Many signs in Melbourne proudly bear the claim “hand crafted”, although few have ever come near a brush. Most signs have a painted border surrounding a printed panel at best. This is all that most customers see, but in Melbourne the real story is between these two surfaces and the pencil lines that began it all. The process between the pencil and the finish is what determines price, but it begins with a discussion between customer and artist.
Every Good Sign Begins with Paper
Before the first brushstroke is laid on hand crafted signs Melbourne businesses order, there is a very important discussion between signwriter and client. The answers to practical questions determine the height, weight and spacing of the letters far more than a choice of colour would ever affect these decisions. A scaled sketch comes next, drawn several times and refined until a balanced look at the final scale is achieved.
Then comes the pounce pattern, the paper pattern which is perforated at each line. When chalk is dusted onto the surface, the perforations create a dotted pattern to work by. At this point, spacing is adjusted until balance is achieved visually rather than mathematically. Generally, round letters such as O and C are made slightly larger than square letters in order to appear the same size.
Quills, Mahl Sticks and Gold
The supplies look straightforward, but each tool takes many years of use before it performs properly. Lettering quills have long hair, allowing one stroke of paint to be drawn without interruption. The mahl stick is a simple tool with a soft end, providing a point of support for the painting hand. Enamel paints are popular for their fluidity and rich colour.
Gilding requires a precision of another sort, timing being essential. The adhesive “size” needs just the right tackiness to lay down the fragile gold leaf. Reverse glass gilding involves the creation of the whole design in reverse within a shop window.
Every Surface Needs Its Own Unique Touch
Brick soaks up paint like a sponge, so signwriters often give it a good primer and load up the brush. Glass is like trying to get a grip on water, not pretty easy to work with, which is why the clean-up can take almost as long as the actual lettering itself. Timber used for honour boards and hanging signs is perfect for fine detail, but you gotta seal it up to stop the moisture getting in there. And then there are vehicles, barrels and whatnot with their curves; letters need to be adjusted just right so they read straight from a distance. Large murals on rough render call for a bold approach and a good feel for the texture underneath. A signwriter who really understands what they’re dealing with on each surface will avoid most of the peeling and cracking that you see on rushed jobs.
Designed to Last
Melbourne weather is a real test of any outdoor finish; it’s a scorcher in summer and then it’s damp for months in winter. But a good signwriter will know how to look after it, with careful priming, quality paint and a clear coat to protect it all. And one thing that gold leaf has that other metals don’t is that it won’t tarnish. When your painted lettering does start to fade, you’ve got a few options: you can restore it, which keeps the original hand intact, or repaint it, which resets everything, including the clock. There’s plenty of old faded ghost signs around the inner suburbs showing just how well carefully made lettering can hold up.
Getting It Right Without Frustration
Do check the proof thoroughly before work starts; any changes after that point could mean starting over from scratch. And allow some realistic time frames too, because experienced signwriters are always booked up weeks in advance. Prices reflect the skill and time that goes into each sign, not just the materials, which is why details and tricky surfaces add to the cost. And if you’re working on a heritage building, you might need to get council approval first, which is something you should sort out before you even get to the drawing stage. The thing is, every job also gives a trade a reason to keep going and gives apprentices something to learn from.
Before you pick a signwriter, have a look at their sketch, surface plan and finished work. Those three things are far better at telling you about the quality than any price comparison will ever be.
