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Paint
A liquid coating made up of pigment suspended in a vehicle or binder. Common
paint vehicles include resin dissolved in solvents or water. Paint may be brushed,
sprayed or rolled on a substrate. It dries to a hard film that bonds the pigment
to the surface and may often be stove enameled to enhance its durability.
Painted Wall Sign
See building mounted sign.
Panel
(1) The part of a sign fitted to a signcase to become the front most, continuous
surface.
(2) A sub-division of a large sign resulting from constraints in raw material
sheet size or the working area of a machine, such as laser or router.
Pantone Matching System (PMS)
Standardized series of thousands printing ink of colors, each with specific
color formulations and identification number. PMS colors are duplicated
in swatch books and in computer graphics programs to allow exact duplication
of colors in printing and other marking processes, such as sign making.
However, in sign making where colors are often viewed with transmitted rather
than reflected light, a precise match can seldom be made. Beware apparent
color differences between coated and uncoated variations when trying to
match to other media such as paints.
Pan Channel Letter
A dimensional letter that is constructed with side walls, back and a face
making the letter a solid integral unit with the side walls and back having
a pan-shaped cross section.
Pan Face
A plastic sign face molded into a three dimensional shape. Also called molded
face, molded and embossed face, molded and dembossed face.
Parpaet Sign
A sign mounted on top of the parapet of a building. (See building mounted
sign.)
Perceived size
Size that a character or symbol appears to be because of its relationship
to its surroundings, as against its actual size.
Permanent Sign
A sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground in a manner that enables
the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready
removal or movement of the sign.
Permit
A license granted by the appropriate authorities to allow a sign to be erected.
(See also Planning Permission)
Perspex
A trade name for a brand or acrylic sheeting, often used as a generic term
for acrylic.
Phosphor
A fine powder which is coated on the inside of tubing and has the property
of emitting visible light when irradiated by ultra-violet energy. Different
phosphors emit light of different colors.
Phosphorescent sign
A sign that uses phosphors as a pigmentation and emits light for a period
of time after the energy source has been removed.
Phosphors
Chemical powders used to coat the inside of fluorescent tubes. They can become
excited when subjected to ultra-violet light produced by the discharge in
a luminous tube. A range of phosphors is available and is capable of producing
a large variety of colors and whites.
Pictogram
A pictorial symbol commonly found in environmental graphics and regulatory
(traffic) signs.
Pictorial
A picture on a sign that does not involve animation. Common pictorials can
range from one color graphic symbols to full color scenics and portraits,
such as those found on pub signs.
Pigment
A compound used to color other materials, such as paints and inks. Pigments
are insoluble, finely ground particles and may be organic or inorganic.
Planning Permission
Authorization required from the Local Planning Authority to install an illuminated
sign or billboard. (For details of the regulations which apply in the UK,
click on Planning on the menu bar above).
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. Plastic used
in the sign industry are typically of the thermoplastic variety, which means
they can melt and solidify repeatedly.
Plastic Faced Letter
Channel letter in which the front of the channel is covered by a plastic face,
hiding the neon tube from view. (See also Regency and Embassy letters).
Plexiglas
A trade name for a brand or acrylic sheeting, often used as a generic term
for acrylic.
Plotter
Device that interprets information sent from a computer and moves a drawing
device or tool head to a series of co-ordinates based on the device`s X
and Y axes. Sign makers use a plotter equipped with a knife to cut vinyl,
with the X and Y co-ordinates forming an outline that can be weeded and
installed on a surface. Sign-cutting plotters can be flatbed, where the
knife-head is in a mobile gantry that moves to X and Y points; or drum,
where the material is moved to find X co-ordinates and the knife drawing
device or head moves to Y points along a stationary gantry.
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.
Point-of-Purchase Sign
Signage that advertises a product at its point of sale, or "point of purchase" location.
Pole or Pylon Cover
An enclosure for concealing and/or for decorating poles or other structural
supports of a ground sign.
Pole Sign
A freestanding sign with visible support structure. A
free standing sign, usually double-faced, mounted on a round pole, square
tube or other fabricated member without any type of secondary support.
Polished stainless steel
Stainless steel with a highly polished, almost chrome-like, front surface.
Polycarbonate
A plastic material with greater impact strength than acrylic. Examples of
trade names for polycarbonate include Makrolon and Lexan.
