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Number 214 | April 2013
How-To
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Large arge Format
> Vinyl Lettering > LED Accents
April 2013
62
40 32
2013 ISA International Sign Expo Preview The latest products on display at this year’s ISA Sign Expo in Las Vegas.
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Signs of Amusement BY MIKE ANTONIAK
All kinds of signs invite, inform, and guide visitors at an amusement park.
Wrapping for a Trade BY JEFF WOOTEN
A wrap specialist covers the HVAC, plumbing, and zombie markets.
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Digital Textile Printing BY JOHNNY SHELL
Soft signage, fabric solutions, and innovation.
Sign Builder Illustrated (Print ISSN 895-0555, Digital ISSN 2161-4709) (USPS#0015-805) (Canada Post Cust. #7204564) (Bluechip Int’l, Po Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Agreement # 41094515) is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and Additional mailing offices. Pricing, Qualified individual working in the sign industry may request a free subscription. Non-qualified subscriptions printed or digital version: 1 year US $105.00; foreign $197.00; foreign, air mail $297.00. 2 years US $149.00; foreign $267.00; foreign, air mail $497.00. BOTH Print & Digital Versions: 1 year US $158.00; foreign $296.00; foreign, air mail $396.00. 2 years US $224.00; foreign $400.00; foreign, air mail $600.00. Single copies are $36.00 ea. Subscriptions must be paid for in U.S. funds only. Copyright © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2013. All rights reserved. Contents may not be
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
56 62
Toasting a Barrel Sign BY JEFF WOOTEN
“Two guys walk into a bar ready to put up some signage….”
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The Bourne HDU Identity BY JAN FLETCHER
British ex-pat sign maker builds a thriving business in HDU.
Big Lights, Bright Kansas BY LORI SHRIDHARE
Landmark solutions for a soon-to-belandmark marquee sign.
reproduced without permission. For reprint information contact: Arthur Sutley, Publisher 212-620-7247 or asutley@sbpub.com. For Subscriptions, & address changes, please call (800) 895-4389, (402) 346-4740, Fax (402) 346-3670, e-mail circulation@sbpub.com or write to: Sign Builder Illustrated, Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, PO Box 10, Omaha, NE 68101-0010. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 10, Omaha, NE 68101-0010. Instructional information provided in this magazine should only be performed by skilled crafts people with the proper equipment. The publisher and authors of information provided herein advise all readers to exercise care when engaging in any of the how-to activities published in the magazine. Further, the publisher and authors assume no liability for damages or injuries resulting from projects contained herein.
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Agenda
How-To Columns
22
APRIL 2013 April 21-25: LIGHTFAIR® International 2013 will include the LIGHTFAIR Institute® Pre-Conference program and the LFI Trade Show and Conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. (www.lightfair.com)
Installs on (Electronic) Display
JUNE 2013
28
June 6-8: The 2013 SEGD Conference, Above the Fog, converges at the storied Fairmont Hotel San Francisco in San Francisco, California. (abovethefog.segd.org)
Back to School
22 Installs on (Electronic) Display BY ASHLEY BRAY
A high-resolution look at installing outdoor EMCs and video displays.
28 Back to School BY MARK K. ROBERTS
A sign maker creates a school spirit graphic for the wall of his alma mater.
Departments 6
UpFront
8
Dispatches
A reader questions if technological advancements are eradicating sign skills, and editor Jeff Wooten thinks time needs to be devoted to this query.
The latest news from around the industry.
14
Sign Show
86
SBI Marketplace
88
Shop Talk
The newest products and services from sign manufacturers.
Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade. INSTALLING
MAKING THE
Electronic Message Centers
HDU Mold
Jeff Wooten checks out how a wrap specialist works with chrome and solid color change-outs on vehicles.
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NUMBER 214 | APRIL 2013
HOW-TO
Fun-Filled
Large arge Format
>
4
Customized Wraps > Vinyl Lettering > LED Accents
On the Cover The entrance to the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio is just a preview of some of the large, fun-filled signage found there. Photo by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
June 8-14: InfoComm 2013, a tradeshow produced by the audiovisual communications association, is happening at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. (www.infocommshow.org) June 25-29: FESPA 2013 is scheduled to occur at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre in London, England. (www.fespalondon.com)
JULY 2013 July 18-20: The Mid South Sign Association’s Convention & Trade Show will be taking place at the Embassy Suites in Huntsville, Alabama. (www.midsouthsign.org)
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Up
by jeff wooten
April 2013, Vol. 27, No. 214
Tick Tock for the Bender’s Clock? Are quicker techniques lessening some signmaking skills?
Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation executive offices
President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Publisher Arthur J. sutley 55 Broad Street, 26th floor New York, NY 10004 212/620-7247; fax: 212/633-1863 editorial editor
Jeff Wooten
323 Clifton Street, Suite #7 Greenville, NC 27858 252/355-5806; fax: 252/355-5690 jwooten@sbpub.com associate editor
I
n our December 2012 issue, we ran a feature written by sign company president Adam Brown called “Forecasting Neon.” Brown disputed the notion that custom neon signs have lost their place in today’s sign world, and he informed readers how he thought this longtime lighting medium would be geared more toward aesthetics than as a light engine. Domenic Urbani, president of Urban Neon in Holmes, Pennsylvania, contacted me about this article with another observation he has made about neon’s role in the industry. Domenic learned the neon bending trade in the ’80s and, while his company currently manufactures hundreds of channel letters each month with white and red LEDs, he has noticed one “devastating consequence” from the evolution of the LED as the primary light source for channel letters signs. Domenic says: “Nearly all benders taught in the second half of the Twentieth Century honed their skills on channel letter neon. Most channel letter signs incorporate a white or colored translucent face that hide a multitude of sins made by the typical apprentice bender. A neon tube doesn’t have to be perfect, and imperfections were often made and easily covered up by the letter face. “After a few months or sometimes years, the bender’s skill level improved, and exposed skeleton neon was the next challenge. Domenic continues: “Today’s neon is nearly all open face or exposed. Channel letter neon bending jobs have all but vanished. The next generation of tube benders will have to learn without the safety net of an acrylic face to hide behind. “I predict that, in the not so distant future, 6
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
Ashley Bray
skilled benders will become scarce. Qualitymade neon sign making will be in the hands of a select few.” Domenic told me that he hoped to someday pass the skills of his trade to one of his sons, but he realized it is going to take a solid commitment and time to hone the skills of the next generation of benders. This is an excellent point, maybe starting to bear fruit. One sign maker informed me that, while he would love to craft neon, he felt that time was no longer on his side to learn how to perfect this technique, so he outsourced any work involving it to a skilled “old-timer.” Another told me that they strictly use LED modules because they did not have an experienced bender on staff that could turn things around fast enough to meet client requests. So what happens when the experienced neon benders retire from this field for good? Who’s going to fill their shoes? Something similar took place a few years ago in the railway industry where some retiring executives had not groomed their younger successors. Could the same scenario occur in the lighting industry? In this age of instant gratification, is there a willing desire to devote the time to master such an intricate art form when a simple peel-and-stick will do? I really do love the look of neon and hope that it will always have a place in this world. But as Domenic points out, aside from the artist-driven set, the sign makers of tomorrow may be behind the eight ball a bit in being able to perfect this craft. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Let’s hope time doesn’t run out on the future generation of talented benders.
55 Broad Street, 26th Floor New York, NY 10004 401/722-5919; fax: 212/633-1863 abray@sbpub.com contributing writers
Butch “superfrog” Anton, Mike Antoniak, Jan Fletcher, Jim hingst, Peter Perszyk, Mark roberts, lori shridhare, Johnny shell, randy Wright art
Corporate Art Director Wendy Williams production
Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers circulation
Circulation Director Maureen Cooney advertising sales national sales director
Jeff sutley 212/620-7233; fax: 212/633-1863 jeffsutley@sbpub.com west & midwest regional sales manager
Kim noa
212/620-7221; fax: 212/633-1863 knoa@sbpub.com
For reprint information contact Arthur J. Sutley 55 Broad St, 26th Floor New York, NY 10004 212/620-7247; fax: 212/633-1863 Circulation Dept. 800/895-4389
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April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
7
Dispatches
Denver, Colorado—Colorado Signs & Graphics (www.coloradosigns.com) recently quenched its thirst for interesting wrap projects when it completed a full exterior/ interior wrap of a forty-foot-long RV for Mountain Dew and Burton Snowboards. The shop won the job on a referral from an RV it had wrapped for President Obama. Mountain Dew’s design firm, Fuse, designed the RV wrap, which was used for the Dew Tour in Colorado. Colorado Signs was responsible for printing and installing the wrap. The shop output a total of 1,100 square feet of graphics onto 3M and ORACAL vinyls using its HP Latex printer. The graphics were then laminated. “The wrap was only on for a week so we used 3M transit vinyl on the RV part, and on the cab, we used Oracal’s ORAJET® Series 3751RA,” says Owner Adam Rego. The day-and-a-half installation involved a total of four installers (Adam Rego, Sean Green, Phillip Rego, and Matt Taylor) working on the wrap at different points. At any one 8
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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all photos courtesy of colorado signs & graphics.
