frame inserts | Sign-Frame

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Staff

How to Create Paper Inserts for an Office Directory Sign

Creating professional-looking paper inserts for you office directory sign is quick and easy. Choosing a sign system that allows you to independently create your own paper inserts will also save you time and money. All you need in place to create your office directory sign yourself is an inkjet or laser printer and a word processor such as Microsoft Word.

Maintaining an office directory sign can get expensive and may take weeks to get the frame inserts from your local sign company. Creating frame inserts yourself also ensures signage consistency which may be problematic if either the sign company experiences turnover or cannot find your templates from the previous order.

Since Microsoft Word is common to most businesses we will provide step-by-step instructions, complete with illustrations, as to how you can do paper inserts yourself without leaving the office. There are numerous variations you can use to create your paper inserts but we’ll keep it simple with the instructions set in this article. If you would like to see other variations in design visit our How To section of the site for more information. I’m using a sample sign similar to the DF39U for illustrative purposes, however the process is the same whether designing office signs or office directories. The instructions listed below may vary depending on the version of MS-Word you have installed.

Creating Paper Inserts for an Office Directory Sign using MS-Word

Step 1: Open MS-Word and create a new document by clicking New (Ctrl + N), select the “Office” button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and click the “New” icon or click the “New” shortcut icon to create a new document. Any of these three options will work.

Step 2: Click the Insert Tab. Then click the Text Box icon in the Toolbar. At the bottom of the window click Draw Text Box.Move your cursor to the document (you will see a “+” sign appear) and drag it diagonally across the drawing surface while holding down the left-click button on the mouse.

Release the left-click button and your text box will appear.

Step 3: To size the text box enter the height and width of the insert you wish to create. Our sample sign happens to have (1) 2” x 5 7/8” header and (5) 1” x 5 7/8” panels. Below is the header.

Step 4: Once the size is set you can now choose your background color. Click “Shape Fill” in the toolbar and choose a background color. Rolling your cursor over the color palette will change the color on the background insert until you find the one that best complements your interior design color scheme.

Step 5: Now you can add your text. Add one or more text boxes to your template by clicking the Insert tab and selecting “Draw Text Box” like you did in Step 2. Position the text boxes on the background and choose the font, font color and font size that you desire. In order to eliminate the text box outline click the Format tab -> Shape Outline -> No Outline and now you have just the text. To blend in your text box with the background you’ve chosen, highlight the text box -> right click the text box -> select Format Text Box from the drop down menu -> under Colors and Lines set Transparency to 100%. You can also use the Color dropdown and select the color, texture or pattern to match the background you’ve already selected.Here is the header insert that we’ve created.

We’re going to repeat the process for each of the (5) individual panels using the process outlined above. Here’s what the layout looks like with the additional frame inserts. Keep them on the same page to save paper during printing.

Simply print the page and cut out the frame inserts. Below is the final product complete with inserts. Please send us your designs at sales@sign-frame.com so we can share them with our readers.

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Staff

Create Photo and Logo Paper Signs

Designing paper signs for your office or campus sign frames is fast, fun, economical and can even boost morale. We’ve done a series of instructional posts on paper insert signs with textured backgrounds, specialty paper along with simple text and spot color backgrounds. This one is primarily focused on adding photos and logos to your paper frame inserts.

If you’ve read the other posts in our how to section, you’ll notice the process of creating paper signs is basically the same until you get to the point of detailing the frame inserts to complement your interior design. The fact is you can add textured backgrounds, colors, gradients, photos and logos to your paper insert signs in total or just add some simple text and perhaps a color background should that best fit your specifications. That said, we’ve consciously broken them out at the risk of being redundant to illustrate the various options available in creating paper insert signs. The process holds true for office signs, office directory signs, flag signs, table signs and more. Whether it’s a WFP1U office sign or a D5U office directory sign, any sign system that accepts frame inserts can embrace the following process.

Since Microsoft Word is common to most businesses we will provide the step-by-step process, complete with illustrations, as to how you can make signs yourself without leaving the office. We’ll also show you a few options you can use in creating your paper signs understanding that there are numerous variations in addition to what is shown here. Please not that the instructions listed below may vary depending on the version of MS-Word you have installed.

Create Photo and Logo Paper Signs

Step 1: To make signs, open MS-Word and create a new document by clicking New (Ctrl + N), select the “Office” button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and click the “New” icon or click the “New” shortcut icon to create a new document. Any of these three options will work.

Step 2: Click the Insert Tab. Then click the Text Box icon in the Toolbar. At the bottom of the window click Draw Text Box.

