Sylvan Signs
Glossary - F
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fabricate:
To manufacture a sign or
major sign components.
fabricated letter:
A dimensional letter typically
fabricated from sheet metal.
facade:
The exterior walls of a building,
especially the front or the
most prominent side of the
building.
face:
Typically refers to the most
prominent message area of
a sign but may refer generically
to any message area. (Also
called sign face. See also
panel.)
fascia sign:
A sign mounted to a wall
or other vertical surface.
A flat sign that is mounted
on a wall and the face of
which runs parallel to the
wall. A fascia sign does
not typically project from
the wall.
fasteners:
General term for nuts, bolts,
clips and any other mechanical
device that helps hold a
sign together.
fiber optics:
Thin strands of specially
manufactured plastic or glass
used to transport and direct
light from a source to a
given destination.
fiber-optic display:
A sign that utilizes fiber
optics to create or illuminat
the sign's message.
fiberglass:
A strong, lightweight material
created from tiny glass threads
woven into a fabric and then
hardened using a special
polyester resin. Fiberglass
can be used to create sign
faces and cabinets of varying
sizes and shapes. (See also
spun glass.)
filament lamp sign:
An illuminated sign using
tungsten filament lamps.
fill pressure:
A measure of the amount of
inert gas pumped into a neon
lamp.
fingerpost sign:
A post-mounted directional
sign having one or more panels
each of which point in the
direction of a particular
destination.
fire proof:
A term used to describe a
fabric or substance that
is impervious to damage by
fire, and that will not ever
support a flame. (See also
fire retardant.)
fire retardant:
A chemical compound applied
to a material that reduces
the material's flammability
and retards the ability of
fire to spread across its
surface. Fire retardant does
not make the material fire
proof.
first surface:
That element or layer that
comprises the outermost surface
of a sign.
flag:
A sign made of non rigid
material such as canvas or
vinyl, and having no enclosing
or supporting framework.
A flag is usually rectangular
or triangular in shape, and
is attached at one end to
a pole. Often intended for
temporary use, a flag can
be screen printed or painted.
(See also banner and pennant.)
flammability:
The relative ability of a
material or substance to
support combustion.
flange:
On a sign, it typically refers
to the 90¡ angle trim
piece around the edge of
a sign that holds the sign
face in place.
flashing sign:
An illuminated sign having
an intermittent or flashing
light source as a means of
drawing attention to its
message.
flat cutout letter:
A non-illuminated letter
cut from a metal sheet or
plate stock.
flat screen:
Generic term for an LCD display.
flex face:
A sign face made of a flexible
material stretched over a
supporting frame. (See also
flexible face material.)
flexible face material:
Generic term for reinforced,
translucent fabric made of
PVC or polyester typically
used for awnings, canopies
and other types of signage.
fluorescent lamp:
A light source consisting
of a glass tube lined with
a phosphor coating and filled
with mercury vapor. When
an electric current is applied,
the gas emits ultraviolet
radiation that in turn excites
the phosphor coating causing
it to radiate visible light.
Fluorescent lamps are more
energy efficient than incandescent
lamps.
font:
A set of letters and numerals
sharing the same design characteristics.
Examples of font sets include
Times New Roman and Arial.
(Also called typeface.)
footing:
The base of a sign's supporting
structure. The footing is
typically secured to a foundation
or other anchor such as a
building's roof.
foundation:
A concrete substructure that
anchors a sign and its supporting
structure to the ground.
(See also footing.)
four-color process:
A halftone printing process
that uses the four essential
ink colors of cyan, magenta,
yellow and black (CMYK) to
create a full range of colors
on a printed surface. (Also
called process color.)
frangible sign
mount: 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 breakaway foundation.)
freestanding sign:
A sign that is not attached
to a building, has its own
support structure and is
typically secured to a foundation
or with guy wires.
frequency:
The number of times a typical
viewer has the opportunity
to see a sign and its message
over a given period, typically
four weeks.
front end documents:
Documents from a prospective
customer that state for the
contractor the requirements
and conditions of the project
under bid. These documents
typically 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 bid documents.)
front lighted letter:
An illuminated channel letter
having a translucent face.
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Where creativity comes in all shapes and sizes! Call Sylvan
Signs today at 503.430.8072!