A “Mountain”
New “Tech Talk” Video Series Findlay, Ohio—Rowmark has launched “Tech Talk,” a new interactive technical help video series available on the company’s YouTube™Tube channel. The “Tech Talk” series is designed to provide end-users with best practices in laser/rotary fabrication techniques, as well as tips and tricks on working with Rowmark products for engraving and sign-making. An extension of Rowmark’s technical help library on Rowmark.com, the Tech Talk video series will feature footage from Rowmark’s Fabrication and Testing Lab. Episode 1 premiered in February and demonstrates how to achieve optimal fabrication results with Rowmark’s LaserMax® product line. Episode 2 will be uploaded this spring onto the channel and explores advanced laser engraving techniques.
of a Wrap time, two installers would be handling the exterior of the RV, and one would be installing graphics on the interior. The installers applied the vinyl to the exterior of the RV in fifty-two-inch vertical panels. “The box part was extremely easy,” says Rego. “The only ‘difficult’ part was the cab. It had body seams everywhere, so we had to do it in quite a few pieces. But overall it came out awesome.” The exterior of the RV features Mountain Dew and Burton logos, while the interior is signshop.com
covered with Mountain Dew logos and slogans and an abstract mountain scene. Burton and Mountain Dew were very pleased with the completed wrap. In fact, the shop received direct feedback from Fuse. “You guys killed it,” Scott Rivers of Fuse told the shop. “You are now my ‘go to’ for all my sticky vinyl and sign needs out west.” To view a video of the RV being wrapped, visit bit.ly/XcB46e. —Ashley Bray
“We hope our customers will benefit from this new technical help resource, and we welcome feedback and specific topic requests,” said Rowmark Vice President of Global Sales & Business Development Rich Zydonik. To watch these episodes and subscribe to the company’s video updates, visit www.youtube.com/ rowmarkusa.
April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
9
Dispatches +
photos provided by clarus communications.
“America’s Most Wanted” LED Display Danville, Illinois—Jewelers like to use bright, eye-catching LED signs to attract customers. However the owners of Decker D i a m o n d J e w e l e r s i n E b e n s b u rg , Pennsylvania went beyond the call of duty and used their outdoor Watchfire Digital sign to help catch a pair of thieves. Storeowner Dan Decker installed his six-foot-tall-by-nine-foot-wide, polemounted, full-color 16mm Watchfire sign a little over a year ago and knew it worked when his store saw 700 to 800 new customers come in during the Christmas shopping season. For content, Decker uses Ignite® software to include text, graphics, and video—for example, snippets of TV commercials, still shots of in-store merchandise, announcements of special promotions, and
10
stats from the elementary school volleyball team the store sponsors. “I try to use at least 20 percent of it for non-advertising,” he says. “Customers can get tired going down the street and only seeing ‘I sell this’ and ‘I sell that,’ so we try to loosen up and make it more fun.” What's not fun is that, last November, a pair of robbers broke into the store, grabbed several diamond engagement rings, and dashed off. In-store surveillance cameras captured the incident, and Decker was pulling off some JPEGs of the perpetrators to give the police, when inspiration hit him to put these same JPEGs on his Watchfire sign. Decker added the text “wanted for theft” to the bottom of the images
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
and set them up to broadcast on his digital sign. “Once any image is converted into a JPEG, it’s like only three or four clicks and then it’ll be on your sign,” he explains. Response from the local community was quick. Initially people driving by would honk to acknowledge the message. Then they started pulling into the store's parking lot and taking cell phone pictures of the sign to share with friends. Decker also put the pictures on his Facebook page and saw his 2,000 followers share the pictures 14,000 times in 36 hours. “It really turned into a whirlwind,” he says. Within twenty-four hours, the first suspect was captured; the second culprit was picked up a few weeks later. “I put up pictures of the first guy that said ‘captured’ and ‘still at large’ with the second robber,” says Decker.
