Sylvan Signs
Glossary - P
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paint:
1. The general term for pigmented
coatings that are applied
to an object or surface while
in a liquid state and then
allowed to dry into a colored,
protective finish. 2. The
process of applying a liquid
coating to an object or surface.
painted wall sign:
A sign that is painted directly
onto an exterior wall of
a building.
pan channel letter:
A dimensional letter that
is constructed with integrated
face, back and sidewalls
so as to make the letter
appear as a single solid
unit.
pan face:
A plastic sign face that
has had three dimensional
lettering or graphical elements
vacuum molded (embossed)
into its surface. (Also called
embossed plastic face sign.)
panel:
Any visible surface of a
sign on which copy and/or
art is present. One or more
panels make up the sign face.
Pantone Matching
System (PMS):
A standardized color scheme
used in the printing industry
to ensure the consistency
of color from design to
final print.
parapet:
A low wall built along the
edge of a building's roof.
parapet sign:
A sign mounted on the parapet
of a building. (See also
building mounted sign.)
patina:
The thin layer of color,
corrosion or texture that
develops on a metal surface
as a result of natural (exposure
to the elements over time)
or artificial (chemical treatment)
oxidization. The color of
patina on bronze is typically
brown while patina on copper
is typically green or green-gray.
pattern:
A full-scale design layout
of a sign or its components
such as the neon tubing or
lettering. (See also pounce
pattern.)
pavement graphics:
Graphics and markings applied
to roadways and parking areas
to guide and manage traffic
and to supplement other traffic
signs.
pegged out:
A term describing letters
mounted using pegs or pins
such that they stand off
from the substrate to which
they are attached. (Also
called pinned out.)
pennant:
A triangular flag. (See also
banner.)
permanent sign:
Any sign that is affixed
to a building or structure
in such a manner as to give
it the support necessary
to resist environmental loads
over time and to preclude
easy removal.
permit:
A legal document (license)
granted by the appropriate
government agency that gives
official permission to take
a specific action, e.g. erect
a sign.
phosphor:
A chemical substance that
becomes excited and emits
visible light when struck
by electrons from another
source such as an ultraviolet
light. Phosphors continue
to emit light for a time
even after the energizing
source is removed. Phosphorous
coatings are used on the
inside of fluorescent lamps.
phosphorescent
sign: A sign that
uses inks, paints or dyes
containing phosphors.
photopolymer:
A type of plastic having
a photosensitive coating
which can be masked and photo-etched
to create a tactile sign
message. It is commonly used
for ADA signage that requires
Braille lettering.
pictogram:
A symbol or simple illustration
used to represents an object
or concept. Commonly found
in ADA and DOT signage. An
example of a pictogram would
be the wheelchair symbol
seen on some ADA signs, the
presence of which indicates
a handicap accessible location.
pigment:
A natural or synthetic insoluble
compound used to infuse color
into other materials such
as paints and inks. (See
also dye and stain.)
pinned out:
A term describing letters
mounted using pins or pegs
such that they stand off
from the substrate to which
they are attached. (Also
called pegged out.)
planning permission:
Authorization required from
the Local Planning Authority
to install an illuminated
sign or billboard. (See also
permit.)
plaque:
An inscribed, commemorative
plate or tablet, usually
of metal, placed on a building,
monument or the like.
plasma screen:
A type of flat-screen digital
image display which is uniformly
flat and less than five inches
deep and uses gas plasma
technology.
plastic:
A generic term for a wide
range of synthetic materials
which consist of long chains
of polymers that are moldable
and soften when heated. Many
plastics used in the sign
industry are of the thermoplastic
variety, which means they
can melt and solidify repeatedly.
plastic faced letters:
Channel letters in which
the front of the channel
is covered by a translucent
plastic face, diffusing the
neon lighting within. (See
also regency and embassy
letters.)
Plexiglas:
The trade name for a brand
of acrylic sheeting, which
(like Kleenex) is often mistakenly
used as a generic term.
plywood:
A common type of wood product
sold in 4' x 8' sheets. Plywood
is made of a number of thin
sheets of wood laminated
together with the grain of
the adjacent layers perpendicular,
except for the two outside
plies, which are parallel
to provide stability.
