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David A Smith - Reverse Glass, Gold Leaf Sign Artist
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 00:00
Dim lightsFashions come and go but hand made style and quality pass the test of time
A hundred or so years ago the arts of traditional sign writing, reverse glass decoration and ornate gilding were widespread, but then these crafts declined to the point where there were few people with the skills to do this work and knowledge was lost.
Fear not, these arts are making a strong comeback and with exponents such as David Adrian Smith they are far from finished. David is one of, if not the most, experienced artists of his type in the UK and reports renewed interest in his work and increasing demand for the gold leaf glass workshops he runs.
David made his first hand-lettered sign while still at school and at the age of 16 he gained an apprenticeship at a sign company in Paignton, Devon. David spent six years there learning the techniques of hand sign writing and gilding from Gordon Farr and Jeff Skinner, two experienced traditional signwriters.
By the early 1990s the growth of computerised signwriting and modern manufacturing meant that the market for traditional skills had shrunk to almost nothing. Undaunted, David set up on his own in 1992, near Torquay in Devon and continued to hone his skills, predominantly working on projects for the pub trade.
A turning point for David was making contact with Letterheads in the USA.
"Letterheads are groups of sign makers and artists that get together and share techniques. The meetings are very popular right across the States," he says.
"I learnt so much from those artists. For example, they showed me glue chipping, where you put glue on glass and chip it off to achieve the required finish. That technique wasn't being used in England at that time, even though it had started over here. We'd lost the skills and knowledge and a whole generation of our sign makers missed out. Back in this country others were interested in learning the technique so I started showing them how to do it.
"I probably made 30 trips to the States over the last 20 years and someone I have to thank in particular is the late Rick Glawson of the Fine Gold Sign Company. I still attend Letterhead meets regularly and enjoy sharing ideas just as much now and am looking forward to the big meet in Belfast next year, 2012.
"At the turn of the 19th century, there would have been lots of different departments, each with its own set of craftsmen doing different bits, but now I do it all."
David says customers in the UK are increasingly realising value of traditional skills, although when a single glass panel can take weeks of work, the number of customers who are willing and able to pay may be limited. David's finished works of art may not be taken up by high street shops that come and go, but they have real permanence and impact.
Amateur film maker Danny Cooke was so impressed when he saw David's workshop when visiting in another role as a computer repairman, he just had to make a film. Initially intended to be three minutes long, there was so much to show it ended up running to 15 minutes. Danny's film, David A Smith - Sign Artist, was featured on the front page of the prestigious Vimeo website, on its HD channel, a showcase for the finest films made by amateur film makers worldwide and can also be watched from this webpage.
The film was an instant internet success with more than 100,000 hits in just a few weeks and the number of enquiries about David's work has rocketed.
"The film and the internet generally is a brilliant showcase for my work. Since the film was released, I've had enquiries from all over world, including a lady coming from France next week for a workshop. As a result of the film I've also just completed a front book cover for a major publisher in New York, which they absolutely love," says David.
His biggest surprise was when he was approached by the Disney Corporation in USA about giving workshops to some the company's leading creative people.
"I sent a sample glass panel to Disney, showing what can be done on glass. They were really impressed and I'm just waiting to see what will happen later this year," he says.
In the meantime David is busier than ever, both with increasing orders coming in and with running regular workshops for sign makers and artists.
"A lot of sign companies don't offer this type of work to their customers because they don't know they can get it done. I'm busy now and getting busier; and the people I teach are getting work too. There's still not many people skilled in these techniques, especially acid etching," he comments.
David says a five day course is sufficient for most people to start offering traditional sign writing and a glass panel service to their customers, if they continue practising the techniques learned, but he laments what he sees as many sign makers' lack of design skills.
"I see a lot of sign writers with no understanding about laying out text and space around it so I include some design on the course. Even if your technique's perfect, the design has to be right or the finished sign won't be any good," he says.
David has also been invited to put on an exhibition later this year in the Spanish Barn in Torquay, the town's oldest building and a focal point in the area for the arts.
"It's where Damien Hurst and Anthony Gormley have had exhibitions, it's amazing, I can't quite believe it," he says.