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New Sign Guild Salt Lake City, Utah—Sign and print providers can now join the new International Sign & Printmakers Guild (www.signprintguild.org), a member-led organization designed to help members grow their businesses and reduce costs. Membership in the Guild is open to any sign or wide format print business and is free until April 7, thanks to industry sponsorship from companies like Mutoh America and Arlon Graphics. SA International is the founding sponsor. “Since many of our customers are relatively small sign and print providers, we wanted to provide effective, tangible support that would address the main issue of driving new business their way,” says SAi CEO Mark Blundell. “Given that around 80 percent of business is repeat or referral, we wanted to ensure that once they make an initial introduction, those businesses keep the customers we send them long-term.” The Guild sends members new customers through the Sign.com Web site that sells custom signage and banners to the general public. In addition, members can also take advantage of the Guild’s group buying power with a number of member discounts. For more from SAi’s CEO, visit http://bit.ly/ZIsQmY.
April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
photo courtesy of sa international.
After these apprehensions, Decker used the display to thank the police and the community for their help in capturing these two criminals. “I knew a digital sign would be successful if used correctly, but I had no idea it would be this successful,” he says. Decker continues to post messages about the robbers on his sign telling the community about pleadings, arraignments, etc. The moral of the story: Crime doesn’t pay, but a digital display definitely does.
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Dispatches +
Troy University Scores with New LED Displays Brookings, South Dakota—Since Troy University in Troy, Alabama, recently opened its doors to its new Trojan Arena, those in attendance have been amazed by the facility that has replaced Sartain Hall as home to the university’s basketball, volleyball, and track programs. One reason is that Daktronics (www.daktronics.com) has designed, manufactured, and installed an
photo courtesy of daktronics.
integrated light emitting diode (LED) video and scoring system, which includes two displays that are the largest endwall installations Daktronics has ever produced for an indoor college facility. “The Daktronics video displays and ribbon boards are a significant part of the ‘Wow Factor’ in our new Trojan Arena,” said Troy University Director of Athletics John Hartwell. “Their clarity and size provide our fans an outstanding game-day atmosphere.” Both endwall displays measure nearly sixteen feet tall by more than fortyeight feet wide and are mounted behind the baselines on the north and south ends of the arena. The video displays each fea-
ture Daktronics’ latest LED technology with the capabilities of presenting live and recorded video, vivid graphics, and colorful animations to keep Trojans fans engaged throughout the game. The installation also includes nearly 650 feet of Daktronics LED ribbon displays. Two ribbon displays (each measuring more than 320 feet in length) extend out from and connect to each of the endwall displays to surround the inside of the arena. These screens provide the opportunity to showcase sponsors throughout events and provide up-to-theminute statistics and game information. The court level area of the arena features eight sections of Daktronics LED scorer’s tables. They each measure two feet high by more than nine feet wide and can be connected in any configuration to showcase student athletes, dis-
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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Giant Coffee Cup Build Milwaukee, Wisconsin—When coffee roaster and retailer Stone Creek Coffee developed the concept of putting a largerthan-life, eight-foot-diameter coffee cup on top of an existing chimney stack on its new three-story building, they contacted Sign Effectz, Inc. (www.signeffectz.com), who determined it would weigh in the range of 300 to 500 pounds. Sign Effectz developed a CAD model and determined that the cup would have aluminum ribs rotated around an aluminum tube spine. Additional aluminum strip stringers were added for a stable aluminum sub structure. The design of the composite fiberglass layup skin was similar to the hull of a boat, which consists of structural fibers laminated together with a bonding resin. Because of the versatility of fiber selections, Sign Effectz could make it as strong as needed. There is a wide range of materials when it comes to structural fibers and bonding resins. The mixture of the two, as well as the layup method used, offer the level of structural stability required. It also impacts the cost as there is a direct proportion between strength and cost. The end-result is a highly unique and highly visible symbol for the Stone Creek Coffee brand installed in a well-traveled location.
photo courtesy of sign effectz.
play additional statistical information in real time, recognize sponsors, and promote upcoming events. Fans attending basketball games at Trojan Arena will notice that Daktronics has also provided two clear glass LED basketball game clock and shot clock displays located above the baskets. A backboard lighting kit illuminates to signal that time has expired at the end of each period. Included as part of the installation, Daktronics also provided the basketball practice facility with digital LED scoreboards. All of the equipment installed is being controlled with Daktronics Show Control System, which provides a combination of display control software, video processing, data integration, and playback hardware that forms a user-friendly production solution.
