Ray's Woodworking

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Design Guide

IMAGES + FONTS = GREAT SIGN DESIGN

• It's the carved graphics on custom made signs that creates that really unique or special gift! There is no restriction to what images you can have on your sign except that it cannot be too complex for the size of the sign. The examples, proofs, and gallery photographs are your best guide. There is no page of graphics you are limited to choosing from either. Just tell us what you want and we'll draw it into your scale proofs so we can collaborate with you until you see what it is you want. Your description of the image and text is usually sufficient to create a proof to begin collaborating with you using additional drawings if necessary.

• Custom Carved Wood Signs Image Types
• Images have a powerful impact on the message. One picture can make an interesting message even more compelling. We may inject some sign-writer-logic to guide you toward balance and harmony. There are 3 price groups for carved images - SIMPLE SILHOUETTES are the lowest fee and you may have up to three silhouettes for a modest additional fee. DRAWINGS, LANDSCAPES, and SCENES are certainly more complex for carving. CUSTOM REQUESTS and DETAILED DESIGNS and LOGOS carry the highest fees due to carving complexity. It's a real simple formula...the more detailed and complicated - the longer it takes for us to deeply engrave it into the sign plaque, so it costs more.

• Custom Carved Wood Sign Fonts
• You can have any font family you like - but there are thousands upon thousands. Don't make yourself crazy trying to design it (unless that's what you really like to do and know what font family you want!) It's really about the MAGIC and the value of seeing the text in a few different fonts offered during the FREE PROOFING - and, it's the most fun part!
• The magic of font, balance, image, harmony, oneness, white space and good old-fashioned Sign Writing Skill. We are Letterheads - We've got this! The Font Families shown here tend to be the ones that work nicely in styling the Carved Cedar Outdoor Rustic Signs. Pick among them if you like.

SOME MORE ORDERING TIPS

• In-a-nutshell, look through the sign styles to find a shape you like. If you click on one of these product photos it takes you to more information about just that one style: sizes, options, costs and so on. Add images and the cost increases. Make your sign larger and the costs go up. Want both sides carved? That increases the cost too. Go ahead! Explore. You don't have to design it - Just describe what you want to say and look like - We'll collaborate with you and furnish scale drawings - all you need to see in order to approve one for carving.

Carved Signs Comparisons

• Size. If your sign is for outdoors, keep in mind that against the scale of all outdoors your sign can seem really small
• Use the scale comparison here to get a general idea of one size over another and consider how well it can be read from a distance!
• Free Proofs. As many as you need because you'll know what you want when you see it.
• We use Western Red Cedar exclusively, so our signs love to be outdoors and will gracefully weather a lifetime.
• Everything is deeply carved into the wood. You can have any color you want as long as it's black.
• Your Credit Card is only 'authorized' at the time of the order.
• After you approve a proof for carving your Credit Card is 'captured', the sale is final. If an order is canceled after approval, but before carving begins, 25% or $35, whichever is less, is retained for graphic design.
• The HOME page displays all of our popular Wood Signs Styles. Choose the style (shape) you want.
• Sizes are based on that style's height to width ratio. The basic price is the smallest size available in that style. If you want an image included, that will add cost because of the added complexity. (See Images and Fonts)
• You can have any image you want. - there's no catalog you have to pick from - just describe what you want - even if its a bear smoking a cigar while roasting a marshmallow!
• (We provide you with proofs regardless so no worries). Our graphic artists will collaborate with you and exchange proofs by email.
• Fonts too. We will take a sign-writers-license and will guide you toward harmony and balance - again, it's all in the proofs.
• Think about the sentiment of the sign you want (or, maybe you know what font you want to be used). We'll give you proofs with appropriate alternatives to consider. As many as you need to 'know it when you see it.' Our sign designers will help you receive what it is you want - you don't have to try to design it first yourself.
• All Signs Arrive Treated & Finished. Our carved signs come treated with our proprietary Western Red Cedar-oil based, penetrating UV blocking finish. It can be easily refreshed. If you want your sign to weather gray - ask for no finish.
• Again...all of our carving is created-from-scratch; nothing is ready-made, generic or off-the-shelf inventory. Everything is custom art and it's all deeply engraved-carved into Real Western Red Cedar; exactly like the proof image, you will approve first. The Best Surprise is NO Surprise.
• Legacy Plaques. Our carved signs can all be paired up in multiple ways with smaller Legacy Plaques for Kids Names, Pets Names, Addresses...Use you imagination. They always arrive complete with solid brass hooks and eyes installed and pre-balanced. Simply order multiples as additional products...