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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

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!