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April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
13
SignSHOW ARCHITECTURAL SIGNAGE Three New Finishes from A.R.K. Ramos for Aluminum Plaques are Worth Shouting About A.R.K. Ramos has introduced a new line of Echo finishes—including Echo Brass, Echo Bronze, and Echo Copper. Not only do these new finishes offer savings over the cost of traditional bronze, brass, and copper plaques, but they also offer the longevity of an aluminum product for years of use. In most cases, this new finish is a 10 percent add to the cost of standard aluminum plaques and offers unprecedented color retention. Meanwhile the polyurethane coating applied during the finishing process enhances the longevity of these new finishes. 800/725-7266; www.arkramos.com
D I G I T A L P R I N T I N G E Q U I P. / S U P P L I E S Inca “Accelerates” the Printing Process with New Option A new Accelerator option for Inca Digital's range of Onset wide format UV flatbed inkjet printers is now available. Developed and tested with FUJIFILM, Inca Accelerator is an optional enhancement that increases overall production speed for faster job turnarounds, improved ability to handle tight deadlines, and reduced overtime costs, all the while maintaining the same outstanding level of print quality. The increase in print throughput is dependent on the particular Onset model and the number of print passes. The maximum throughput of the Onset S40i with automation has been increased from 470sqm/hr (94 beds/hr) to 560 sqm/hr (112 beds/hr)—a 20 percent increase. www.incadigital.com
DY E - S U B L I M AT I O N Aurora Specialty Textiles Releases Two New Dye-sublimation Textiles Aurora Specialty Textiles Group, Inc., has added Sub-Suede and Universal Knit 400FR to its Northern Lights™ line of sublimation fabrics. Sub-Suede is a unique polyester suede fabric that is compatible with dye-sublimation transfer and direct printing. Transfer printing produces a suede-like feel, while direct printing results in a plush, velvet-like feel. Sub-Suede is dimensionally stable and available in rolls of 59 inches-by-150 feet. Meanwhile Universal Knit 400 FR is a wrinkle-resistant, 100 percent polyester 4-ounce knit that is compatible with both direct disperse and transfer dye-sublimation printing. This material is ideal for a variety of wide format graphic applications. Rolls are available in widths up to ninety-eight inches. 800/864-0303; www.auroratextile.com
LED MODULES/STRIPS/TUBES When Being Boxed-in is a Good Thing: EGL’s New LED System for Sign Cabinet Illumination BoxStar®, developed by EGL, is a competitively priced LED System for sign cabinets and larger channel letters that offers face brightness comparable to conventional fluorescent sign lamps. Supplied as a standard module string, BoxStar can be used as a light source in a variety of signage applications, including mounting on readily available rail to produce up to 450 lumens per linear foot (900 lumens for double-faced signs). With superior brightness provided via Seoul Semiconductor LEDs with a CRI higher than standard fluorescent sign lamps, colors of backlit vinyls and graphics will be bold, bright, and true. BoxStar is also available pre-mounted as an installation-friendly kit—ideal for field retrofit applications. 800/345-9010; www.egl-lighting.com
GSG™ Stocks SloanLED's VL Plus LED Lights Supply company GSG™ has announced that it is now offering SloanLED’s VL Plus line of channel letter lighting modules. The modules offer a wide viewing angle and a molded body, are made with constant current technology, and come available in red and white lights. The white lights are available in mini, short, and long sizes, while the red lights come in short and long sizes. 800/366-1776; www.gogsg.com
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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Š 2013 OSRAM SYLVANIA. Certain photography
www.sylvania.com/signage
Light that leads to bolder statements. Creating signs that capture the viewer’s eye and imagination is an art. And no one gives you a larger or more technologically advanced palette to work with than OSRAM SYLVANIA. We offer the very best in LED lighting options for channel letters, box signs, halo signs, and decorative borders. To see how OSRAM SYLVANIA can help you create the right signage for your clients, contact our exclusive nationwide distributor, N. Glantz & Sons, at 1-866-645-2689 or www.nglantz.com.