Looking at David's work, what seems amazing is that it has taken so long for him to receive the accolades now coming his way. The good news is that by passing on traditional techniques and his knowledge gained over 30 years, another generation of sign makers and artists won't miss out and we'll keep the skills alive and developing in this country.
View more of David's work at www.davidadriansmith.co.uk or telephone 01803 613753 to find out about his gold leaf glass workshops.
Roland’s VersaArt RS-640S represents cost-effective textile printing solution
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 00:00
"Typical textile applications include soft signage, flags, banners and home and commercial furnishings, and the compatible polyester-based fabrics are robust, light weight and versatile," explains Adam Wyles, Business Manager - Promo, Screen and Digital at Roland DG (UK). "Their durability and potential for recycling are complemented by completely odourless print using aqueous-based inks, making dye sublimation suitable for a wealth of interior and exterior jobs."
Roland's VersaArt RS-640S is an attractively priced entry-level option for sign-makers and display producers wanting to print to soft signage and textiles. The package includes the printer, the take-up unit and a bottle unit. The machine has a maximum resolution of 1440 x 720 dpi and incorporates Roland Intelligent Pass Control technology which eliminates banding in all print modes. Precise control of droplet placement results in smooth graduated tones and vivid solid colours, with production speeds of up to nearly 32 square m/hour.
The Roland VersaArt RS-640S dye sublimation printer includes a 1.62 m (64 inch) take-up system that complements its media handling system for stable performance. Prints output onto sublimation transfer paper are ready for the calendering process immediately, with the VersaArt's two-step integrated heater system controlling the temperature needed for optimum results. Individual settings can be saved in the printer, for later recall.
As with all Roland printers, the VersaArt RS-640S sublimation system includes the company's powerful VersaWorks RIP software which incorporates fully embedded ICC profile support, variable data printing (VDP), precise spot colour matching and advanced tiling, nesting and cropping features.
"Roland has now simplified the route into soft signage and textile printing with its VersaArt RS-640S printer, and this is a welcome move for sign-makers and display producers wanting to produce soft signs, flags, décor and home furnishings using this technology," concludes Wyles. "The benefit of high quality, colour accurate production can now be applied to a whole range of indoor and outdoor applications which can be produced onto polyester-based fabrics for lightweight, durable and eco-friendly results."
For more information visit www.rolanddg.co.uk or telephone Roland on 0845 230 90 60 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ITC extends Clearcut series
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 00:00
The unparalleled success of ITC's range of Clearcut single flute routing cutters for the sign making industry, now sees the series extended to incorporate three stub-cut additions to further improve rigidity and surface finishes of the range. The solid carbide single flute routers with an upward spiral are regarded as the industry benchmark and the new additions will enhance performance and improve the productivity capabilities of the already market leading series.
The Clearcut series has been developed to provide an exceptional surface finish on Perspex and acrylic materials as well as Foamex and similar materials. The cutters are renowned for drastically reducing or even eliminating flame polishing and hand finishing operations that can prove costly and time consuming. The micrograin carbide cutters are currently available in 3, 4, 5 and 6mm diameters with each diameter having a variety of cutting lengths available. Despite the reduced length of cut, the new additions improve rigidity and reduce vibration, two contributing factors to improving surface finishes and productivity levels.
Productivity is enhanced by the cutters' ability to run and higher feeds and speeds, credit to the reduced length of cut. The new additions enable customers to select either a shorter length of cut for improved productivity and surface finish or a longer cutting length for flexibility and the accommodation of increased material thickness machining. The new additions now see the 3mm diameter cutter with its 8 and 11mm length of cut extended to incorporate a 6mm cutting length. The same cutting length is added to the 11 and 15mm lengths on the 4mm diameter cutter and the popular 6mm diameter cutter now has a 14mm length of cut that is offered alongside the existing 21 and 26mm variations.
With highly polished flutes machined to extremely tight tolerances, ITC recommends that customers use the cutters on well maintained machines and cut in an anti-clockwise direction using minimum amount lubrication techniques to achieve the best results possible.
