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Printing Methods for Rigid Signs and Posters

Posted on September 21, 2018 by -

There are two common ways to produce rigid signs and posters.  At American Color Labs, we call them:

(1) print-and-mount and

(2) direct to substrate or flatbed printing

Rigid signs or posters are ideal for displays on an easel, tabletop, or on the wall.

There are many different substrates for your rigid sign or display.  Check out our Guide for Rigid Materials for Signs and Displays to learn more about the options that are available to you.

 

Print-and-mount

In the past, the print-and-mount method was the dominant way to produce rigid signs.  It is still used today but not as extensively.  Print-and-mount is the ideal method if you need a high-quality image on a rigid surface.  In general, we recommend this method if one of the following conditions are met:

  • Your image is supposed to be viewed from less than five feet away
  • The color gamut in the image is especially broad or matching with other display pieces is very important
  • It is an indoor artistic or other prominent graphical feature of the display space

Print-and-mount is the process of printing to a roll material such like adhesive vinyl and then mounting that roll material to the rigid surface.  Generally speaking, roll-based printing technologies tend to have wider color gamuts and produce images at a higher dpi than flatbed technologies.  As a result, the image is generally considered among the best available.  This is usually the best method for point of purchase displays, wall art, and other prominent indoor displays.

 

Direct to substrate printing a.k.a. flatbed printing technology

Today, flatbed printing technology allows us to eliminate the mounting process by printing directly to the rigid surfaces.  This saves time, which allows you to get your product faster than if you were printing and mounting to a surface.  This also saves money because there are less materials involved in the production process.  The main drawback of this process is that the print quality is sometimes not considered to be a good.  Today, this is a limitation of the printing technology, however technology in the printing industry changes rapidly…so who knows what might be coming soon!

At American Color Labs, we usually recommend flatbed printing if your sign is being used as a short term display, outdoor display, or as a display that is intended to be viewed from a distance of greater than five feet.  We also are able to apply white ink to the substrate.  This allows us to get a full color image on a substrate that is not white (such as wood or aluminum).  You can learn more about white ink in this blog post.

Contact us today to find out what printing method is best suited for your project.

 

Complete Guide to Vehicle Graphics

Posted on September 17, 2018 by -

We love vehicle graphics at American Color Labs.  We would like to use this blog post to help our clients that are business owners and marketers understand the benefits of using vehicle graphics for advertising and to explain the different options available for vehicle graphic advertising.  As always, contact us if you have any questions – we love talking graphics!

Why use vehicle graphics?

Your clients expect it

According to a study conducted by 3M, more than 50% of all commercial vehicles in the United States have vehicle graphics.  This number is steadily rising too.  If you are a small business and you don’t have vehicle graphics, then you are now in the minority.  Customers are coming to expect some sort of vehicle identification.  You would not show up to a business meeting without a business card…and now you should not show up to a client’s site (or home) without some kind of professional vehicle identification.  As we have learned from every action movie produced since the advent of color films, an unmarked white van is a sketchy site…don’t send your employees out in unmarked vehicles.

It is inexpensive advertising

Cadbury-Schweppes, the soft drink company, completed a detailed study of advertising channels that concluded a full vehicle wrap costs 48 cents per 1,000 impressions.  While the cost-per-click for key search terms varies significantly by industry, for most industries, this is a very inexpensive alternative form of advertising.  It is also important to know that the viewing audience is geographically bound, making these impressions potentially significantly more valuable than online alternatives.

Build a brand

How often do you have access to a large space to convey an impactful message?  Besides billboards, there are not many places to do so.  When you have a large canvas, you can make a more lasting impression than you can make on computer screen or phone.  If you are not using vehicle graphics, then you are missing a great opportunity to build a brand!

Types of vehicle graphics

Magnets

This is a great starting point, particularly if you use your personal vehicle for work purposes.  You can slap the magnet onto your vehicle on Monday morning, and peel it off on Friday afternoon.  Be sure to order a magnet that is rated to stay on your vehicle when traveling up to 70 mph…you wouldn’t want to lose it during a trip on the highway!  These are easy to design, and very inexpensive.

Single color cut vinyl

This is a budget option for vehicle graphics.  We suggest using single color cut vinyl graphics if you are comfortable advertising with a single-color logo and perhaps some simple language like your company name and contact information.  Typically, you won’t need to engage a designer for more than a few hours to get the graphics right.