Move your cursor to the document (you will see a “+” sign appear) and drag it diagonally across the drawing surface while holding down the left-click button on the mouse.

Release the left-click button and your text box will appear.

Step 3: To size the text box enter the height and width of the insert you wish to create. Our sample sign happens to be a 3 x 4 5/8 office sign so we entered a 3 inch height and 4.625 inch width.

Step 4: To make the sign a bit more interesting we’re going to select a background texture. Click “Shape Fill” in the toolbar and then “Texture” to select a background texture for your frame inserts. Rolling your cursor over the texture palette will change the texture color on your sign insert until you find the one that best fits your needs. I happened to select the “white marble” background texture for this example.

Step 5: Now you can add your text and logo. To add your text, add one or more text boxes to your paper insert signs by clicking the Insert tab and selecting “Draw Text Box” like you did in Step 2. Position the text boxes on the background and choose the font, font color and font size that you desire. In order to eliminate the text box outline click the Format tab -> Shape Outline -> No Outline and now you have just the text. To blend in your text box with the background you’ve chosen, highlight the text box -> right click the text box -> select Format Text Box from the drop down menu -> under Colors and Lines set Transparency to 100%. You can also use the Color dropdown and select the color, texture or pattern to match the background you’ve already selected.

To add your logo, Click Insert -> Picture -> and go to the folder where your logo image is stored. Double-click the image and it will be added to your insert. You can adjust the placement of your logo on your frame inserts by clicking on the Line Spacing icon under the Paragraph dialog box. Here’s the final result.

And here’s the finished product complete with a Braille/tactile ADA lens cover.

As mentioned in Step 4, you can add pictures, gradients and photos to your paper signs. I took a previously created template (Template A) and modified the design by going from color to black and white, adding the employee’s picture and using a photo for the background image (Template B). Again, the purpose it to illustrate the numerous options you have in creating exceptional looking paper insert signs.

Template A

Template B

Here’s the final product, both old and new, in their respective sign frames. Template A has a Braille/tactile 217 cover while Template B has a simple, clear lens cover.

So get busy and start the process of designing your own inserts. Send along your designs to sales@sign-frame.com. We’ll periodically post blog updates so others can benefit from your creativity.

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Staff

Do It Yourself Frame Inserts with Textured Backgrounds

You need not be a print or sign professional to create frame inserts that command attention. In our “how to” series of articles on creating paper inserts for sign frames today’s article is dedicated to that of textured backgrounds. You can make signs with textured backgrounds by using specialty paper stock or you can use the textures, patterns and gradients provided in Word. Again, we’ll focus on the latter in this post but you can refer to our how to section for information on using specialty paper to achieve the same effect.

First, make sure you choose a sign system that accepts frame inserts. This type of system will allow you to make signs without the assistance of a local printer or sign shop. Designing paper inserts yourself will allow you to save time and money and most likely will get some level of satisfaction and enjoyment along the way. All you need is an inkjet or laser printer and a word processor such as Microsoft Word and you’ll have designer-quality paper inserts in minutes.

Since Microsoft Word is common to most businesses we will provide the step-by-step process, complete with illustrations, as to how you can create office signs quickly and easily. As an aside, the illustrations provided below can apply to the other way finding sign types such as office directory signs, flag signs, table signs and more. Whether it’s the D9U or the WFP7U the process is the same. Since designing frame inserts is quite easy as you will soon see, I created a few other paper inserts with text box and photo variations to complement the textured background example.

Once you understand the core concepts you will begin to make signs like the pros designing paper inserts for your sign frames. You can make signs using Photoshop, Illustrator and numerous other software packages for frame inserts in addition to Microsoft Word. For purposes of illustrating the flow we’ve selected MS-Word since it is readily available and easy to use. The instructions listed below may vary depending on the version of MS-Word you have installed.

Designing DIY Frame Inserts with Textured Backgrounds

Step 2: Click the Insert Tab. Then click the Text Box icon in the Toolbar. At the bottom of the window click Draw Text Box.
Move your cursor to the document (you will see a “+” sign appear) and drag it diagonally across the drawing surface while holding down the left-click button on the mouse.

Release the left-click button and your text box will appear.

Step 3: To size the text box enter the height and width of the insert you wish to create. Our sample sign happens to be a 3 x 4 5/8 office sign so we entered a 3 inch height and 4.625 inch width.

