Graphic Arts Magazine December 2017 / January 2018 | Page 19

Feature
regulations can be a highly valuable ancillary service that a
signmaker can provide. A valuable part of that is recognizing
that even if signage doesn’t require a permit, it may be subject
to regulation. Knowing what signs need permits and which
may be subject to what kind of regulations can help a new or
small business owner who likely has a million other logistical
hurdles to jump through in getting a business or new location
off the ground.
Bright Lights, Small City
While a lot of commercial print businesses are just starting to
wrap their heads around printed signage, signmakers them-
selves are wrestling with dynamic digital signage (DDS), which
is becoming more and more prevalent, and is increasingly
being installed to complement and supplement printed sign-
age. If a business is serious about getting involved in signage,
the ability to design, develop, and deploy dynamic digital
signage is an important skillset.
DDS may seem a million miles removed from what print ser-
vice providers normally offer, but it isn’t really. It’s just another
form of graphic communication, but instead of ink on a sub-
strate, it’s pixels on a display. While the mechanics of
deploying the content may differ from printing, ultimately what
graphics professionals specialize in – effective visual com-
munication – still applie