Sylvan Signs
Glossary - B
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back-to-back sign:
A sign having two faces mounted
in opposite directions. Pole
signs typically have back-to-back
faces. (Also called a double-faced
sign.)
background panel:
A sign panel to which text
or graphical elements are
affixed.
backlighted letter:
An illuminated reverse channel
letter where the light from
the letter is directed against
and reflected off the surface
behind the letter thereby
producing a glowing effect
around the letter. (Also
referred to as halo lighting.)
backlit awning:
An awning sign that is lit
from underneath by fluorescent
or other high output lighting.
The light shines through
the awning fabric, illuminating
whatever text or graphics
are on it and providing effective
nighttime readability. The
light emanating from underneath
the awning also provides
light to the sidewalk or
street below. (Also called
illuminated awning. See also
awning sign and canopy sign.)
backlit sign:
A sign where the sign face
is illuminated from behind.
(Also called illuminated
sign. See also internally
illuminated sign and exterior
illuminated sign.)
ballast:
A fluorescent light fixture
component, the primary function
of which is to provide sufficient
starting voltage for the
lamp. A ballast may also
serve to heat the fluorescent
lamp electrodes, and control
the amount of power to the
lamp once it is operating.
ballpoint Braille:
Small plastic or metal beads
that can be placed in the
face of a sign to create
informational Braille text
as required by the ADA. (Also
known as Braille bullets
or Braille beads.)
banding:
The appearance of solid bands
or patterns of visibly distinct
colors within what should
otherwise be a continuous
and seamless color gradation.
Banding can be caused by
several factors, including
low resolution artwork, a
poor quality scan of the
original artwork or improper
calibration of the printer
used.
banner:
A sign made of non rigid
material such as canvas or
vinyl, and typically having
no enclosing or supporting
framework. Often intended
for temporary use, a banner
sign can be screen printed
or painted, and is commonly
hung from a pole or mounted
to the facade of a building.
(See also flag and pennant.)
base plate:
A flat, thick piece of metal,
usually steel and square
or rectangular in shape,
welded to the bottom of a
sign support structure and
then anchored with bolts
to a concrete foundation
or other substructure.
bench sign:
A sign mounted onto, or incorporated
into a seat in a public area
such as a bus stop bench.
(See also street furniture.)
bevel:
1. A slant or angle on a
surface. 2. A cut made at
the edge of a material to
form an angle that is not
90¡. 3. Two adjoining
surfaces that do not meet
at right angles are said
to be beveled.
bid package:
Documents from a prospective
customer that state for the
contractor the requirements
and conditions of the project
under bid. These documents
communicate such details
as design intent, desired
materials, installation criteria
and other project specifics.
They also include standardized
bidding forms and bidding
instructions. (Also called
front end documents.).
billboard:
A large (15 square feet in
area or larger) outdoor sign
used for advertising and
typically seen along highways,
main streets and other high
traffic areas. An advertiser
will rent a billboard and
display their advertisement
on it for a set length of
time.
blackout:
A specially formulated paint
or coating for use on electric
signs to block light emission
where needed, for example
between letters in a neon
sign. It adheres well to
glass, and resists weather,
heat and electrical discharge.
(Also called blockout.)
blade sign:
A type of projecting sign
mounted such that the face
of the sign is perpendicular
to the normal flow of traffic.
blank:
An uninstalled sign panel
with no lettering or graphics
applied. (Also called an
insert.)
bleed:
1. In screen printing, the
term refers to the portion
of a printed image or graphic
which extends beyond the
intended borders of a sign.
This excess portion is trimmed
away. 2. Sometimes used to
describe the halation where
sharply contrasting colors
meet on an illuminated sign.
blind fasteners:
Fasteners used to mount signs
to walls and others surfaces
while remaining hidden from
view. (Also called concealed
fasteners.)
blistering:
The appearance of bumps and
bubbles on a surface covered
in a coating such as paint,
or a material such as vinyl.
