The best way to post messages from office hours to safety info
Printable sign labels are the best way for campus administrators to post important messages. Unlike metal or plastic signs, printable adhesive signs are easier to update and change out as needed, and they’re cheaper too. In fact, all you need to create custom school signs with Avery sign labels is an internet connection and a standard desktop laser or inkjet printer. Using our free online software and templates, you can create office hours signs, safety signs, and more in just minutes. What’s more, we have a range of materials for long-term or temporary messaging that hold up to wear and tear, so they look more professional.
In this article, we’ll cover the three best types of durable school signs to use to get your message across. Moreover, inside you’ll find the best tips for how to use Avery Design and Print Online (ADPO) to create your sign designs for free.
What signs are found in schools?
There are a lot of different types of signage used on school campuses. However, you can generally break school signs down into three categories: 1) General information; 2) Directional signs; and 3) Safety signs. Here are some examples of different signs found in schools:
| General Info | Directional | Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Office door signs | Entrance & exit signs | Evacuation diagrams |
| Office hours sign | Directions to specific locations | Chemical safety signs |
| Rules & procedures signs | Welcome signs | Prohibition signs |
| Hallway signs | Warning signs | |
| Classroom signs |
Why do durable materials matter?
Durable school signs offer a more professional appearance and longevity compared to paper signs taped to walls, which come with several drawbacks. Firstly, tape may not adhere equally to all surfaces. This poses the risk of signs falling down, causing damage like peeling paint, or leaving sticky residues. Additionally, paper signs are prone to damage, and you can’t easily clean them. This makes them particularly inconvenient and unsanitary in areas like break rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms. However, printable, durable adhesive signs provide a solution, offering both longevity and the ability to print on them using regular printers.
1) Temporary school signs that don’t ruin walls
For versatile school signage, Surface Safe® removable adhesive signs are ideal. They’re perfect for frequently updated information like office door signs, rules, and event directions. These signs are safe for use on various surfaces like glass, painted walls, drywall, and metal, leaving no damage or residue behind. Plus, they stay securely in place until you’re ready to change them. Moreover, you can print Surface Safe signs using either laser or inkjet printers. This is important because you should always match the type of label you use to the type of printer you have. We wrote about that in depth here, but essentially, using the wrong labels in your printer is one of the main causes of smeared or smudged ink.
Additionally, Surface Safe sign labels are made of polyester film and resist water, tearing, chemicals, and abrasion. This means you can easily clean the sign and surrounding area with common household cleaners like disinfecting wipes. Whether it’s an office hours sign or other frequently touched areas, Surface Safe signs offer a convenient solution.
Custom-printed removable signs
Of course, printing adhesive school signs from your desktop is convenient, but sometimes you need something in between that and custom metal or plastic signs. Custom-printed adhesive signs are perfect for printing dozens or even hundreds of full-color signs. And with Avery WePrint® services, scaling up your printing is easy and affordable. Unlike traditional custom sign makers, we don’t charge file setup fees or delay proofing orders. Plus, we ship most orders within three business days.
2) Printable outdoor signs for schools
Vinyl adhesive signs are perfect for long-term safety, warning, prohibition, and directional signs indoors and outdoors. For example, school signs that are needed in chemistry labs, sanitation areas, or outdoor spaces like entrances and exits. They’re waterproof and resistant to chemicals, abrasion, and UV rays, ensuring durability. Additionally, printing with a laser printer as recommended ensures ink that does not smear or smudge. What’s more, their conformable nature allows them to adhere well to complex curves, making them suitable for surfaces like cinderblock, brick, and curved walls. With their aggressive adhesive, our vinyl sign labels are ideal for outdoor and long-term indoor use on school campuses.
3) Reflective materials for safety and directions
The main reason to use reflective materials for school signs is to increase visibility in low lighting. For example, during an emergency, power outages, smoke, and/or debris may decrease visibility. Reflective evacuation diagrams and entrance/exit paths help guide students, faculty, and rescue teams. They’re also effective for outdoor school signs needed in places like bus zones and parking structures. On top of that, our reflective adhesive signs match the durability of our vinyl signs, being waterproof and resistant to chemicals, abrasion, and UV rays. While not conformable like vinyl, they utilize glass-bead retro-reflective technology, bouncing light back towards the source. This makes it easier to read signs, even when there is not much light available.
How to design custom school signage
Avery Design and Print Online (ADPO) is free online software that you can use to quickly and easily design school signs. In fact, we have hundreds of free sign templates that you can customize with your own text, graphics, images, logo, colors, and more. Or, you can upload a complete design created with Adobe design software or Canva.
Here is what you need to know to find free templates for creating your own custom school signs:
- Go to our template finder page and enter your Avery product number.
- Select the layout of your labels (e.g., portrait or landscape).
- Choose the free template design you want to use.
- Enter custom text, pictograms, colors, etc. as needed.
- Preview, save the project, and then download the PDF to print.
More resources for designing school signs
Tips for printing adhesive signs yourself
For the best print quality, go into your printer settings and set the scale to 100. Then, print a test sheet on plain paper to make sure everything is correct. If you don’t need to make any adjustments, go back to settings and change the printer type to “labels,” “cardstock,” “specialty,” or “heavy-weight.” These settings communicate to your printer that it will be printing on sheets that are thicker than regular paper.
Additional printing help and resources
- Video: Printing Tips for Avery products
- How to Troubleshoot Printer Settings to Avoid Printing Problems
Campus communication is made easy with Avery sign labels
To wrap up, using printable sign labels revolutionizes how campus administrators convey crucial messages. Unlike traditional metal or plastic signs, these adhesive labels offer unparalleled flexibility, affordability, and ease of updating. With just an internet connection and a standard printer, you can swiftly create custom signs tailored to your school’s needs using free Avery online software and templates.
In this guide, we explored the top three types of durable school signs and how to design them effectively using Avery Design and Print Online (ADPO). From temporary Surface Safe® removable signs to long-term vinyl adhesive signs and reflective materials for enhanced safety, there’s a solution for every signage requirement.
By employing durable materials, you ensure a professional appearance while mitigating the risks associated with traditional paper signs. Plus, with our printing tips, achieving optimal print quality is a breeze. So, whether you’re posting office hours or vital safety information, you can trust Avery printable sign labels to deliver clear, concise messaging that lasts.