Full color cut vinyl 

If you want something more elaborate, and you want to promote logo recognition, then using full color cut vinyl graphics is a good choice.  Sometimes, when you combine full color cut vinyl and a carefully chosen vehicle paint color, you can make an impact while spending less that what you would on a full wrap.

Full vehicle wrap

We get texted pictures of interesting vehicle wrap designs frequently.  We are never texted pictures of cut vinyl or magnets.  With a full wrap, the creative palate is broad.  Do you want your customers to tell their friends about your brand?  Use a wrap.  Think about the last time you ate at a food truck.  We will bet you took a picture in front of the truck if it was wrapped…and you probably posted it to social media.  We will also bet that you didn’t bother if the truck just had simple one-color graphics.  This illustrates the fundamental difference between a wrap and the alternatives like cut vinyl and magnets:  wraps promote appeal and awareness…the alternatives usually only promote awareness.

Wraps are by far the most impactful thing you can do in vehicle advertising.  If you are going to do a full wrap, know that it will be a significant expense.  Most sedans cost at least $2,000 to design, print, and wrap.  Vans and specialized vehicles will cost more.  Cut vinyl and magnets are fantastic less expensive alternatives, however the possibilities for advancing your brand appeal with a wrap are significant.

Awareness and appeal

Magnets and cut vinyl are valuable alternatives for promoting brand awareness, but they do not necessarily promote brand appeal – a very important part of any brand strategy.  How much money do you want to invest in having your clients like your brand versus simply knowing your brand?  This is an important marketing decision that is different for every business.

Contact us today for a free consultation on what vehicle graphics are best suited for you brand.  We love vehicle graphics at American Color Labs!

Guide to Rigid Materials for Signs and Displays

Posted on September 17, 2018 by -

At American Color Labs, we have the ability to print directly to rigid surfaces or print to an adhesive and mount onto a rigid surface.   Whichever method you choose to create your sign, it is important to select the right rigid material for your sign.  We put this table together to help you choose the right material.  You can follow the links in this table to other blog posts learn more about each material in greater detail.  We hope this helps you make an informed decision and, as always, if you have any questions you can contact us.

Substrate Most common thickness Other thicknesses Largest size (without a seam) Weight Price Suitable for outdoor use? Common applications Key materials Self standing
Flatstock paper 12pt, 16pt, 18pt, 20pt, 24pt Several options available, contact us for more info

 

 28″ x 40″ W $ No Window signage, wall decorations Paper No
Foamboard
Foamcore		 3/16″ 1/2″, 1″ 4′ x 8′ W $ No Temporary signs, event signs, self standing displays Foam and paper Yes, but can curl/bow over 24″ x 36″

 
Gator
Gatorboard		 3/16″, 1/2″ 4′ x 8′ WW $$ No Temporary signs, permanent signs, event signs, self-standing displays Foam and wood fiber Yes, less likely to bow than foam at larger sizes

 
Aluminum .040″ .063″ .080″ 4′ x 8′ WWWW $$$ Yes Outdoor signs in rugged applications Aluminum Yes

 
Dibond; E-panel
Aluminum composites		 3mm 6mm 4′ x 8′ WW $$$ Yes Indoor and outdoor signage, wall decordations, self standing signs

 

 Aluminum and plastic Yes
Coroplast
Corex		 4mm 6mm, 10mm 4′ x 8′ W $ Yes Indoor and outdoor signs and displays, yard signs

 

 PVC Yes
Falconboard
Recycled cardboard		 3/16″ 4′ x 8′ WW $$ No Self standing displays and signs, wall decorations

 

 Cardboard Yes
Cardboard 1/8″ (b-flute); 1/16″ (e-flute) 5/32″ (c-flute); 1/32 (f-flute) 4′ x 8′ W $ Usually no, but ok for shipping in packaging applications Packaging, self standing displays

 

 Cardboard Yes, but can bow at any size
Styrene .040″ .080″ .020″, .030″, .060″ 4′ x 8′ W $$ Yes Display units, durable wall signage

 

 PVC No
PVC
Sintra		 3mm, 6mm 10mm 4′ x 8′ WW $$ Yes Self standing displays, wall decorations, reusable signs

 

 PVC Yes
Acylic 3/16″, 1/4″, 1/2″ 4′ x 8′ WWW $$$$ Yes Wall decorations

 

 Plastic Yes

Di-bond, and E-panel and other Aluminum Composites

Posted on September 17, 2018 by -

Sometimes called aluminum composites, Di-bond and E-panel are brand names for similar products that are constructed using a plastic-based filling between two thin sheets of an aluminum product that has been specifically prepared for printing.  This creates a rigid board that can stand easily on its own.