For further information on the three new additions or for specifications on additional tooling products, please telephone ITC on 01827 304500 or visit www.itc-ltd.co.uk
Eurostand Display kicks off 2011 range expansion with DLSolo roll-up
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 00:00
Graphic systems supplier Eurostand Display has implemented the first of several new product launches planned for 2011.
The trade-only company, whose business serves all of Europe, says the launches are in line with its policy of continuously growing and regenerating its product portfolio.
Eurostand Display anticipates the DL Solo becoming a staple product line because of its universal suitability for a wide range of applications, including trade exhibitions and retail showrooms.
The DL Solo has an internationally-registered design and, like all of the products in the Eurostand Display range, comes with a five-year guarantee.
The roll up is, says Eurostand Display, quickly and easily assembled, making it the ideal solution for point of promotion, seminar and promotional work. It combines elegant design with robust build quality to ensure that the system performs perfectly every time it is used.
After use, the DL Solo's 2m(h) x 850mm(w) graphic retracts neatly into its metal cartridge base, making the lightweight system supremely compact and portable.
Eurostand says the system is available now for immediate despatch to any sign or graphics supplier in the UK or, indeed, anywhere in continental Europe.
For further information on Eurostand Displays product range telephone +44 (0) 1277 350925 or visit the website www.eurostanddisplay.com
Third generation mild solvent ink set from Mutoh
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 00:00
Wide format inkjet printer manufacturer Mutoh Belgium nv announces immediate availability of a new set of CMYK mild solvent inks, called MS Ultra, for its Blizzard, Spitfire 65/90 Extreme and Spitfire 100 Extreme printers. This third generation Mutoh mild solvent ink will increase productivity through more efficient printing.
"Our new MS Ultra inks have been tuned specifically to our Spitfire Extreme and Blizzard printer families, offering the highest level of image quality and printer reliability," comments Arthur Vanhoutte, President of Mutoh's European Operations.
"They offer excellent stability and ensure uninterrupted printing for extended periods. Compared to our existing Mild Solvent and Mild Solvent Plus inks, the new MS Ultra inks will provide printer users an even wider media compatibility and a higher performance in number of square metres printed per hour. They also have a longer shelf life (18 months), require less maintenance (once a week) and last but not least, do not require daily printing, as typically is the case when using mild solvent inks. The new inks are available for both new printers and for installed-base printer users," Vanhoutte concludes.
The new MS Ultra cyclohexanone and NMP free inks are offered in safe and easy to use 440 ml ink cassettes and bulk ink bottles of one litre. For typical sign images (720 x 720 dpi) with an ink coverage of 67 %, ink cost amounts to 0.92 €/m². The inks are suited for indoor and outdoor commercial print applications. Outdoor UV durability is rated up to three years, without lamination. For heavy-duty applications involving mechanical stress, lamination is recommended.
Using a unique ink chemistry controlling the drop size on the media, the Mutoh MS Ultra ink offers a wide media compatibility across the broadest range of self adhesives as well as other flexible substrates. MS Ultra will give photorealistic prints as the printed dots will have perfect dot quality, even at the highest carriage speeds. The inks offer an excellent colour gamut and gloss preservation. Typical high quality banding-free production speeds of up to 16.5 sqm/h (Spitfire Extreme 65); 36 sqm/h (Blizzard 65) and 42 sqm/h (Spitfire 100 Extreme) can be obtained.
The new MS Ultra inks will be marketed all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa through Mutoh's network of authorized resellers.
The MS Ultra one litre ink bottles can be used in combination with Mutoh's bulk ink system (BIS) developed for speed-intensive, volume oriented users requiring a high-volume ink delivery and refill system. The bulk ink system offers unattended printing options along with minimum user intervention.
Each bottle can provide 1.2 litres of ink to the bulk feed cassette before requiring a refill. Each bulk feed cassette incorporates a floater level adjustment to accurately set the proper ink fluid pressure to the print head.
Mutoh's ink refill system can be easily mounted on top of the printer. No extra footprint is required. As such, the system will save space and will not disturb the operator during the print jobs.
For further information visit www.mutoh.eu
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