Ubiquitous in towns and suburbs across the country, monument signage is as classic as signage gets. Its pervasive impression of heaviness, however, may be just that—a perception only.
纪念碑标识就和普通标识一样经典，在整个国家的小镇和城郊都随处可见。但是以往大家留下的庄重的形象，可能只是一个方面。接下来分享一些成功的经验给大家。
Reminding us of the traditional methods that are used to manufacture and install this type of signage, Jim Nordquist, president of Viscom Architectural Graphicsin Clearwater, Florida, points out that non-illuminated monument signs have typically been built on site on top of a poured concrete base.
让我们想起以往制作安装这种类型的标识的一些传统的方法，Jim Nordquist,Viscom Architectural Graphics的总裁，位于克利尔沃特，佛罗里达州，指出，不发光的纪念碑标识一般是紧接着倒混凝土的顶部安装的。
“A mason would then create the monument structure using cinder block with stucco finish or brick construction,”he explains.“Once complete, a sign company would be called in to add the letters and graphic elements to complete the sign monument.”
“一名瓦匠可能也可以做出纪念碑建筑或者砖块建筑，用烧尽的煤渣块混着泥灰，”他解释到。“一旦完成，标识公司就会要求加上字和图形元素，完成整个纪念碑标识。”
Today it's a walk in the park—at least when it comes to efficiency and material weight. It's now possible to manufacture the entire structure, including the dimensional graphics, as a finished, lightweight product.
现在，当提到效率和材料重量时，就会想到公园里的步行道。制作加工整个标识结构成一个精致的，重量轻的产品也是可能的，包括空间标识。
Proper Planning
恰当的规划
Before launching a monument or any other exterior dimensional signage project, Nordquist points out some essential things to keep in mind.
在开始一个纪念碑标识或者任何一个外部三维空间标识项目之前，Nordquist指出，有一些基本的要素是要牢记的。
First, he says, it's imperative that the sign company employ due diligence for the client and check with the municipality signage regulations (including, of course, size) in their location.
他说，首先，标识公司必须要帮客户进行严格审查，保证与当地市政府的标识条例相符合（包括，大小）。
“This is one of the biggest mistakes I see when my clients are designing these types of signs for their customers,”he says.“The last thing you want is to have your customer agree on your design and hand over the deposit to get the ball rolling, only to find out that the city will not allow you to install the structure that you spent so much time and effort on.
“这是我见过的最大的错误之一，那次我的客户在为他的客户设计这些标识，”他说到。“你希望的最后结果肯定是让你的客户同意你的设计，交付押金来保证项目的运转，结果发现当地不允许你安装这个建筑，但事实上你已经花费了很多时间和努力在项目上。”
“Do your homework first and then start designing.”
“先做好事前功课，再开始设计。”
Durability
持久性
Thanks to lighter weight materials like EPS foam, sign makers can not only mimic the look of traditionally constructed structures but also achieve a wider range of design options that would be near impossible or cost-prohibitive to accomplish using traditional construction methods.
多亏这些重量比较轻的材料，像EPS发泡板，标识制作商不仅能够模仿传统的建筑结构，而且还能创造更多的选择，那些用传统的制作方法完成，几乎是不可能的，或者低于最低成本制作。
In addition to eliminating the heavy weight, gone are the hassles of chipping stones and wearing foundations. Today there are materials that make monument signage long lasting and durable.
除了重量问题外，之前的都存在石头碎屑和地基磨损的问题。现在有些材料可以让纪念碑标识保存时间长和耐久性好。
“We manufacture many of our monument structures using CNC hotwire-cut EPS foam, adding an extremely durable polyurethane hard coat, and then finish off with a mold-resistant acrylic stucco finish,”says Nordquist.
Nordquist说道：“我们制作很多纪念碑建筑，都是用CNC设备切割EPS发泡板，加上耐久性能特别好的防水涂料做坚实的保护层，最后再用铜合金的模型亚克力，用泥灰来固定。”
He recalls the first monument his shop constructed this way—a sign still keeps an eye on while driving to and from work since it was installed twenty years ago.
他想起自己制作的第一个纪念碑标识就是用这种方式的，从安装好到现在已经有20年了，开车上下班的时候仍然能看到那个标识依旧如新。
“Other than one paint job on the trim, the unit still looks amazing,”says Nordquist.“The durability of this type of construction is simply amazing, when done correctly.”
“除了油漆方面需要处理下，那个建筑标识还是看着很美观的，”Nordquist说。“制作的时候方法正确，这种类型的建筑的耐久性是令人非常吃惊的。”
Design
设计
Beyond durability, using EPS foam also allows Viscom's clients to easily engage their customers in the design process and have it efficiently installed at their business.
不仅仅是耐久性，用EPS发泡板能让Viscom的客户在整个设计过程中很容易搞定自己的客户，也能够在操作时比较高效的安装。
Nordquist offers a few monument structure design tips:
“Be creative, but don't overdo it.Just because you can design almost any style and shape of monument doesn't mean you should.”
“Take a look at your customer's location (especially the style of the buildings) and implement some of the buildings' design nuances to help complement and tie the two together.”
“Take advantage of monument manufacturers' Web sites and Google Images for inspiration. Today, there are hundreds of pictures of monuments to help you get an idea of what can and has been done.”