SignSHOW Planar G-4 LED from JKL Components Suit Your Specialty Lighting Needs & More The new planar Z-G4-10WW from JKL Components Corporation is a versatile G-4 solution for designers and technicians who wish to replace traditional halogen lamps. Designed for 12-Volt usage, they are operational from 8 to 25 Volts AC or DC. The Planar G-4 provides a back pin orientation that is especially useful for down-light fixture application, existing enclosures that are designed for horizontal light placement, mini flood display lighting, and exhibit case illumination. Ten 5050-sized SMD LEDs provide 120 lumens while consuming only 2.2 Watts, which provides a significant increase in power-saving efficiency. With a 3600째 Kelvin temperature and low heat generation, the Planar G-4 LED is desirable for architectural use; other common uses of the Z-G4-WW include marine, RV, landscape, and gaming applications. JKL also offers two compatible G-4 sockets (p/n 2993-G5 and 2993-G6), as well as two other products in the G-4 LED product family (the Z-G4-15WW and Z-G4-WW). 818/896-0019; www.jkllamps.com
MAGNETICS Get a Grip on a New Magnetic Sheet for LaserBits Create magnetic gifts with laser-safe Magnetic Sheet for LaserBits. The Magnetic Sheet features a self-adhesive side and is ready to be applied to any material prior to laser cutting. It comes in a 1/4-inch-thick size and provides a firm grip to refrigerators, appliances, and any steel surface (except stainless steel). The Magnetic Sheet does not produce harmful outgassing and has a top-quality acrylic self-adhesive. Laser cutting of the Magnetic Sheet for LaserBits does create a powder-like residue so be sure to keep the air assist volume very low (or off completely) when doing this. www.laserbits.com
Simply Cutting Edge Routers CNC Routing & Knife Solutions for the Graphics Industry Process a massive range of materials using our heavy duty routing spindles and knife head options Add the AVS camera registration system for dynamic print to cut graphics
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800 361 3408 sales@axyz.com www.axyz.com
16
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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SignSHOW ROUTERS/ENGR AVERS A New Eight-piece CNC Sign-making Starter Router Bit Set Amana Tool has released an eight-piece sign-making router bit set (item #AMS-130) that is specially designed for creating signs and other CNC projects in a variety of materials—including wood, plastic, acrylic, aluminum, composite materials, and solid surface, among others. Each router bit is manufactured from Amana’s exclusive-grade carbide according to stringent quality standards. The set, which comes in a reusable hardwood storage case with a clear lid, includes the following router bits: In-Groove™ Insert Engraving System with 30° V-tip Insert Knife (items #RC-1076 and #RCK-360), Solid Carbide Up-Cut Spiral Ball Nose (item #46426), Plastic and Aluminum “O” Flutes (items #51404 and #51402), V Groove (item #45705), Carving/Engraving (item #45780), and Insert V-groove (items #RC-1102 and #RC-1045). www.amanatool.com
Techno Introduces Plasma TechProbe Digitizer for Reverse-engineering Geometric Shapes Techno Inc., is excited to announce the availability of its newest CNC Plasma Accessory: the TechProbe Digitizer, which mounts easily to any Techno CNC plasma machine. The user-friendly TechProbe software will digitize an object with simple or complex geometric shapes. Input the object, scan area dimensions and desired step-resolution into the software, and the program automatically collects the data. Most of the software’s default settings (like speeds and resolutions) will not have to be reconfigured. Digitized 2-D objects are generated onto the screen in a field of automatic toolpath points. Techno’s TechProbe software allows you to view the scan through its active-preview window. Parts can be imported into CAD/CAM plasma design software for revision or the data can be immediately cut without any revision, modification, or manipulation. 516/328-3970; www.technocnc.com
• Available in 12” to 42” wide rolls
For printing with solvent, eco-solvent, UV and latex inks. Compatible with
and others Quality and compatibility testing is in process with other well-known brands.
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
• Custom cutting available • Ideal for one-step printing of vehicle signs Saves time and money printing direct to magnet. Ideal for P.O.P. displays, store signage, menus, calendars, sports schedules, vehicle signs and more.
