Matt Charboneau
When designing a monument or other sign structure that incorporates an electronic message center, it is important to pay attention to several scenarios that can end up either wasting fabrication dollars or costing you dearly in a voided EMC warranty.
No. 1: Intensity of the EMC vs. Other Sign Graphics
When designing a monument or other sign display that features an electronic message center, it’s important to understand that the EMC’s brightness and intensity may very well overpower the sometimes subtle halo glow of routed push-thru acrylic letters and other detailed graphics. During the day, this may not be such a big deal but at night it can completely overpower the signs primary tenant message. Even with a dimmable display, the building’s lights and the lighting of the parking lot may require the EMC to be at full intensity in order to be “seen.” At the very least, routed push thru letters may prove to be a huge waste of money, whereas routed and backed letters would have been just as effective at night, saving the customer and the budget some significant expense.
No. 2: Ventilation
Every manufacturer is a little different, and it’s critical to understand exactly how the venting must be handled for each display you are designing with. Some require very little ventilation, yet some require as much as a 1” gap along the top and bottom of the display. The point here is to take the time to do the research and know how your EMC is cooled, and plan for it accordingly. This really comes into play with sign shops located in the warmer part of the country such as Texas and Arizona. On big monster monument jobs, they even require small air conditioning units be installed to keep things at an optimum operating temperature.
No. 3: Viewing Angle
Most EMC manufacturers have specific details on how much of an angle each panel should be placed at for optimum viewing. Ignoring this small detail can provide a display that is not as visible, nor as dynamic in appearance as it could be. The manufacturer will assist you in determining the correct angle for the most optimum view, based on the distance it is seen and the speed of traffic.
No. 4: MMs and Pixels
It’s important to know exactly what type of message is intended to be displayed. If it’s a company that needs to display a lot of photographs, they may want to consider a finer resolution display. If they only advertise copy and pricing, a monochrome board may be fine. Knowing the customers’ needs for the display is a very important and critical piece of information that can help you provide the right display for the job.
No. 5: Plan for the Future – Not Just for Today
Which EMC is the best? The one that doesn’t end up looking old, pixelated and out of date in two years. They say that it’s wise for customers to purchase the highest resolution display they can afford because as time goes by, technology will continue to advance and the display that looks super high-res today will soon look out-dated as time goes by and newer, higher resolution displays are installed down the street. Buying the highest resolution display now simply buys time for the customer before it’s time to replace it later.
In conclusion, there are some basics to understand when working with EMCs. How they are mounted to the center pipe and how much power they consume is just part of the plethora of details that accompany any EMC project. Get with the EMC manufacturers and download their specs prior to designing. Knowing the EMC and what it requires for proper installation, adequate ventilation and proper viewing angle will help to ensure a successful sign project.