Month: December 2023

Having the right pottery supplies and Tools in your Studio helps keep your work flowing and minimizes dust, which can cause silicosis. You’ll also want to dedicate a section of your Studio for glazing, to avoid mixing clay with glaze.

Wedging requires a sturdy table that can take some pressure, as does trimming models or thrown projects. A variety of wooden modeling tools – including ribs, scrapers, loop, and ribbon tools – are great for trimming excess clay or creating patterns.

Sponge

A sponge is an essential tool in your pottery studio. Sponges help keep the clay wet while you are throwing, reduce friction between your hands and the clay, and clean up your workspace. They are available in natural and synthetic varieties.

Clay dust is very fine and can cling to anything it touches, including your workstation. This makes it hard to keep your work area and hands clean. If left unchecked, the clay dust can also become airborne and can be difficult to breathe.

To avoid this, invest in a set of durable sponges for your pottery studio. Synthetic sponges are an economical choice. The Lollipop Sponge Set is a great option that includes three different sponge types for use throughout the pottery process: a blue workhorse, a yellow sponge that can be used for several purposes, and a white finishing sponge. These sponges are also ideal for rubbing down bisqueware to smooth it out and prepare it for painting with glaze. They can also be used as handle wedges to ensure a consistent slope for the handles of your pottery pieces.

Paintbrushes

If you want your pottery pieces to come out with a smooth, polished finish then you’ll need to invest in some paintbrushes. These are used for applying and removing glaze as well as to add texture to the surface of your work. Choose brushes that are sturdy and abrasion resistant to ensure they hold up to regular use.

Whether you are creating pieces by hand or throwing them on the wheel, basic pottery tools make your process easier and elevate your final product. These include shaping tools like ribs, paddles and ribbons which are used to shape clay into specific forms; texture tools such as combs and fettling knives that help create unique patterns in your pottery; and trimming tools including loops and needles which help trim feet and craft intricate details.

Scrapers are flat tools that look similar to ribs but are usually made of stainless steel and have serrated edges. They are also lighter in weight and are used to remove sections of wet clay. They are found in most commercially available beginner pottery kits.

Needle Tool

Pottery tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each designed to create a specific effect or finish. Sculpting and modeling tools are great for adding texture to clay creations, while trimming tools allow potters to cut and shape their pieces. Other tools include a wire cutter and clay cutting wires, which allow potters to seamlessly cut and slice slabs of wet clay.

Needle tools are slender metal needles set in a handle and can execute a multitude of functions, including cutting, piercing, measuring wall thickness, scoring, creating patterns, and finishing fine details. When shopping for a needle tool, look for one made of surgical steel to ensure it’s long-lasting and sharp. It should also feature a facetted handle, which is ergonomic and won’t roll off your workbench.

Pottery tools are a must-have for any pottery hobbyist or professional. They include wooden ribs, scrapers, loop tools, and ribbon tools. Ribs are curved metal tools that can help potters smooth and create patterns in their clay creations.

Edgers

Whether you are throwing on the wheel or building by hand, a good quality pottery brush is one of the most versatile tools in your toolkit. They can be used to draw images, create fine details, craft different patterns, add slip, apply wax resist, and paint on overglazes and underglazes.

Edgers are flat pottery supplies that come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most have wooden handles on both ends and look a bit like a wire cheese cutter. They can be used to cut through clay or to remove thrown pieces from the wheel, and you’ll want a set that boasts sharp yet safe-to-touch edges that stand up to frequent use.

Pottery supplies also include shaping tools, such as ribbons and loop tools, which can be used to shape clay into specific forms; texture tools, such as combs and fettling knives, which are used to add unique textures to clay; and trimming tools, such as needle tools, which are used to define the edges of pieces. Having these tools in your clay studio will help you take your creations to the next level.

Clay Storage

Ideally, a clay storage solution is located in an area of the studio separate from other materials to reduce cross-contamination and to minimize temperature fluctuations, which can affect clay quality over time. It should also be well-ventilated to help reduce humidity and promote air circulation.

Clay storage containers should be durable and leak-proof to protect clay from contamination and keep it pliable and usable for as long as possible. Look for buckets that seal tightly or thick plastic bags that zip or tie completely closed to minimize air exposure and moisture changes.

Some potters like to categorize clay by type for better organization, and a heavy-duty artist or tackle box is a great option if you need to transport your tools. Other storage solutions include a utensil tray or any waterproof container that can hold your clay supplies. Having a designated clay storage space makes it easier to locate the clay you need, which improves your productivity and efficiency. It also helps to keep your workspace clean and free of debris, which can damage clay over time.