PMS (Pantone Matching
System): A standardized
color scheme used in the
printing industry to ensure
the consistency of color
from design to final print.
point-of-purchase
(POP) sign: In-store
advertising designed to
stimulate impulse purchases
by shoppers inside a store.
The term applies to a store's
internal sign system, as
well as special displays
and dispensers created
by and for specific product
manufacturers. Also known
as "point-of-sale advertising."
pole sign:
A freestanding sign, usually
double-faced, mounted on
a round pole, square tube,
or other fabricated member
without any type of secondary
support.
polyester:
A synthetic fiber used for
its strength and resistance
to ultraviolet deterioration.
It does not have the stretch
and elasticity of nylon and,
as a result, will often last
longer.
POP (point of purchase)
sign: In-store
advertising designed to
stimulate impulse purchases
by shoppers inside a store.
The term applies to a store's
internal sign system, as
well as special displays
and dispensers created
by and for specific product
manufacturers. Also known
as "point-of-sale advertising."
porcelain sign:
A traditional process to
coat metal with a ceramic
slip which is fired at extremely
high heat to create a durable,
glasslike surface that is
impervious to the environment.
portable sign:
A freestanding, on-premise
sign, not designed to be
permanently affixed in place.
These could include free-standing
signs or notices as well
as point-of-purchase signs.
portrait format:
Proportion of a sign in which
height is appreciably longer
than width. (See also landscape
format.)
positive space:
The copy and art on a sign
face. The opposite of negative
space.
post and panel
sign: A sign panel
with one or more posts.
post mounted sign:
A sign that is attached to
one or more sign poles.
poster:
1. A series of paper sheets
printed for use on a billboard.
Other substrates used for
posters include plastic and
cloth. 2. Also, a sign typically
printed on paper and intended
for indoor use. Other substrates
used for posters include
plastic and cloth.
poured in place:
Refers to concrete footings
for signs. Wet concrete is
delivered or mixed on site
and poured into a form, creating
desired shape. Normal curing
and finishing techniques
are applied as necessary.
Alternative to pre-cast concrete,
which is formed, poured,
cured and finished off site,
then brought to site and
installed.
powder coating:
A specific process for applying
paint to a surface that creates
a very durable protective
surface.
PPI (pixels per
inch): The number
of pixels in a raster image
that will occur in one
line in the span of one
inch. The higher the PPI,
the greater the resolution
and the less distinguishable
each pixel becomes.
precast concrete:
Steel-fiber or glass-fiber
reinforced concrete cast
in a mold.
precinct sign:
A sign marking the entrance
to a town, neighborhood,
development, park or other
public area. (Also called
gateway sign.)
primary colors:
The three colors from which
all other colors can be created.
In paint pigments, the primary
colors are yellow, red and
blue. In four-color process
printing, all colors are
mixed from yellow, magenta(red)
and cyan(blue). In light,
the primary colors are red,
green and blue. See also
RGB display, additive colors.
primary wiring:
Electrical wiring that directly
connects a transformer to
the breaker box.
projecting sign:
A sign that is attached to
a building but extends beyond
the building structure. Regulators
often set a predetermined
distance that a sign must
extend beyond a building
for it to be considered a
projecting sign. A decorated
awning is an example of a
projecting sign. (Also called
blade sign.)
prototype:
Usually a full-sized sample
that uses final materials,
methods of construction,
fasteners and finishes to
test assembly, design, construction
and appearance issues. Also
used approve the "first sample" in
a long production run.
public path:
A heavily used route, including
corridors and public elevators,
that connects public destinations.
push-through:
A letter or graphic which
is cut out, then pushed through
a corresponding space that
has been removed from a sign
substrate. The push-through
is typically different color
and/or material than the
rest of the sign. Typically
used with an opaque sign
cabinet and internal lighting. "Push-thru
letters" are most often translucent
acrylic letters that are
pushed through a sign face
panel to be flush or over-flush
with the front surface of
the sign face.
pylon sign:
A freestanding sign that
is not a pole or ground sign.
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Where creativity comes in all shapes and sizes! Call Sylvan
Signs today at 503.430.8072!
