In many ways

You make the signs similar to how I make decals.  I have not found a need to cut the image out of the paper before running it through for the second pass.  All modern printers can handle a piece of tape and the extra thickness with no problem.  For decals I use a clear spray paint rather then dullcote, but that is probably more appropriate for decals.  For decals, one can pre-paint the background white, or use white decal paper, then lay the clear decal with other colors over it.  After putting the sign into the building, have you experimented with sanding the sign to weather it?  This looks great on simulated brick, have you tried it over wood or concrete?  Of course, for sizing the image, photoshop is much easier to deal with than word is, assuming you have photoshop.  Good article.

Great tip!

I never would have considered using the tracing paper in such a way.  

Question and tiny critique

Very good article.  About the only criticism (and it's minor) is that some of the descriptions did not have an accompanying photo or at least each written step was not given enough space on the page.  Still, moron that I am, I was able to follow along.

Now, I have an Epson Stylus Pro 3800 color ink jet and I am VERY scared of running the modified paper through it.  Am I being paranoid?  I really don't want to damage it, especially since it belongs to the wife and it's rather expensive.

Many thanks for the info and inspiration.

Very Helpful

Thank you for sharing your techniques.  Your article was very helpful.  I don't have a collection of vintage photos of signs, so I decided to have a look on the web.  There are several sights that have pictures of just about any kind of old sign you could want.  You can save the image to a file, import it to word, and then size it.  In a matter of  minutes I saved 3 pictures of old signs that I will try your techniques on.  

Thanks again,

Bob

Printers & Paper

Jeff, don't worry about the paper. At worst, it'll cause a paper jam, and that's not harmful to a printer. You'll have to clear any paper jam, but the chances of causing such a jam are tiny.

Great use of technology

Thanks

Appreciate the reassurance!

JG

One Suggestion

Hi Ken:

I had never thought of using tracing paper for making my signs, but I will certainly give it a try after reading this article.

I have a technique for printing signs directly onto tissue paper. I cut out a piece of tissue paper roughly 8" by 15" and tape it to a piece of 44 pound heavyweight paper (i.e. 2 inches wraps around to the backside of the paper both top and bottom). Then I just run this through my HP Officejet printer and, voila, multiple signs!! I suspect that you could use this same technique with tracing paper and thereby eliminate the step of having to cut out the sign.

Don Tanner

Oakville, Ontario

Wall Signs

Great article. I am always looking for ways to use new my computer. Thanks

Wayne