Nordquist提供了一些纪念碑建筑设计时需要注意的事项：
·“要有创新，但是又不能太过，因为你可以想到各种各样的设计和形状，但是不一定都适合。”
·“要根据你客户所在地（特别是建筑风格）和一些建筑设计之间的细微差别，这样才能取长补短。”
·“要会利用纪念碑制作商之类的网站和Google图片来找灵感。现在，有成百上千的纪念碑图片可以帮助你找到操作灵感。”
Recently Viscom has been fabricating monuments that incorporate nontraditional materials such as tile and decorative metals.
最近Viscom一直在制作加工纪念碑标识，都是结合了非传统材料像瓦片和装饰性的金属之类的。
“This effect has great impact on the look of the sign, but we use only exterior-grade products in our design,”says Nordquist.“We've even reproduced barrel tile roofing using hard-coated foam to match existing construction. We then maybe add a real brick or stone base.”
“这一结果很大的影响了标识的外观，但是我们设计时只用到外部产品，”Nordquist说：“我们甚至把瓦屋屋顶的瓦片重新制造成坚硬的保护膜，放在现存的建筑上。然后再底基上加砖块或者石头。”
“This not only looks great but adds extra protection against weed wackers and lawnmowers.”
这样不仅仅看起来好看，而且在除草和剪草时还能起到额外的保护作用.
Viscom still occasionally does turn to the tried-and-true methods of manufacturing monument signage by working with heavier materials like real stone, as well as working with welded aluminum construction for larger structures.
Viscom还是会时不时致力一些制作纪念碑标识上比较可靠的方法，通过研究一些重型材料例如石头，还有一些大型建筑上的焊接的铝合金构造。
“Real stonework adds protection and curb appeal, but it also a few pounds to the finished product, which should be taken into consideration when there are limited installation resources,”says Nordquist.
“真实的石制品可以增强外观的保护，但是对于精致性的产品来说还是有点重，在安装资源有限的时候，这个也应该考虑进去的.”Nordquist说到。
A final, but critical design element, are the dimensional letters and logos that make the signage“sing.”
最后一项也是最关键的元素就是，空间立体字和标志，这样能让整个标识看起来更美观生动。
“When you've designed a great-looking structure that, by its very nature, has many dimensional elements, adding a flat, digitally printed face to it just won't do justice compared to a nice sandblasted or routed face or dimensional letters and graphics,”says Nordquist.“It's all about dimension.”
Nordquist说道：“当你计划制作一个很不错的立体标识时,由于其本身的特质,有很多空间元素，或许你会考虑采用平板打印其表面，或者采用喷砂或者围字呈现三维立体效果。”
Between those two options, Viscom does about 60 percent dimensional letters and 40 percent sandblasted or routed faces.
在这两种选择之中，Viscom做的产品中，有60%是立体标识，40%是喷砂或者打印切割的表面。
“Instead of using flat cut-outs for everything, some of our clients will add sculpted and hard-coated EPS graphics that allows the imagery to stand out,”says Nordquist.
Nordquist说道“用平板切割所有的材料，我们的客户更愿意加上雕刻或有外壳的EPS图形，这样会让标识更加的醒目.”
As Viscom has been part of monument signage's rise through modern history, the company has worked on designs from the simplest to the most complex.
随着Viscom在现代历史纪念碑标识上的崛起，我们公司已掌握从最简单到最复杂所有的工艺环节。
“Some of the more elaborate designs we've seen include monuments with built-in planters, others that incorporate water features with recycling water systems, and signs with built-in mailboxes,”says Nordquist.
Nordquist说道：“我们大家现在所见到的一些比较复杂精细的设计，包括植物上的纪念碑标识，或者一些把水的特性和循环系统融合到一起的标识设计，还有一些在信箱上的标识，”。
One sign, in particular, included full columns built using translucent acrylic with internal RGB LED lighting controlled via remote control.
特别值得一提的是，曾经建造过的一个标识，包含了整个建筑构造在里面，采用半透明亚克力板和内置RGB LED灯条的，通过远程可以控制光源。
“The sky's the limit, especially if a monument can be considered lightweight,”he says.
他说：“当今纪念碑标识或许被认为是无足轻重的，所以，我们将会利用更多的工艺，让其在有限的空间里得到更多的发挥”。
Installation
安装
When it comes to working with lighter monument signage,one of the greatest perks is the ease of installation.Once the EPS foam monument sign is delivered to the site,two to four people can handle the job in under two hours.
当谈到操作比较轻的纪念碑标识时，其中一件最高兴的事情就是安装起来比较轻松方便。一旦EPS发泡板纪念碑标识运送到安装现场了，2-4个人就可以在2个小时内完成这项工作。
“First installers will set the mounting pipes into the monument, then dig two or three holes in the ground,”explains Nordquist.“They set the monument with pipes into those holes, typically holding the sign off the ground a few inches with wood blocks. They then mix and pour the concrete into the holes.”
Nordquist说道：“首先，安装工人会把安装管道放进纪念碑里面，然后在地面上挖2-3个坑洞，再把有管道的纪念碑放进地面上的坑洞里，其次用木头支撑起整个标识，明显地高出地面几英寸。然后再混合混凝土倒进洞里来作固定。”
“Finally, they pull out the wood blocks and push the structure toward the ground.”
“最后，他们把木头拔出来，在把建筑标识向地面推进。”
At this stage, it's important that everything is level before the concrete sets.
在这个阶段，倒混凝土之前的一切工作都是需要考验工程水准的。
