A custom sign does one job: get a specific message across to a specific person, at a specific distance, in a specific place. Whether it's a construction site entry board with your logo, a reserved parking sign with a unit number or a warning sign naming the exact hazard in your workshop, the same three decisions make the difference between a sign that works and one that gets ignored: wording, size and material.
1. Start with who reads it, and from where
Before you type a single word, stand where the reader will be. A driver approaching a gate reads from 20 metres away at speed. A visitor at a reception door reads from one or two metres. A worker scanning a fence line sees the sign for a second or two. That viewing position sets everything else: how many words you can use, how large the text needs to be, and whether the sign needs to be reflective.
2. Write wording that can be read in a glance
- Lead with the action or the fact. "Hearing protection must be worn" beats "Please be advised that due to noise levels in this area, hearing protection is required".
- Keep it to a few lines. Every extra line makes every letter smaller on the same size sign.
- Use the right sign type for the message. Australians recognise the AS 1319 conventions: red circle and slash for prohibition, blue circle for mandatory instructions, yellow triangle for warnings, the red DANGER oval for life-threatening hazards, and green for emergency information. Putting your wording on the matching layout makes it understood before it's even read. Browse custom warning signs and custom text signs.
- Check every number. Phone numbers, licence numbers, bay numbers and speed limits are the details customers most often get wrong. We print exactly what you enter.
3. Choose a size for the distance
Bigger signs are easier to read from further away, but a sign that's too big for its spot looks out of place and may not fit. As a practical guide:
- 225 × 300 mm: doors, walls and indoor areas read up close.
- 300 × 450 mm: the all-rounder for walls, gates and corridors.
- 450 × 600 mm: fences, building entries and car parks.
- 600 × 900 mm: construction site entries, large gates and signs read from a vehicle.
If your wording is long, size up rather than squeezing the text. If the sign is part of a project with a sign schedule, follow the size the documentation nominates.
4. Pick the material for where it's going
- Vinyl sticker: for smooth, clean surfaces such as doors, glass, painted walls, switchboards and machinery.
- Corflute: lightweight and weather-resistant, ideal on temporary construction fencing and for events, fixed with eyelets and cable ties.
- Aluminium composite panel (ACP): rigid, perfectly flat and premium-looking. A favourite for site entry boards, building signage and wall-mounted signs.
- Aluminium: the toughest option for permanent outdoor signs on posts, gates and fences.
Every material is available reflective or non-reflective. Choose reflective when the sign needs to be read at night or under headlights: driveways, car parks, private roads, gates and farm entrances. For a side-by-side comparison, read aluminium vs ACP vs vinyl sticker.
5. Get the fixing right
Choose the finishing at the same time as the material so installers aren't improvising on site: eyelets for fencing, double-sided tape for smooth walls and doors, pre-drilled holes for screws and rivets, or post-mount holes for posts.
6. Adding a logo
For a branded sign, use the Add Your Logo range and upload a vector file (PDF, AI, EPS or SVG) if you have one. A large PNG with a transparent background is the next best thing. Small images copied from a website or email signature can print blurry at sign size.
Common custom sign examples
- Construction site entry signs with the builder's name, logo, site contact and after-hours number.
- Reserved and numbered parking signs for strata, offices and medical centres.
- Farm entrance and biosecurity signs with the property name and owner's phone number.
- CCTV, restricted area and private property signs with your own details.
Ordering several custom signs?
Every SignShine sign is made to order at our Penrith NSW facility, matt-laminated for glare-free reading and dispatched within 2–3 business days, with free standard delivery on orders over $500. If you're fitting out a whole site or building, build your own pack to save 10% on 10+ signs or 15% on 20+ signs automatically, or send your list to info@signshine.com.au for bulk and trade pricing.