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Although the process of making color separations used to be done manually or using colored negatives or filters, today the job is relegated to the computer, which also generates color separations for large-format imaging.

COLOR WHEEL: Diagrammatic arrangement of the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation (color) in a circular fashion so that the primary colors (red, yellow, blue) are located 180 degrees from the secondary colors that complement them (green, violet, orange, respectively).

COMPONENT: One of the parts or pieces that together make a complete system or design. Reference is often made to design components or the electrical components of a sign.

CONDENSED: A font, the proportion of which has been altered by reducing the width of the letters, numbers, and symbols to bring them closer together, therefore shortening the line.

CONSTRUCTION SITE SIGN: Announces project credits and information regarding a construction project such as architect, developer, consultants, financing, etc. Typically painted, vinyl, or digital print mounted onto plywood or exterior-grade particle board substrate. Also called job site sign.

CONTRAST: In design, the use of dissimilar or opposing elements, such as light and dark areas, warm and cool colors, or script and block typefaces.

COPY: Most commonly, the words or message to be displayed on a sign. May be expanded to include all graphics on a sign face. See also art / artwork.

CORRUGATED BOARD: A board created by gluing a corrugated piece to a flat face, or between two flat faces to increase the strength. Corrugated board is made from a variety of materials (most commonly plastic in sign work) and comes in a range of strengths and thicknesses.

COVERAGE: The area (usually given in square inches or feet) that a given material will coat-out, e.g., a quart of paint will provide coverage for 100-square feet.

CURING: The process of effecting a chemical change in some inks by the application of heat or ultraviolet light.

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D

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D.O.T. / DOT SYMBOLS: The US Department of Transportation has issued international symbols for transportation graphics that have become a standard in vehicular and pedestrian signing in the United States.

DEBOSS: The process of producing depressed letters in a surface, particularly those produced by engraving dies or plates.

DECAL: An applique of words, graphics, or a combination of the two, screen-printed on the non-adhesive side of vinyl film, then cut to a specified shape using a plotter or die. Decals are often created when a large number of identical pieces are required.

DELAMINATION: The separation of layers in a laminated substrate. The main cause of de-lamination is adhesive failure.

DENSITY: The quality of being close or compact; dense. In physics, density is a ratio of the mass of an object to its volume. In signmaking, it is a measurement used to express the hardness of foam boards, expressed in pounds-per-cubic-foot.

DESIGN: At its simplest, a synonym for layout. Also, the process involved in creating a sign including conceptualizing the idea, choosing the colors, typefaces, and graphics, and arranging to be most effective for the given situation.

DIE-CUT: Refers to the outline made with a steel-rule die manufactured for the purpose of cutting out a particular shape or job. Die-cutting is commonly done when a large number of items, such as decals, are to be cut, or the shape consists of something other than straight lines. Die-cut can also refer to the object that has been cut.

DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A sign intended to provide directional information. While a directional sign may be considered any on-premise sign that provides such information, the Highway Beautification Act sets guidelines for the size, placement, and content of purely directional signs.

DIRECTORY: Usually a list of names of people, offices, or destinations at a specific building, facility or public venue. May provide text listings or include maps, site plans, or diagrams.

DOCUMENTATION: Process of recording and conveying design intent information. Used as a tool for recording   and reviewing shapes and data throughout design process, from schematics through design development to design intent drawings and finally to contract documents. See also schematic design, design intent drawings, contract documents.

DONOR RECOGNITION: A sign, plaque, or graphic display to recognize and honor the contributions of a person(s) or organization to an entity, project, or a facility.

DOUBLE-FACE (DOUBLE-SIDED):  A sign with two parallel but opposing faces; a back-to-back sign.