Step 4: Once the size is set you can now choose your background texture. Click “Shape Fill” in the toolbar and then “Texture” to select a background texture for your sign. Rolling your cursor over the texture palette will change the texture color on your sign until you find the one that best fits your needs. I happened to select the “white marble” background texture for this example. (Variation: You can also add pictures, gradients and patterns in addition to textures at this point by selecting Pictures, Gradients or Patterns, respectively, in the drop down box. See some of the examples at the end of Step 5).

Step 5: Now you can add your text. Add one or more text boxes to your paper signs by clicking the Insert tab and selecting “Draw Text Box” like you did in Step 2. Position the text boxes on the background and choose the font, font color and font size that you desire. In order to eliminate the text box outline click the Format tab -> Shape Outline -> No Outline and now you have just the text. To blend in your text box with the background you’ve chosen, highlight the text box -> right click the text box -> select Format Text Box from the drop down menu -> under Colors and Lines set Transparency to 100%. You can also use the Color drop down and select the color, texture or pattern to match the background you’ve already selected. Here is the insert that we created as viewed in Microsoft Word.

And here’s the finished product complete with the sign frame.

As mentioned in Step 4, you can add pictures, gradients and photos to your signs. Here are a few quick examples that I created. You can do the same in minutes using the basic functionality provided within Word.I designed this sign by adding text boxes and using various gradients and colors. The grey space above the Director of Human Resources title can be used for the employee’s picture, company logo or office/room number. The space in the upper right hand-corner is may also be used for an office/room number whether printed directly on the insert or included as an ADA Braille/tactile acrylic cover. For creative individuals the sky is the limit.

Here’s an option using a full-bleed photograph and reversing out the name and title in white to contrast the background.

Here are the inserts in the actual sign frames. The orange and grey sign frame has a Braille/tactile cover with the office number 217 while the photo frame has the office number 271 printed directly on the insert with a clear cover overlay.

We hope you find these ideas helpful in creating inserts for your sign frames. Please give us a call if you have any way finding or sign frame questions during the process as we’d be glad to help.

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Staff

Make Signs Yourself Using Specialty Paper

In order to make signs like the pros all you need is a desktop printer and a word processor such as Microsoft Word. This particular post is specifically dedicated to making paper signs, or frame inserts if you will, using specialty paper. You may also achieve the same effect with your paper signs by using the textured background effects within Word. If, however, you need more than what the textured options in Word provides for your office signs specialty paper will give you significantly more options.

You can truly create professional-looking paper signs in a matter of minutes. You don’t need to have a graphics design background to make signs that are elegant and aesthetically pleasing. Designing frame inserts is fun, fast and economical too.

So what do you need to know in order to make signs with specialty paper? Specialty paper can be purchased at all office superstores such as Staples and Office Depot, FedEx Kinko’s and local boutique shops. Here are two samples of specialty paper sandwiched around a sheet of white bond paper to show the contrast. I randomly picked these two but there are numerous styles and colors available at the above mentioned stores to complement any interior color scheme.

The following represents a step-by-step process in Microsoft Word showing you how to design frame inserts in just a few minutes for the cost of ink and paper. Once you understand the core concepts in creating your frame inserts you can get as creative as you’d like in designing paper signs to complement any campus or business interior. Photoshop, Illustrator and a variety of other software design packages and word processors can be used as well. Please note that the instruction set listed below may vary depending on the version of MS-Word you have installed. Although we used a one-part frame for this example the process would hold true for two-part signs such as the WFP4U.

Make Signs Yourself Using Specialty Paper

Step 2: Click the Insert Tab. Then click the Text Box icon in the Toolbar. At the bottom of the window click Draw Text Box.
Move your cursor to the document (you will see a “+” sign appear) and drag it diagonally across the drawing surface while holding down the left-click button on the mouse.

Release the left-click button and your text box will appear.

Step 3: To size the text box enter the height and width of the insert you wish to create. Our sample sign happens to be a 3 x 4 5/8 office sign so we entered a 3 inch height and 4.625 inch width.

Step 4: Now you can add your text. Add one or more text boxes to your frame insert by clicking the Insert tab and selecting “Draw Text Box” like you did in Step 2. Position the text boxes on the background and choose the font, font color and font size that you desire. In order to eliminate the text box outline click the Format tab -> Shape Outline -> No Outline and now you have just the text. Here is the insert we’ve created as displayed in Microsoft Word.

Step 5: Now that you have the sign created, simply load a sheet of specialty paper into your office printer and print it. Here is what the completed sign frame looks like installed.

Printing paper signs will save you tons of time and money. As you can see, you can make signs like the pros in just minutes. Should you need assistance we’re here to help if you have any questions.