Polyester powder coating
An alternative to a paint finish in which the Polyester powder is given a
negative charge and applied to a surface with a positive charge, using a
spray gun, before oven baking at a high temperature.
Poly-methyl methacrylate (Acrylic)
A very stable plastic material, widely used in sign manufacture. Examples
of trade names for acrylic plastics include Perspex, Plexiglas and Altuglas.
Polypropylene
A type of plastic used in banners, noted for its flexibility at low temperatures
and its resistance to chemicals.
Polyurethane
A type of hard foam product used in sign production. It has the density and
characteristics of wood, but only one-third of the weight and can be used
for carving and sandblasting signs much like wood.
POP (Point of Purchase)
Signage that advertises a product at it's point of purchase.
Portable Sign
A sign not permanently attached to the ground or building, with a power-cord
for connection to an electrical source, and readily removable using ordinary
hand tools.
Post and Panel Sign
An unlighted sign fabricated by using one or more visible posts to support
the sign body.
Porcelain Sign
A traditional type of metal sign utilizing porcelain enamel paints topped
by a ceramic slip to create a durable, glass like surface that`s impervious
to the environments. After each color is applied, the paint is dried. The
completed work is then coated with the slip, dried a final time, then fired
at an extremely high heat. Porcelain signs were particularly popular in
the early 20th century. (See also vitreous enamel).
Portable Sign
An on-premise sign which is capable of being repositioned without the need
for specialist help. 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.
Post mounted sign
A sign that is fixed to one or more sign poles.
Poster
A series of paper sheets printed for use on a billboard. Also, a sign typically
printed on paper and intended for indoor use. Other substrates used for
posters include plastic and cloth.
Powder coating
(See Polyester Powder Coating).
Power-factor correction
A method of reducing the supply current of a reactive circuit to a value which
is close to that which would be expected from the power of the circuit.
With inductive circuits, this will usually be achieved by connecting a suitable
capacitor across the supply terminals.
Pressure-Sensitive
An adhesive that reacts when pressure is applied to the surfaces it is between.
Sometimes used to refer to vinyl with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Primary colors
The three colors from which all other colors can be created. In painting,
the primary colors are yellow, red and blue. In process color, the three
are yellow, magenta (red) and cyan (blue). In light, the primary colors
are red, green and blue.
Primary wiring
Electrical wiring that directly connects a transformer to the breaker box.
Prime
To coat a substrate prior to the application of paint or adhesive. A primer
coat prevents subsequent coats of paint or adhesive from being absorbed.
The process is intended to improve the performance and life of the product.
Projecting Sign
A sign which projects at right angles to a wall and is designed to be viewed
from up or down the street. Projecting signs usually have graphics on either
side. A building mounted sign with the faces of the sign perpendicular to
the building fascia.
Protective switch
That part of a protective device which disconnects the mains supply to a transformer
or transformers. It is operated by an electrical signal obtained from a
sensor.
Prototype
A full-sized example to serve as a model from which other similar or identical
signs will be produced. A trial model.
Pulltrusion
A manufacturing process for producing continuous lengths of reinforced plastic
structural shapes. Raw materials are liquid resin mixture and fiberglass
which is pulled through a resin bath and a heated dye so that a rigid, cured
profile is formed.
Pumping
A process to remove all air and other impurities from the tube, before it
is filled with the desired gases. The process is usually combined with heating
the tube to ensure that all impurities are released from its components.
Pumping system
In neon tube production, the pumping system is used to remove impurities from
the tubes and fill them with rare gases. A pumping system typically consists
of a manifold, vacuum pump, rare gases, a bombarder and electrical controllers.
Push-through
A letter or graphic which is cut out, then pushed through a corresponding
space that has been removed from the sign substrate. The push-through is
typically a different color and/or material than the rest of the sign.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride, the most common plastic in use in the world. PVC is extruded
or cast as sheets in a variety of colors and thicknesses which are weather
and chemical resistant.
Pylon
Any free standing sign that is not a pole or ground sign.
Pyrex
A type of glass used in the production of lamps, fluorescent and cold cathode,
in parts of Europe and particularly France. Not used widely elsewhere because
of the higher temperatures needed to form it but is less susceptible to
thermal stress.
Pylon Sign
A freestanding sign with visible support structure or with
the support structure enclosed with a pole cover.
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