It is the result of the coating
or material losing adhesion
and separating from the surface
underneath.
block color:
An area of solid color having
no gradation.
blockout:
A specially formulated paint
or coating for use on electric
signs to block light emission
where needed, for example
between letters in a neon
sign. It adheres well to
glass, and resists weather,
heat and electrical discharge.
(Also called blackout.)
bombarding:
The process of heating to
a high temperature the glass
of a neon tube for the purpose
of releasing trapped gases
and other impurities within
it.
bonderizing:
The process of treating a
metal surface with a zinc
phosphate coating in preparation
for painting or enameling.
border:
A line or band of color or
material that defines that
outer edges of a sign and/or
elements within the sign.
box sign:
A sign that is self enclosed
in a typically square or
rectangular structure with
or without internal lighting.
Can be single- or double-faced.
(See also light box.)
Braille:
A system of small raised
dots that represent the alphabet,
punctuation and numbers for
the visually impaired. The
ADA stipulates the use of
Braille on signage in certain
instances.
Braille beads:
Small plastic or metal beads
that can be placed in the
face of a sign to create
informational Braille text
as required by the ADA. (Also
known as Braille bullets
or ballpoint Braille.)
Braille bullets:
Small plastic or metal beads
that can be placed in the
face of a sign to create
informational Braille text
as required by the ADA. (Also
known as ballpoint Braille
or Braille beads.)
brand equity:
The value a customer places
on a branded product or service.
It is the qualitative sum
of everything that a customer
thinks, feels and knows about
the product or service. The
value of brand equity can
be determined by comparing
the expected future revenue
of the branded product/service
against the expected future
revenue from an equivalent
but non-branded product/service.
(See also branding.)
branding:
The process of creating a
unique, positive and recognizable
identity for a product or
service. Along with marketing
and advertising, creating
a visual identity through
signage is an important part
of the branding process.
(See also brand equity.)
breakaway foundation:
A type of sign foundation
that allows a sign pole or
other attached support structure
to break away cleanly if
struck by a motor vehicle,
thereby reducing the force
of impact to the occupants
inside the vehicle. Required
by law in many areas. (Also
called a frangible sign mount.)
breaking strength:
The maximum load a material
can withstand before it breaks.
(Also called tensile strength.)
brightness:
1. The perceived amount of
light that a visual target
emits or reflects. Its relative
luminance. 2. The amount
of white in a given color.
The greater the amount of
white, the brighter the color
is said to be. Brightness
is one of the three attributes
of color along with hue and
saturation.
bronze:
A very strong and durable
metal alloy made of copper
and tin with traces of other
metals such as zinc and nickel.
It can be cast for the making
of plaques, or fabricated
from thin sheets into dimensional
letters. Bronze can be finished
in a variety of ways including
being brushed, polished or
lacquered.
brushed finish:
A textured, non-reflective
polished finish applied to
metal by lightly brushing
the surface with an abrasive
material or briefly applying
a mildly corrosive chemical.
buff:
To polish a metal surface
by rubbing it with a slightly
abrasive compound. (See also
burnish.)
building code:
Regulations issued by state
and local governments that
establish standards for the
construction, modification
and repair of buildings and
other structures in the interest
of public health, safety
and general welfare. (See
also content neutral time,
place and manner regulations.)
building mounted
sign: Any sign
that is applied or attached
to a building in some manner.
built-up letter:
A lettering technique in
which the outline of the
letter is made first and
then filled in.
bulletin colors:
A type of quick drying, fade
resistant enamel paint commonly
used by sign painters for
hand lettering.
burn-in:
The initial time a new neon
light must be on before it
is able to achieve full brightness
thereafter. The amount of
time this takes can vary
widely. (Also called age
in. See also initial lumens.)
burnish:
To polish by friction, i.e.
to rub with pressure. No
abrasive compound or material
is used when burnishing.
(See also buff.)
butt joint:
The type of joint formed
when two pieces of material
(wood, metal, etc.) come
together flush and edge-to-edge.
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Where creativity comes in all shapes and sizes! Call Sylvan
Signs today at 503.430.8072!