The main advantage to this material is that is it actually lighter, but more rigid than solid aluminum.  And just like aluminum, it can be used outdoors.

It is available in several different thicknesses; however, we usually recommend 3mm thickness.  At this gauge, the material easily stands on its own, and the rigid nature of the material allows for us to cut out highly detailed and intricate shapes that that otherwise could not be cut from aluminum.

Printing directly on a brushed aluminum (or sometimes called uncoated, unpainted, or bare aluminum) yields truly stunning images.  This highly versatile material is available in any size (or shape!) up to 4’ x 8’ in size.  Contact us to get your project started with the right materials!

Coroplast – ideal for yard signs…and so much more!

Posted on September 17, 2018 by -

Coroplast (also known as corrugated plastic) is an excellent material for yard signs, political signs, real estate signs, construction signs, and other outdoor signage.  This is an inexpensive material to print on and it is possible to print directly to the surface using flatbed printing or to print to the material and mount an adhesive material on it.  If somebody is talking about yard signs, then they are talking about coroplast.

One of the best qualities of coroplast is the corrugated nature of the material allows for flutes in the material.  So, a metal H stake can easily be inserted into the flutes to make an inexpensive, self-standing, outdoor sign.

If you are planning on using your corrugated plastic sign in this way, then be sure to let your printer know so that the flutes are oriented correctly.

If you are going to use your coroplast sign outdoors for an extended period, then consider getting a laminate over the printed surface.  This will help protect the sign against the outdoors elements so you can reuse the sign over and over.

Coroplast is most commonly stocked in 4mm thickness.  However other thicknesses are available.  Sometimes 10mm thickness is ideal for applications that require a thicker substrate.  Contact us today to get started on your project.

PVC: A Robust Alternative to Foamboard

Posted on September 17, 2018 by -

PVC is a versatile substrate for printing your signs and graphics.  Sometimes it is referred to as Sintra board, which is a brand name for the name material.  It is a durable solution that gives a professional impression and features a non-glare surface.

PVC signs can be used indoors and outdoors.  Indoors, these are generally considered a premium alternative to foamboard or foamcore.  If using PVC signage outdoors for an extended period of time, then you should consider using a laminate over your image.

PVC is most commonly stocked in 3mm thickness (which is approximately 1/8″ thick) as this is the ideal thickness for signs that are around 2’ x 3’ in size or smaller.  However thicker stocks of PVC are available too including 6mm thick.

Contact us today and let’s find the right material for your job.

The Different Options Of Window Graphics

Posted on July 31, 2018 by -

There are many different product options for window graphics. Read this blog post to learn more about the different options that are available to you. Then, contact us and we can help you get the right product for your project.

Before we dive in, you should understand that in this article we assume that your window graphics will be installed “outside facing out”. But if you want to learn about graphics installed on the inside facing outside, then check out this blog post.

There are several important questions you should answer before deciding on a window graphic material:

 

  • How long will your graphic be displayed?
  • Should your image be in full color or single color?
  • Is it important that light shines through the image so that it is not too dark in the room behind the graphic?
  • How large is your image? Will it need to be paneled?
  • How will you install the graphic? Will you require professional installation?
  • How do you plan to remove the graphic? Will you require professional removal?

Read on to find out the differences between the different window graphic options. Then contact us and we can get your project started.

Window Clings

Window clings are available in clear or in opaque white. These are popular because it is easier to install than adhesive products, they remove cleanly without needing a professional, and they will not leave the residue. If you are conducting a campaign that involves changing out graphics frequently, then this is the product for you.

Adhesive Vinyl

This is the most versatile solution for window graphics. Full-color graphics and shapes can be produced quickly. These require professional installation and removal so plan your project timeline and budget accordingly.

Adhesive Vinyl: Single Color Cut Vinyl

This is most popular for putting names on doors or simple text messages on windows. This can be installed quickly and can be removed without leaving residue but doing so requires a professional graphics installer and a considerable amount of time and effort. The main drawback is that design choices are limited to one color.

