posted
I posted a few days ago about a job I am doing for a new company.
I am sandblasting a sign for them....they also require a menuboard in the same style/theme but not backlit like McDonalds, or that type of thing. It has to be in keeping with the restaurant which is "antiqued" timber etc.
They also want to be able to change out items that maybe don't sell as well, without redoing the whole thing.
I have to have a drawing by tuesday of how I am going to do it. I don't want any of you to do it for me just some tips or advice or pointers in the right direction.
Some of you must do menuboards???
I had been thinking of making a timber frame ageing it by sandblasting and painting, and then using some type of timber panel say for 2 lines of text that could be reversed to reuse in the event of change.
Also thought about a steel background with timber themed frame and then lots of magnetic sections on the front?
I don't really know...hence my asking here!
Would really appreciate some pointers here
the restaurant is Latino/Cajun and the logo looks like this
I know its easter but any tips would be very welcome.
How often does your customer intend to change their menu? This might be a determining factor in how "changeable" the menu board has to be -- and therefore how you will design and construct it. There is also an opportunity to solidify some future business for the "inserts"...maybe you could charge more for a "packaged" product (price includes the sign and one year's worth of "maintenance", or something to that effect).
If they want wood, then (by all means) give them WOOD...and charge them accordingly. I know a great source for Canadian, number one grade, kiln dried, vertical grain, western red cedar, by the way! Maybe a little gilding, too(?).
No harm in offering them a couple of options...
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Henry, I remember awhile back doing some menu boards, what you describe, I would cut strips of 1/4" x 1-1/2" x what ever length masonite or wood, that can be made to have that aged look, use Velco on the back. For the vinyl find a font that can be cut that has that look of hand lettered. If they don't want to keep that part, they can just remove that strip.
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Henry What about doing the logo as a built up sandblasted panel, like a smaller version of the one you are already doing; in gloss mounted on a framed plywood panel in blackboard black with the menu items done in a script using those jumbo liquid chalk pens. They use that type of menu board over here a lot in pub/restaurant type premises.The contrast between the gloss logo and frame with the blackboard panel is quite attractive. The liquid chalk cleans off with water and ammonia so the menu items could easily be altered.
-------------------- Goldenmahl Dave Hodge's Traditional Signs. Preston, England. 01772 743352 Posts: 108 | From: Preston, Lancashire, England | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
i'd want to know more about the kinds of menu changes they are considering before i'd sketch anything. there are three approaches (at least) to consider.
if the place is brand new and they might make a LOT of changes to their menu ("we've decided to serve breakfast now, too.") then you might consider something inexpensive and temporary.
the middle ground might be to break the menu into a few elements -- the ones that will never change (drinks and side dishes) and the ones that might change more often (daily specials). the changable parts could have panels that hang off hooks, attach with velcro (if the food/health inspector allows it), or magnetic sheeting.
if they are established and they just want to be able to offer an occassional new dish, then you want a different approach. maybe a dry-erase portion of the board.
since you work in dimensional signs, i'd suggest the logo as a large carved/dimensional header piece to match the other sign you did. the text part of the menu must be much simpler, because there will be a lot of words.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
how'z about a wood look engraving stock with magnetic backing (envraved or vinyl aplied to clear side so it creates it's own drop shadow), stick to steel tape strips applide to sign.
we do this all the time with menus, office building directories, etc.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for the help so far! I appreciate all input.
The menu's are "permanent" but he wants to be able to change the odd dish if its a non seller, this is an old fish market that has been turned into a foodhall where I think 800 people can sit but you can go up and buy Latino/ cajun or Chinese or Indian or just a normal hamburger or whatever but everyone can sit together. So this is one food concept amongst alsorts of others.
We have produced menu board with changable copy using aluminium extrusions. A local company sells a myriad of aluminium products and we saw this in their catalogue.
It looks like the "H" bar joiner strips that we use to join plastic sign faces in cabinets with. We used Lord adhesive to cement it down to the background although I would imagine that a mechanical fastener could be used.
I can also picture something like this fabricated out of wood if the necessity arose. You could fashion it akin to the plastic tracks that we use for changable copy on plastic faces.
For the actual faces, I can see using Luann for them and finishing them with stain or paint. I can imagine them distressed, too.
I like the logo you designed, It is colorful and definately fits the client. Way to go!
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hopefully I understand what you're after Henry.
I'm seeing a sandblasted sign with the headings like Drinks, etc. blasted out (with an inline seperation) and slightly over lapping the panels which are left flat and smooth on the top to apply vinyl lettering for the menu copy, as it could be removed and re-applied at the client's whim. of course the raised panels could be decorated subtly on the edges, but I agree with the above suggestion to keep it simple.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Maybe a little gilding, too(?).
Printer-friendly view of this topic