Booth 2714
1.888.293.3534
magnetsource.com/sbi
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SignSHOW S O F T WA R E - P R I N T/C U T/ R I P/ R O U T E / E N G R AV E / E ST I M AT I N G New Web-based Tools Drive Efficiencies and Offer Increased Control to Business Owners SA International (SAi) has extended two of its most popular software packages to include useful Web-based tools that enhance the way sign and print providers do business. SAi Flexi Cloud adds a new dimension to SAi’s leading sign-making software, Flexi, which provides easy text layout and vinyl-cutting packages that offer high production capabilities with cutting and printing tools. In addition, the new SAi PhotoPRINT Cloud increases the functionality of SAi’s PhotoPRINT RIP software, which offers an affordable, easy-to-use print-and-cut solution for wide format print businesses. Easily accessible via a Cloud Web Window that sits on a user’s desktop display, SAi Flexi Cloud and SAi PhotoPRINT Cloud offer three important tools that enable users to enjoy greater versatility across production and job tracking, wherever they’re working: Local and remote production information through Job Reports; Cloud Storage online data hosting; and FlexiQuote™, an innovative Web-based tool that allows sign and print businesses to quickly and effectively create customer quotes for new jobs. 801/478-1900; www.thinksai.com
VINYL/VINYL FILMS/SUPPLIES SPEC SHEET - for reference only
FLEXcon Adds Two New Indoor Wall Graphics Products with Permanent Adhesive © COPYRIGHT 2013 SWELL MEDIA GROUP
FLEXcon expands its WALLdeco™ product line with the introduction of two new products that feature a permanent DIMENSIONS: 7” (width) x 4.875” (height) / No Bleed DATE: 03/13/13 adhesive for interior, longer-term, large format wall graphic applications such as corporate branding, office décor, PROJECT: Nova Polymers “In-House” etc.: WALLdeco™ PAPER SPECS: N/A CONTACT: tom@swellmediagroup.com 6778 (6-mil fabric) and 6783 (4-mil vinyl). The 6778 product is a lightweight, polycoated white PUB: Sign Builder Illustrated - 2013 COLOR: 4 color process, special colors: N/A APPROVED: PRINTING SPECS: fabric film with a unique woven texture. The tight weave of fabric allows for crisp, sharp color and can be printedN/A via solvent and UV inkjet, UV and conventional offset, and UV and solvent screen. The 6783 product is a bright-white vinyl with a smooth surface for graphic reproduction and provides ease of installation. It is printable via UV and All legal rights including, but not limited to the ownership of all intellectual property, copyright ownership and design patent rights, in the designs, arrangements and plans shown here within are the property of SwellMediaGroup. The designs contained within these solvent screen,and UVextended and solvent inkjet and offset. products a high-performance documents are developed by SwellMediaGroup, as property of SwellMediaGroup, under a non-exclusive license UV for use solely on Both this project. The designshave and intellectual property contained withinpermanent may not be used, adhesive utilized, duplicated, replicated or reused, in whole, in part or similarity, except in connection with this project, without the prior written consent of SwellMediaGroup. Written dimensions on these designs shall have precedence over scaled dimensions. Printers, vendors, suppliers, pressmen, adhere well to smooth, painted (non-vinyl) wallto boards and are ofbacked with a layflat manufacturers, and their sub-contractors of all tiers shall bedesigned responsible forto verifying all dimensions andflat, conditions on the design and the project, and are required notify SwellMediaGroup any variation between the design,release dimensionsliner and field conditions. with excellent properties for printing and converting. 508/885-8200; www.FLEXcon.com CLIENT:
Nova Polymers
Bring Photopolymer Production In-House Nova’ss Specialists Nova’s Nova Spe peci cial alis ists ts will wililll sh show ow yyou ou hhow ow ttoo ac achi achieve hiev evee Hi High gh pprofi rofi ro fitt ma marg margins rgin inss while whililee wh retaining a low cost of entry bringing Accessible Sign Solutions In-House. Nova’s processing equipment and materials are manufactured locally in Bryan, OH. Producing Novacryl in-house not only creates a growth opportunity, but also supports another US based manufacturer. The time has never been better to invest in your ADA Sign Department. With low interest rates from our partners at Connext Financial, the necessary equipment is within reach.
Get started for as little as $495/month! www.NovaPolymers.com 20
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
signshop.com
HOW-TO
By Ashley BrAy
Electric
A highresolution look at installing digital signage.
22
A
s digital technology and displays become more widespread and easier to install, an increasing number of sign shops are starting to become resellers and installers. But even as the process simplifies, there are still some things sign makers should keep in mind before turning on and tuning in to this market.