Adhesive Vinyl: Perforated Vinyl

This is adhesive vinyl where small holes have been punched into the printing surface so that the viewer can see through the vinyl. However, from a distance, perforated vinyl can appear to be a solid colored surface. While this is most popular in vehicle graphics, sometimes our clients choose to use this so full color graphics can be displayed but light can still enter their place of business. Perforated vinyl tends to be more expensive than standard adhesive vinyl.

Other materials

Other materials, including paper, can be used for your window displays. It all depends on the answers to the questions at the start of this article. Contact us today to learn more and find out what product is best for your project.

Inside Facing Outside Printing a.k.a 2nd Surface Printing

Posted on July 31, 2018 by -

Inside Facing Outside Printing a.k.a 2nd Surface Printing

In this post, we will discuss “inside facing outside” printing. This is usually this is called 2nd surface printing and it is usually used on clear window clings or other adhesives intended for window graphics. If you want to learn more about “outside facing outside” window graphics, then check out our other blog post here.

Don’t sweat it! We’ve got you covered

We get questions about how to set up a file for inside facing out printing. Sometimes the image needs to be reversed, and sometimes white ink is needed. This can be complicated, but don’t sweat it! As always, we will inspect your file before it goes to print and make any needed adjustments. So, when in doubt, send us your files, tell us what you want, and we will make sure your project is successful.

Advantages

The main advantage to using “inside facing out” or 2nd surface printing is that installation is usually less complicated. Typically, it is easier to access window from the inside, and the display surface requires less cleaning and other preparation. However, the greatest benefit is that you don’t have to worry about the outdoor weather. If it is too hot, the adhesives can become very sensitive and can develop wrinkles very easily causing the graphic to lose shape or extending the installation time thereby driving up costs. If the surface is too cold (less than 50oF) then the adhesive may not fully activate and then you can expect the edges of the graphic to curl. As a result, you project can get delayed by cold weather thereby making installations on the inside a more reliable solution.

Disadvantages

Nonetheless, there are a few drawbacks to printing on the second surface. First, it is generally considered more difficult to color match when printing a CMYK layer on a white ink layer. Second, there are size limitations – most white ink applications at American Color Labs are limited to panels no larger 4’ by 8’. Finally, the printing process is more expensive because it demands that twice the amount of ink is applied in the printing process. Nonetheless, this increase in printing cost can be offset by savings in installation costs, so consider your total project costs before making this decision.

Contact us today for a free consultation — we will get you into the right product and make sure your project is successful.

Flags for every occasion

Posted on July 16, 2018 by -

Custom Flag

Happy 4th of July! Given the holiday, we thought it would be a good time to talk about flags. There are many different ways to specify, order and produce a flag. However, in this blog post, we are going to focus on how to order a digitally printed flag that fits your needs and budget. As always, if you have any questions, then please contact us. Now let’s dive right in…

Flags are more than just rectangles,

Flag is a special fabric that is lightweight and typically finished with hemmed edges. While most of us associate flags with rectangular artwork with two grommets on either side, flag have countless applications and shapes. Wind dancers, teardrop flags, and triangle flags are great marketing tools. Contact us and we can help you find the right flag for your marketing message.

Examples of wind dancers, teardrop flags, and other pole flags

Most digitally printed flags are single-sided

Most flags are produced with a process that involves ink “bleed through”. As a result, ink is only applied to one side of the flag, amounting to a single-sided print. This causes the reserve image to be visible on the back side of the flag at full color. Single-sided flags with full “bleed through” are the most cost-effective flags available and almost always will accomplish your marketing goals.

We are often asked for a double-sided flag…but upon the further conversation, we discover that most of our clients actually want a single sided flag with full “bleed through”. Look closely at the flags you see the next time you are driving around town. You will find that your brain easily reads the words “free coffee” front and back. So, think about what product is the best use of your marketing dollars.

Example of a full “bleed through” image on a single-sided flag

Double-sided flags are for special applications

Double-sided flags are usually for specializing indoor applications when you want your viewer to see distinct images from either side of the flag. Unlike double-sided prints, double-sided flags are often more than double the price of a single-sided flag. This is because two “single-sided” flags need to be produced and then between them, an opaque flexible liner needs to be inserted so that the image of one side does not distort the image on the other side. Then all three of these need to be sewn together. As a result, there is more than double of the material and more than double the labor built into the price of a double-sided flag making them very expensive. Generally speaking, we do not recommend ordering a double-sided flag unless you have a highly specialized application.

