Demountable copy is a term describing the method of manufacture of some signs in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Demountable copy signage is built by attaching mass-produced sheet-metal characters (and graphics, such as route shields and arrows) to the sign face, through means such as screws or rivets.

Because of the ability to remove the preformed metal characters from the sign, demountable-copy signs can be easily altered to change their message by removing unwanted sections of the legend and installing new elements. However, newly-manufactured characters must be stored until their use, which could potentially take up much more space than the rolls of retroreflective sheeting required for direct-applied copy.

The Kansas Department of Transportation

Kansas Department of Transportation

The Kansas Department of Transportation is a state government organization in charge of maintaining public roadways of the U.S. state of Kansas.-Organization:*Secretary of Transportation...

 uses demountable copy extensively on its freeway signage.

See also

• Button copy
  Button copy
  Button copy is a term describing the method of manufacture of older road signs in the United States. Button copy signs contain rows of embedded reflectors outlining the legend of the sign, for better visibility at night...
  
   - Older style of sign manufacture no longer commonly used
• Scotchlite
  Scotchlite
  Scotchlite is a retroreflective material made by 3M. Its primary use is in nighttime high-visibility applications, such as 'reflective tape' for cyclists, safety vests for road workers, or the front of many traffic signs...
  
  - common material for direct-applied copy