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SIGNS OF KOREA Publication
  • A short while ago, a word, 'Convergence' was not familiar to us. Now, it becomes as one of elements in our life. Generally, convergence is spoken as 'Creating better results by integrating 2 and more elements.' You can easily figure it out using your mobile phone. That is, only with your phone, you can operate things like taking pictures, listening to music, playing games and watching TV.

    Convergence

    Convergence
    Convergence Signs Enjoy the Different Expression Effects

    A short while ago, a word, 'Convergence' was not familiar to us. Now, it becomes as one of elements in our life. Generally, convergence is spoken as 'creating better results by integrating 2 and more elements.' You can easily figure it out using your mobile phone. That is, only with your phone, you can operate things like taking pictures, listening to music, playing games and watching TV.
    It is no use to put plentiful functions into a device if each function doesn't work efficiently as expected. If those functions work well, it will be matched perfectly with what this society wants. And that is why 'convergence' is used everywhere, not just for Science and Technology. Applying the 'convergence concept' is still early to the sign industry but it is sure that the potential of convergence means a lot in sign market.



    Impact on the board type sign by
    adding a molded sculpture


    If the extruded sign is used as an impact point of a flex sign, a molded sculpture itself works like a main sign. LG 'Pixdix'is a good example. They put a molded sculpture of a very detailed camera on a sign board. It costs $670 per frame and $470 per camera sculpture. The production costs are quite expensive but it gets high attentions from the customers in a crowded area. The camera sculpture is symbolized visually instead of letters on the sign board and gives a good recognition to customers.
    Despite the advantages that a molded sculpture has, there are not many molded sculpture signs in the market. It is because the production fee to make a molded sculpture is quite high. The production cost varies depending on sign making companies but it usually takes 40% to make a molded sculpture out of whole production cost.
    Therefore, a molded sculpture is good for big companies who have lots of franchised dealers. The more they produce molded sculptures, the more the production cost gets down.
    Supposing there is a shop and its owner made a molded sculpture even he is not a franchised dealer and he used an existing sign board. Total production cost took $1,100 for a molded sculpture and $330 for a sign board beneath the sculpture. New sign impacts to get customers recognition. Like this shop, molded sculpture sign can be applied for small shops if they set the target.


    Prepare two sketches for applying
    a channel sign to a flex sign

    Flex signs and channel signs are the most market taking in the sign business. It becomes frequent to put flex signs and channel signs to be one sign.
    Mr. Choi YoungBum, a tailor shop owner, put lots of efforts on the sign for the opening. Each channel costs $570 and total amount is $12,500. LEDs are put inside channels to give a dimming effect. LED changes to various colors and it makes the tailor shop more premium. LED's life lasts longer than fluorescent lamp.
    'iloveu' A Seafood restaurant which specializes in Tuna, planned to make a flex sign and a channel sign separately for the front and the rear door at the first time. But, as the channel sign for rear door was worthy enough, owner asked to take the channel sign to the front door on the flex sign. LED can be seen brighter in the dark. So, it helps to turn on the channel sign only to expose the shop at night.
    There are two types of method to attach a channel sign on the flex sign. One is that to construct a frame on a flex sign and put a channel sign. The other is to install pipes inside of the flex sign and fix the channel sign on the flex sign directly. The former(to put a channel sign on the flex sign with a frame) costs higher than the latter(to put on the flex sign directly). Also a special attention should be paid on it because the hole on the flex should be very accurate.
    Installer has to prepare two sketches when a channel sign in attached on the channel sign directly. It is hard to see the position of pipes under the flex as the pipe is only 19mm wide. Therefore, installer has to prepare two sketches; one for the inside of flex and the other for the outer of it.
    LED is preferred for the channel lighting more than Neon. Neon uses high voltage so it can cause a fire on the flex.


    Integration of digital printing and channel letters for a fence on a construction site


    Convergence has been used for a long time in the construction site. Convergence to a fence at a construction site can be divided in two types. One is convergence for application and the other is convergence for expression.
    In case of expression convergence, putting a sheet on the fence was the first type and after that, many applications have appeared. Integration of a large format printing and a channel is the most common application that we can see now. Lots of reconstructions have made this application popular. Construction companies need to promote their construction company brands; the fence is a good way to do. As the supply of previous method is short to provide to every construction sites, companies have to find new application and it is a channel sign on a flex. Also companies used to think that using a fence is cost effective to promote their brand because fence is necessary at the site anyway.
    Channel signs can make the fence to expose the brand. These days, a design and aesthetics are more considered on the brand image rather than promoting the brand name. Many kinds of materials -usually used at construction sites and interior shop such as polycarbonate panel, timber and metal pattern- are used for the fence decoration.
    Application convergence means that it is no more only for promoting. Now it becomes more popular to make the city scenery beautiful with works of art on a fence. A notable painting is printed by a large format printer on a sheet and put on the fence.
    Usually, sign making companies who use LED on the sign used to outsource some processes to other companies. and what they do is only to assemble. Nowadays, there are many companies; even small companies, who can do all procedure of LED sign production. Because of their development, they can make more creative and effective signs and they can embody their ideas into the signs. With all facts, it makes convergence with LED possible.
    LED has been normally used inside signs to light it up and no one thinks to use LED outside. Now, everybody is willing to use LED to any signs like wide format printing, banner, direction carpet.


    Combination of a Rope Light
    and a Wide format Printing

    There are many cases seen on the building surface on which LED ropelight is applied as the design is getting considered more important for city scenery project. It is probably not a unique application but it was not seen before.
    But to apply a ropelight to buildings is not easy. 90 pieces of LED are used for 1 m ropelight at $ 10. As the price is cheap, it is true that there are many defects on LED. Regardless of the defect, demand for ropelight is very high because its feature is quite strong.
    LED ropelight uses VAC, not like other LEDs using VDC, and it makes installer apply LED ropelight with ease. LED ropelight doesn't need any additional equipment such as a switch and a stabilizer. Especially, it is excellent to be bent and curved, so there are many applications to adopt. And the combination with a wide format printing is one of them.
    LEDs are covered by epoxy resin, which doesn't emit heat well. LED is weak for heat and it causes epoxy resin to be torn. Therefore, if someone wants to use ropelight, the person should be careful to choose proper products.
    To make holes on banner and to place LEDs cost a lot while it produces high quality design. Usually, it is used for exhibition or apartment's bird's-eye-view but it is not popular because of the production cost. This kind of LED systems is fluid so every process should be done by hand. It is the reason why the production cost doesn't fall easily even there are lots of demands.
    And on the other, LED is placed on banner stand, not on the banner. LED banner stand can get peoples recognition among many banners in a raw on the street.
    As the banners should be easy to move, they need batteries. LED banner stands are relatively expensive than other normal banner stands but as said, shops such as public bar or PC Bang(Internet cafe) room use it to get high recognition.

    Raise up the readability by uniting electronic message sign and flex frame

    Convergence is usually applied for the solutions to get rid of obstacles which interrupt advertising impacts. Especially, putting an electronic message sign to a normal sign helps to raise the readability. Not only the electronic message sign informs daily event, but also it attracts customers to get into the shop.
    So far, mostly, electronic message signs are located on the building surface or under the sign and they look unorganized. The weak point can be overcome by means of convergence between electronic message sign and flex frame. With this convergence, the flex frame gets readability and the electronic message sign removes its messy inside the flex frame.
    Actually, to make that kind of signs is not difficult but what important things are how to choose medium and how to decide design and finish. It can loose a visibility if installer doesn? think any conditions.

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