Custom ADA Signs

With custom ADA signs becoming so accessible, the drab design of off-the-shelf soltuions are becoming a thing of the past. The advent of digital technology and specifically the UV flatbed printer, has burst the doors to design wide open. This direct-to-substrate printer allows one to print an image directly onto plexiglass or wood or metal with its UV curable inks. Prints can appear as opaque or transparent, depending whether one applies a white ink undercoat or not. A continuous tone photograph can now be assimilated into the overall design of your signs. Print service providers using UV flatbed printers and Braille equipment can help you navigate to fully custom ADA signs.

Federal guidelines for ADA signage require all community spaces to display ADA compliant braille signs. These specialty signs are to maintain public spaces inclusive, especially for the handicapped. ADA compliant requirements basically are (1)readability, (2)the incorporation of braille lettering, and (3)adequate contrast between foreground and background for ease of visibility. Although strict government standards impose size  and dimension restrictions; there is room enough to still make it a snappy design. Custom ADA signs are fully customizable. This means custom ADA signs will not be design disruptive to your space. Rather, they are a great way to reinforce your brand in a repeating pattern, while being federally compliant.Your graphic or interior designer gets to include branded colors, shapes, surfaces, designs and photos!

Your company’s brand colors or logo can easily adapted to ADA compliant signs. If the company colors lack contrast, using a lighter hue to offset a darker hue will improve readability. When dealing with architectural signage, it becomes especially important to maintain the designer’s look. You can have beautiful, yet functional signs which design-contribute, not design-detract. Wayfinding signage graphics help to maintain a consistent design theme with lots of repetitive signs. Instead of reaching for the off-the-shelf dull browns and grays, consider pricing your options with PMS specified colors. Full color ADA wayfinding signage can become a contributing design motif adorning the hallway walls! New colors, new shapes, and even new surface textures are all within the designer’s grasp. Here is how this digital technology has opened doors:

(1) ‘Direct-to-Substrate’ printing enables custom ADA signs. Full color, high resolution images are printed on any flat substrate. With the ability to incorporate color photos in your sign, you can completely change the game. Your ADA signage provider should be able to advise you about the type of file and its resolution for its optimal final output size and viewing distance, and other such details for navigating through to the finished sign.

(2) CNC or computer-driven routers will enhance the shape of your designed sign. Sign shape is yet another variable to entertain. Clean, crisp finished edges on amorphic shapes, just imagine! Custom ADA signs offer sophistication when sign shapes and layered shapes become another feature worth considering.

(3) Choice in sign finish, such as flat or eggshell or glossy is yet another feature to now entertain. The production options with UV flatbed printing makes this a possibility. Digital technology has definitely expanded the artist’s box, celebrating the world of design & possibility in your custom spaces with custom ADA signs.

In spite of what appears to be restrictions and limitations, there is ample room to explore your design. Your design scheme does not need to be muted. These opportunities exist for hotels, restaurants, office complexes, government buildings, universities, museums, historic sites, zoos, sports complexes and more.

In this competitive business world, you could be putting your best brand foot forward. Don’t settle for mediocrity! Consider tastefully incorporating your branded image on all things related to wayfinding signage graphics. Branding impressions often begin in the main lobby of a corporate space, so why not reinforce that message with custom ADA signs? What better way to create a unified corporate identity than to tell your company’s story with branded colors and images. Any additional questions about custom ADA signs, please call 1.800.829.4562.

 

 

And for the curious, here are a few ADA requirements:

• 4.30.4* Raised and Brailled Characters and Pictorial Symbol Signs (Pictograms). Letters and numerals shall be raised 1/32 in (0.8 mm) minimum, upper case, sans serif or simple serif type and shall be accompanied with Grade 2 Braille. Raised characters shall be at least 5/8 in (16 mm) high, but no higher than 2 in (50 mm). Pictograms shall be accompanied by the equivalent verbal description placed directly below the pictogram. The border dimension of the pictogram shall be 6 in (152 mm) minimum in height. Appendix Note
• 4.30.5* Finish and Contrast. The characters and background of signs shall be eggshell, matte, or other non-glare finish. Characters and symbols shall contrast with their background — either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.