OK, you have the sign frame now. How do you create insert or graphics to your sign?

There is no one single answer to that question so we will not attempt to answer it fully. However, there are ways you can save some money on your signs.

If you are familiar a bit with the signage market, you know that signs can be costly, especially when they are custom made or require maintenance (replacing them often). If you need to change a sign (e.g., a new person was hired/ promoted), you call the "sign person" to install the sign, take it to his shop and design it again to match the other signs you have and then return to install it. Next you get the bill and need to sit down...

It was a lot cheaper when 100 signs were installed at once, but for minor corrections it is quite pricy. So, how can you solve it?

Choose a sign system that allows you to bypass the "sign person" (he's a nice guy, but he has high overhead and costly insurance). Be able to create the graphic inserts yourself so you can change the sign independantly, or outsource it to the local print shop, which will be a lot cheaper than a sign shop.

Here are 2 options that can save you a lot of money:

1. Creating inserts using Microsoft Word
2. Using a print shop for background inserts only

Option One: Using MS Word

The easiest and most available way is to print the insert in your office inkjet/ laser printer using a Microsoft Office Word (or similar word processor).

Here are the steps you need to do:

1. Open up a new Word document and make sure the Drawing toolbar appears on it. In case you need to enable it, under the "View" tab, click View --> Toolbars --> Drawing
   
2. In the Drawing toolbar, click on "Text Box".
   
3. On your word layout, you will see a "drawing area" being formed and on it you can create your text box by clicking in any spot and dragging the mouse cursor (don't worry about the size, will take care of it next).
   
4. Right-click the border of the newly formed text box and qa menu will pop-up. Click "Format Text Box.."
   
5. In the "Format Text Box" click the "Size" tab and adjust the size according to the sign you have chosen (in this example we chose a 6"X4" portrait orientation sign).
6. Now that your canvas is set, you can add background and text. Let's start with background - click on the "Fill Color" icon (the paint bucket) and you can create a solid background with one of the common colors or choose a custom color
7. Alternately, you can choose a pattern using the "Fill Effects..." option. In our case, the pink didn't really fit our construction company and they wanted a white marble pattern under the Texture tab:
   
8. Now that we have the background, let's get the text. Write your text (choose whatever font and size you want), add a logo if you wish and you are done designing. Here is our end result in the print preview:
   
9. Now print it in your office or use any other printing service (Kinko's/ Office Depot/ Staples/ Docucopies.com or any other service) and cut it out carefully.

Option Two: Outsource Printing

Another method is to print a large number of copies of inserts in high quality and using them as a background to the changeable insert, which can be printed with any black & white printer. The big money is in the unique orders, but when you order 500 identical backgrounds, it will be quite cheap. For that we have fewer steps...

1. Design (or have a professional do it) the form you want as a whole (background and text). Make sure the canvas' size is set to the size of the insert.
   
2. Now order a bulk print of the background only, which can be duplicated to all signs. Make sure the quantity will last you for what you need now plus estimated future needs.

3. Take a transparent sheet ("Acetate sheet") and print the changeable parts (room number, name and position). You can use any black & white inkjet/ laser printer for that...