Scioto Signs is a custom screen-printer utilizing multiple press lines and the latest printing materials to ensure you the best sign available in the industry. For outdoor durability, Scioto Signs still uses thermal-setting (Baked) polyester inks on our metal related products. Our other substrates are commonly printed with UV curable or air-dry inks.

STANDARD PMS (Pantone) INKS
PMS stands for Pantone Matching System and is known as the standard for color identification in the graphics industry. If you know the PMS numbers needed for your designs, we guarantee that we’ll match it for the production of your signs. If you don’t know the PMS number, we can supply you with standard color chips or we can match the color you supply.

LUMALITE TRANSPARENT INKS
Lumalite is a unique process of screen-printing a transparent PMS color over the natural mill finish aluminum to give the sign an extra brilliance and luster. If you are interested in learning more or would like to see samples, please call or email us.

FOUR-COLOR PROCESS
Four-Color Process printing involves duplicating photographic images and multi-colored designs with (4) distinct halftone colors… cyan, yellow, magenta and black. Scioto Signs is a very accomplished four-color process screen-printer and we have produce some of the most attractive four-color process signs in the industry. If you have a four-color process project and would like to see some of our sample work, please call or email us.

VARNISH COATING
To give your signs an extra gloss & luster, Scioto Signs applies a varnish coat after the product has been screen-printed. This makes the sign much more attractive and adds some additional protection against color fading.

SOFT & SHARP EMBOSSING

Soft Embossing Sharp Embossing

Embossing is the process of stamping our metal signs to raise your artwork from a normally flat surface. This creates a more attractive and interesting sign and makes the sign stronger and more rigid. Depending on the artwork, we can emboss our metal signs with two types of tooling to create a soft and/or sharp emboss appearance.

Soft embossing is generally used on larger signs with basic artwork to create a “pillow-like” appearance. Although our standard soft embossing involves one level of raised artwork, we can also create signs with multiple levels of embossing for added impact.

Sharp embossing is typically reserved for smaller nameplates and finer detailed artwork. When stamped, it creates a very crisp or “sharp” edge on the artwork that is raised.

STAMPED FRAME
Similar to our embossing process, we can stamp the metal sign with hard tooling on the edges to make a picture window. This creates a clean border or frame around the main artwork. A sign with a stamped frame has a more refined and stylish appearance than a standard soft embossed edge and is more suitable for showroom or other indoor retail environments that demand a higher level of quality. Soft or sharp embossing can also be combined with this process for added appeal.

DIE-CUTTING
Instead of a standard sign that is designed with four straight edges like a square or rectangle, die-cutting is the process of punching a special shape out of the material like circles, ovals or the contour of your artwork. Die-cut signs demand more attention and are typically more interesting and attractive than standard straight edge signs. Additional tooling charges may apply. If you’re interested in adding this to your sign and want to learn more, please call.

Flanging Hemming

FLANGING & HEMMING
Flanging and hemming relates to how the sign is folded or bent. A flange is typically a 90° bend used for double-face signs. Hemming is a 180° fold generally used for plaque signs with inserted cardboard backers. Scioto can bend the edges of your sign many ways to achieve the desired results. If interested, please call or email to learn more.

COLOR BLEEDS
A color bleed is when your artwork is designed to have a background color or an image run-off the edge of the sign without any kind of border. If you wish to have a color bleed, Scioto will print your artwork on slightly larger material and then trim all the edges back to make the color show right to the edge of the sign. For cost savings, design your artwork with a small white (or natural aluminum) border.

REFLECTIVE SIGNS
For night visibility and impact, make your signs reflective! Reflective signs are a very economical alternative to illuminated signs for night visibility and advertising. They are designed so that when headlights or any other light source strike the sign, your message glows brightly attracting a captured audience. If you’re interested and want to learn more, please call or email us.

HANGING CORD
Some retail establishments or showrooms prefer not to see any type of hanging hardware like nails or screws. A very attractive alternative is a plaque sign with a hanging cord installed in the back of the sign. Hanging cords are available in many colors (standard is black).

EASEL BACK
Making a sign adaptable to many environments increases the odds your dealers or retailers will display your sign. An easel back is a great option to add to a standard wall sign that allows it to be displayed on a counter or shelf.

GROMMETS
Grommets, or eyelets, are typically used to reinforce mounting holes on hanging signs. Overtime, standard drilled or punched holes will tear from the natural swinging motion of the sign. Silver or Brass grommets are available in a variety of sizes.

WOOD-BACK FRAMING
For added strength and durability on larger signs, consider utilizing a wood-back frame. WBF signs are constructed with 1x4 treated lumber boards and are installed on the backside of the sign. They save installation time and are very effective for roadside signs and building identification.

D/S FOAM PADS
Instead of mounting holes, some retail establishments prefer double-stick adhesive foam pads on the back of their signs. This allows a sign to be displayed without any exposed hardware such as screws and nails and also makes it simpler to mount to a wall.