Plywood Letters. Prices are worked out depending on typeface, size, thickness. For example; a 6" 3/4" thick B in Cooper Black would cost $7.50 (USD)
Restrictions/Qualities: ply comes 3/4"thick Max, has no way of hanging (and is possibly too thin to stand up on their own). But, it's strong, can be painted (printed?) and could be screwed, stuck with self adhesive pads or that kind of thing... there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Found here
MDF letters. Same company, again prices dependent on size/typeface. 6" 1 1/4" thick Cooper Black 'B' letter with rounded edges is $14.00 USD.
Restrictions/Qualities; MDF can be 'fuzzy' on the edges, needs a specialist primer to be able to paint/print, but can be 1 1/4" thick (max) which would be plenty wide enough to stand up independently. Screwing is dodgy- temperamental, holes tend to 'grow'. Carcinogenic to work with (Like I need another poison in me) - but could be cut by external sources, Shanon Signs, for Eg. Good to make more rounded letters - reacts well to shaping.
Wooden letters. Same company (see images for prices)
Restrictions/Qualities; Would be much cheaper to produce being as the cutting is simple squares, very 'Scrabble' thematic (which is a good thing? I love scrabble, anyway...). Could be tricky to make original, will always look like scrabble tiles whether they are coloured or printed or whatever.
BUT THEY LOOK COOL!
Corafoam letters. See image for prices.
found here
Restrictions/Qualities; Expensive (but that price is including a painted finish). Highly resilient to external corrosion, suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use. Would need to be outsourced. Lightweight. Can be cut up to 3" thick so certainly thick enough for free standing, even if made BIG.
Acrylic lettering. $29.00 USD each (6" 3/4" thick B in Cooper Black)
Found here
Restrictions/Qualities; Will always look 'plastic' (duh). Can be in a variety of colours, can be transparent or opaque, probably not so good for printing, but could be patterned with sand blasting/laser/routing? I really don't like 'plastic' though.....
Metal faced foam letters. £54.90 for 6" 1 1/2" thick Cooper Black B.
Found here
Restrictions/Qualities; very expensive, but COOL. I like the contrast between the face and the sides. The metal could be printed? Same benefits of the corafoam letters (it is corafoam) - lightweight, external use, etc. With the added benefit of being resistant to damage on the face.
Metal letters. $13.00 USD for Alluminium, $24.50 USD for Bronze or Brass.
Found here
Restrictions/Qualities. Very expensive, and expensive to machine, too. Thin. (max 3/16" (3mm) so being able to stand up on their own would be impossible (But could have tabs that fold back to stand). Heavy.
Can be tapped or soldered, but wouldn't stand up to glue terribly easily. If made well they will last forever, can be enamelled or painted (Steel or copper would be better for that). A premium product but with a lot of risk on initial outlay.
Also to think about;
Cast Alloy letters. As the Pedlars 'HOTEL' set (£180.00 for the set - £36.00 each*)
*don't trust my maths, was worked out in my head
Printed (and framed?) paper letters, as the pedlars box frame prints. (£4.50 each, not inc. frame). Cheap, could use up those millions of frames I have, or could be printed onto fine ply or such like for something a bit more substantial.
Maybe BOTH - some printed letters, and some 3D self standing letters, could look good together.
felt (laser cut?) stickers
found here
Printed Stickers (for decorating walls, etc). Shown here 4" high, £1.99 each.
The problem with stickers is the market at college is STUDENTS. Students tend to be living in rented accommodation and are unlikely to risk defacing their rooms incase of lost deposit.
Difficult to package interestingly (ends up being a flat 'packet' - would prefer something more 3 Dimensional)
But. They ARE cheap.
Mirror letters. 6" polished acrylic (shatterproof) £5.99 each. Self adhesive backing.
found here
found here also
and this:
All prices quoted are retail costs, so ideally, whichever medium I choose I need to keep my costing/profit to HALF those prices. Unless, of course, my letters are so outstandingly brilliant that people will pay more. (of course, they will be ;)
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