I am just starting this guide as of the beginning of summer 2006. I have 3+ years full-time experience in past (pre-computer) sign-making business/ hand-cut silk screens, pattern design, lettering, brush lettering, drawing "perfect" letters by eye only, designing logos and doing show-cards. I will begin with listing sign-making tools' names and brief definitions --hope this will help myself & others list to sell, or Browse to SEARCH ...on wonderful eBay!! I am starting this Guide from my webTV, so will begin with just text. I can also use any help or comments (giving you the kudos!) if you've been a sign-person in the deep dark past. *~Hand-made Signs are now part of AMeRiCaNa~* ================== Who knows what a pounce-pattern is? How about a pounce wheel? Some dressmakers know about pounce wheels. It is a sharp spiked spinning wheel (about the size of a small button) on the end of a stylus. held like a pencil -that pokes holes in the pattern paper. In the "old days", sign men (& women) used butcher paper for the pattern paper to design signs. The design was drawn full-size onto butcher paper with heavy pencil, then the pounce-wheel was used to "trace" over the pencil marks, poking holes through the paper to enable the design to be transferred onto the preepared sign board (often already covered with several coats of enamel paint.) ~I think Pounce-patterns were in a short scene in the old 1950s Heston-Michaelangelo film, The AGONY & The ECSTASY!~ (But that is Fine Art --he used patterns on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel*!) Okay, that is the same process for signs --and one can use a fine grade of sandpaper on the back of the butcher paper to open up the tiny pounced holes just a bit!! (Use a very light touch-) Now, what does one use for actual pouncing? > Either charcoal dust on a light background (charcoal dust in a type of hand-held dust bag) or a fine powder, like baby powder, on a dark background. Both these methods allow for easy cleaning after sign is lettered with paint (free-hand, usually) onto the enameled backing (wooden or metal, etc.) sign. > Pounce wheels may be available on eBay. Butcher paper comes in rolls / charcoal powder and baby powder can of course be purchased. You will have to improvise a dust-bag, or use a cosmetic powder puff for the white powder (or ground chalk). *** Ready to get a pattern for a fancy sign designed & transferred? Go FoR IT! Look on eBay for lettering books, especially one-stroke lettering. I will post more later /this posting 6/02/06. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LeTTeRiNG BRuSHeS: This may be a little tough to explain in just text. There are 2 kinds of brushes that I am famiiar with for lettering signs: One is the "fitch" with short hairs (sometimes bulky) flattened somewhat inside the metal clamp with a longer wooden brush handle, and (2) a chiseled, hair cut straight-across:"lettering" brush (comes in many sizes). The hairs are longer for paint flow on the straight-across hairs of the lettering brush. Vintage are often good if well-cared for; real sable brushes, especially. Sable brushes are long-lasting and cost more. Be sure it is for lettering, and not a watercolor brush (more rounded hairs). I repeat: lettering brushes are blunt-cut straight across/ all hairs are even! Brands are available at Art supply stores & of course, browse eBaY! Please feel free to comment on my GUiDe so far* ~~ THANKS! ************ Learning to DRAW LeTTeRs/-paint or "pen" letters-/ that look perfect! > I learned by my father's trusty SPEEDBALL lettering book (just a paperback that was re-printed several times during the 20th century ~LOL). Speedball is a brand, and also makes lettering pens with the little round flat-circle "ball" on the end of a dipping pen for India ink. Made just for lettering show cards for old businesses, I think. Ebay has a few auctions once in awhile for Speedball books & pens, kits, etc. The books are concise for teaching you how to letter. (You may have to also practice some with a pencil. You can also get fat flat-leaded pencils with chiseled points for practicing - used to be able to get them). Try using pen& ink to letter --it's fun*! Wear a canvas apron to be ink-free. ~(or smock, to be Art-sy*) Lots of colors of ink these days.=========== Show*Cards were wonderful in their HeyDay. They were all hand-lettered by show-card professionals in big cities: for exclusive Department stores, but also sometimes for the local Five & Dime! This was during the first half of the 20th century mostly. There are a few vintage show-card design books around, but they are RaRe! Poster-board was made in different thicknesses for these semi-permanent signs. Restaurant specials were often done on smaller poster-size cards and then mounted temporarily on an easel at the entrance to the restaurant area. Hat & Shoe departments used same approach to tell customers of special sales, or even announce an upcoming fashion show~/you might get a glance now & then in an old movie, but that's probably the only way you will see them, unless they become popular again --probably would co$t too much these days. =*Totally custom design & lettering (one-of-a-kind card)*.