Municipal building signs quadruple the visibility of events in a particular area. They’re also a great way to promote a community, whether it’s a dad-daughter event or a specific holiday function in the city park.

Municipality signage Indianapolis stimulates engagement and creates community pride. It helps people understand what’s expected of them and how to contribute.

Wayfinding Signage

Think about the last time you visited a busy airport or traveled to a new location, such as a shopping mall or restaurant. Did overhead signs direct you? Did text-based instructions help you at critical junctures? These types of signs are called wayfinding. They create a system that shuttles users throughout an area, minimizing confusion and stress. Wayfinding signage encompasses a broad set of signage options that include identification, directional, informational, and regulatory signs.

Directional wayfinding signage communicates directions, locations, and points of interest via a simple visual narrative. These types of signs typically display arrows pointing right, left, up, or down. They also feature distinctive designs, ensuring that they stand out and can be interpreted at a distance.

Identifying wayfinding signage displays the names or numbers of specific sites, buildings, rooms, or areas. This type of signage can also include a map to help individuals locate a location and get from one point to another.

In the ever-changing urban tapestry of cities, efficient navigation is imperative for residents and visitors alike. Effective wayfinding signage can facilitate seamless urban exploration, enrich the experience, and foster a positive city perception. At National Branding, we understand how important clear wayfinding signage is for a successful city. That’s why we work with our clients to understand their needs and provide customized solutions.

Parking Signs

Parking signs communicate parking regulations and help guide drivers to their desired destination. They are also essential for creating a safe and efficient car park. Safety signs, like stop and yield signs, help prevent collisions while intersection-specific parking signs manage right-of-ways. Organizational signs, like reserved and entrance/exit parking signs, help organize traffic flow to minimize accidents and congestion.

Parking signs helps ensure that visitors to your parking facility understand the rules of your lot or garage. This helps reduce the risk of violations, which can result in costly fines. Signage is designed to stand out and be weatherproof, allowing it to communicate relevant information quickly. Digital signage can work in tandem with these signs to include changing real-time data, resulting in more easily understood messaging.

A simple rule of thumb for reading parking signs is to start at the top and work your way down. For example, red parking signs typically mean passenger vehicles must keep moving, while green parking signs allow parking for specific days/hours. Lastly, look for the word “except” to determine whether the rule displayed on the sign applies to all vehicles or only to certain types.

Another function of parking signs is to prohibit vehicles from obstructing footways and verges, which is dangerous for pedestrians and people with disabilities. A clear and concise directional sign will let drivers know that they are prohibited from parking wholly or partially on the footway, minimizing obstructions to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Welcome Signs

Welcome signs are a type of wayfinding sign that greets and orients people when they arrive at a building. They are designed to convey important information, including the name of a business, its location, and its hours of operation. They also serve as a way to show that a company cares about its customers and is dedicated to providing them with the best possible service. You can find the best welcome signs at Signworks.

While any old welcome sign can serve its purpose, a well-designed one can set the tone for an entire event. For example, a welcome sign can communicate that guests are expected to refrain from using their phones throughout the celebration, as this bohemian duo did at their wedding in California. The couple even framed their signage with pampas grass to add a touch of earthiness and effortless beauty.

Similarly, schools can use welcome signs to share their mission and goals with students and families. They can also showcase their culture and traditions through visuals like school mascots, banners, and light boxes. This welcoming vibe is essential to creating a safe environment for children, so school officials should consider incorporating features that help them stand out from other educational institutions. For instance, they could add a digital welcome sign that displays school events to help students feel at home in their new surroundings.

LED Signage

The way people perceive and react to signage influences their overall experience. Energy-efficient LED lighting produces higher brightness than traditional signs, making them more visible even in adverse weather conditions. In addition, LEDs are safer and require less maintenance than incandescent bulbs.

LED displays offer a range of functionalities, including real-time messaging systems and dynamic content. They can also incorporate smart technologies, such as dynamic mapping systems and traffic optimization capabilities. This makes them a vital part of modern transportation infrastructure.

Travelers can navigate airports and train stations with digital signage that displays clear directions in full color. These digital display signs can also provide important information, such as real-time traffic updates, allowing people to make informed decisions about their routes and schedules.

Schools can use directional LED school signs to share campus directories or virtual tours to help students and parents find their way around. These displays can be updated quickly to share new classes, venues or events with students and visitors. They can also be used to communicate emergency alerts, such as drills, school cancellations or amber alerts.

The amount of detail displayed by your LED sign depends on its size and resolution. You can get a better picture quality by choosing a display with a lower pixel pitch, which allows pixels to be closer together, creating a clearer and more life-like image.