Alternatives to flags

Because flags are a specialized fabric product, they tend to be more expensive than paper or PVC based alternatives. It is very important to ask the question if a flag is the best communication tool for your message.
If your image is meant to be hung indoors for a short period of time, then consider some less expensive alternatives like the vinyl banner. There are also inexpensive fabric alternatives that don’t blow as easily in the wind but can still yield a rich, full-color look with a matte finish that does not glare in the sunlight. You can save a lot of money if you consider how your printed image is being used to accomplish your marketing and communications goals.

Other notes

If you plan to order a large number of flags, then you can dramatically reduce the cost of your flags if you are willing to accept a limited number of colors in your artwork and not have your artwork “bleed” to the edges of the flag. This allows you to screen print the flags which are cheaper and sometimes faster than digitally printing your flags.

Contact us today and find out how we can get you a flag that fits your marketing goals and budget.

How to use white ink effectively in your next graphic design piece

Posted on July 14, 2018 by -

Commercial Printing

How to use white ink effectively in your next graphic design piece

American Color Labs is able to produce graphics using white ink. This opens up a lot of different design options for our clients. Here is an overview of how white ink can be used to create more interesting graphics for yourself and your clients and how to convey your white ink specifications for a fantastic printing experience.
Generally speaking, there are two applications for white ink:

Flood white ink

Most printing processes apply four colors to a white surface to achieve a full-color image: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). However, when your design calls for printing on a non-white surface, you need to put a base layer of white so that when the colored ink is laid on top, it yields correct color.
The most common non-white surfaces are clear window clings and natural wood. Other applications include printing on clear adhesive, brushed aluminum, steel, mirror, or colored plastics such as coroplast, PVC, styrene, and acrylic.
A white flood is applied when you want the entire viewable area covered in white. This is most commonly used when clear materials are being applied to the inside of a window. If we imagine a graphic going in a store window, our layering would look like this: window/adhesive/film/CMYK image, white layer. The white flood creates a solid background for the graphics to be viewable. White floods can also be used to “whitewash” your materials, such as wood.

Spot white ink

Spot white is used when you want to apply white ink strategically to your design. This, as with the white flood, can be incorporated into any design for any material but is most commonly used on non-white materials.
Spot white allows you to pick and choose where you would like white ink to be applied. If we apply our same store window decal example, the white ink might be placed only behind the CMYK graphic, allowing the viewer to see through the clear areas of the window. Similarly, you may wish to put a spot white behind a print on wood to make sure that your colors are accurate, while still allowing the viewer to see the natural wood around that print.
How to apply white ink to your design
The easiest way to call out white ink in your design is to create a separate layer designated “White.” Within that layer, you should include any shapes that you want to be printed in white ink. For example, if you were printing a logo on clear material, you would have one layer with your CMYK art on it. On your second (white) layer, you would copy that same art, but flatten it to a single shape. This is now your white ink. We ask that you set up your white ink layer at 100% Cyan, but as long as you label the layer we should have no problems recreating it for you.
A few more helpful notes

Color matching

If you require color matching, then we strongly recommend that you request a printed proof of your graphic. This is because the white ink’s ability to produce a bright white surface for printing true-to-color CMYK graphics is limited by the white point of the underlying substrate. It is possible to increase the white point of the underlying surface by printing additional layers of white ink before printing the CYMK graphics. However, this process is expensive and time-consuming, and if it is not critical to the overall graphic, then we recommend foregoing this endeavor.
When to use white ink instead of cut vinyl
We are commonly asked why a designer would choose to use spot white ink instead of white cut vinyl. While it is true that white cut vinyl can achieve a similar look, there are many situations white ink is advantageous over white cut vinyl.

Here are some of the most common examples…

– White ink allows for the production of graphical elements that convey a consistent look and feel throughout the whole piece. Cut vinyl can often appear more glossy than direct ink and can look disjointed.

– Spot white ink graphics can be applied in our shop by the printer so you don’t need to involve a professional graphics installer. This saves you money, time, and hassle.

– Spot white ink graphics allow you to produce graphics features that are much smaller and more refined than white cut vinyl. This is particularly helpful when you want to use thin strokes in your graphic art or uses small fonts or fonts with fine elegant features.

Please contact us for more information about printing with white ink. We love talking with our graphic design clients about new and interesting projects!