Look at other images of different types of ranch and plasma cut signs to get some idea of design variations and assess the expected design standards to be met in your own design. Notice specifically how the metal signs are cut and shaped.
Sketch lightly in pencil some possible shapes for your plasma cut ranch sign, such as rectangles, squares, ovals or any shape that you wish to consider for your sign. Remember that the shape at this stage is just a guide and may change depending on how the design develops, since some areas of the sign will be cut away.
Design the lettering for your ranch sign. Sketch your letters freehand within a chosen area of your shape, if you feel confident in your drawing abilities. Use a plastic stencil, or trace letters as an alternative method. You could also trace letters from old newspaper headlines or type your required size and style of lettering using a word processing package and then print off the page. Trace pre-printed letters onto your sign by placing the letters underneath your design sheet and tracing over the letter outlines.
Decide if your sign is only going to contain the name of your ranch. Consider reshaping the sign so either the name is cut around in order to appear as a silhouette, or have the letters cut out of the preferred sign shape to look like a metal stencil.
Embellish your design with a motif, pattern or slogan, if wished. Include a symbol or slogan which reflects the personality or function of your ranch to make your sign is noticed by all who pass it. Keep the embellishment simple to avoid over-complicating the design; simplify any logos connected to your ranch to keep it easy to see and understand on your final sign. Find ranch-themed symbols on the Internet and incorporate them into your design by tracing, if necessary.
Apply black to the metal areas of the sign. Use a black drawing pen to draw an outline over the pencil lines of the contour of the design to make it look clean and crisp. Use a black paint and a small art brush -- or an art marker pen -- to fill in the solid areas of the sign. Using black in the design will show that the contrasting white of the paper is where the metal is to be removed from in the final plasma cut of the ranch sign.
Erase any unwanted pencil lines from your design.
Include a clearly written pencil note beside your ranch sign design specifying the dimensions of the sign to help the plasma cut sign maker.