•••Site••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Retrofits aside, sign shops may be asked at the beginning of a project to help determine the best placement for a digital sign. There are many factors to consider—most importantly, visibility. “The first criterion is to identify an area that will deliver the greatest visibility based on seating and pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic patterns, as the main objective of any display is to deliver high-quality content to the most viewers possible,” says Dennis Lyte, vice president of Sales at Trans-Lux Corporation (www.trans-lux.com). However a spot with prime visibility may not
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
necessarily have prime accessibility, especially in relation to large digital screens that require the use of service vehicles. “That [location] might be a number-one visibility, but is it worth the money that you’re going to have to spend to be able to get a crane in there?” asks Mike Reese, electronics project manager at YESCO (www.yesco.com). According to Reese, when choosing a site, shops need to consider: • Crane and semi truck access; • Parking, staging, and material layout areas; • Power availability; and • Lane closures or work hour restrictions. Another major concern is weather. A location may be hard-packed ground in dry conditions, but what about when it rains? Will a semi truck or a crane be able to access the sign or will it get stuck in the mud? Weather can also affect operation of the LED display itself. “Environmental exposure can also be an issue, depending on the venue relative to sun glare, extreme temperatures, and wind exposure,” says Lyte. To shield a display from the elements, shops may want to consider an enclosure that not only protects but also improves visibility against issues such as sun glare. “In most cases, I would recommend using an enclosure outdoors,” says Jennifer Bissell, director of Sales & Marketing at ITS Enclosures, ViewStation (www.viewstation. com/viewstation-universal). “The enclosure not only protects from weather concerns (rain, snow, humidity, etc.) but also vandalism, especially in high traffic or unmonitored public places.” These enclosures, typically made of aluminum, take into account proper ventilation with a fan or air conditioning unit. They also allow access to the display and its accompanying units via a door.
signshop.com
Photo Courtesy of Grandwell IndustrIes InC.
Installs on (Electronic) Display
Visit us at the ISA Show in the - Truck Equipment Area Booths 726, 729, 732, 735, 1126, 1129, 1132 and 1135
One of the final considerations in choosing a site and conducting an accompanying survey is figuring out the audience—pedestrians, drivers, etc.— and their distance from the LED message center or video display sign. This distance is used to calculate the pixel pitch.
•••trAnSporting••••••••••• Getting a display out to the job site can—and should—be a delicate process, and many shops opt to ship their screens in crates. “From factory floor, we ship the EMCs in wooden crates fully protected inside with cushion and bubble wrap,” says Walter Sanchez, account manager at Grandwell Industries, Inc. (www. grandwell.com). “Ideally that’s the best way to get [these displays] to the job site.” Displays are also often shrinkwrapped to A-frame structures (eliminating the need for packaging or padding) and shipped out on flatbeds or Magazine Ad 2013_Layout 1 2/13/13 3:22 PM Page 1
®
PATENT APPROVED
Retrofitting is a Breeze with T-LED. Please Come visit us at ISA APRIL 2013, Vegas
The new T-LED System® is a linear LED System designed with a double-sided and single-sided application. Powered by a 24-Volt power supply and able to fit into standard high-output socket bases, the T-LED System is meant to replace common high-output fluorescent lamps without the need for rewiring or modification. The system is available in sizes from 18 inches through 96 inches, in colors 3000K (cool white) and 5000K (daylight). Ideal for applications such as pylon signs, light boxes, menu boards, refrigeration, cove lighting. The system is ANSI/UL 879 (ULE342484) and RoHS-compliant. It includes a three-year warranty when used with Mean well power supplies. ASSEMBLED IN WARREN PA, USA BY INTERLECTRIC CORP.
For further details, dial 866-853-3797 or log on to www.tledsystem.com 24
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
To shield a display from the elements, shops may want to consider an enclosure that not only protects but also improves visibility against issues such as sun glare.
signshop.com
Photos Courtesy of Its enClosures.
booth# 2435
semi trucks. “We recommend utilizing an Air Ride transport vehicle, as it cuts down on the vibration and potential loosening of LED display hardware connectors and components,” says Lyte.
Photo Courtesy of yesCo.
•••inStAllAtion•••••••••••• All of the action may happen on install day, but preparation should be completed well beforehand. “The best installations [happen] when guys are proactive and want to know what to do ahead of time,” says Travis Borns, project manager at Daktronics (www. daktronics.com). “Whenever we deal with sign companies, installers, and even our own customers, we provide them with detailed shop drawings that provide all the necessary equipment. “So taking the time to read and know what you’re receiving prior to [install] is a huge benefit.” Being prepared ahead of time can also help minimize downtime. “It’s not unusual to find yourself waiting on-site for work to be completed,” says Lyte. “Using a pre-installation checklist and verifying in advance that all items on the list are completed, can help minimize this situation.” Some of this prep can include ensuring the structure is set and properly measured out and that there is adequate power available at the site. “You want to make sure that all your power is run to the appropriate source and that you have all your data cabling and all that ready to go,” says Bissell. Powering up a digital display is one task that has become simplified in recent years. For many display brands, it only requires an electrician to make a few connections. “We describe these as ‘plug-and-play,’ believe it or not,” says Reese. “All you’re going to do is have an electrician land what we call the primary wires into a load center that we’ve already provided. The sign comes prewired with everything.” (Note: Oftentimes these connections can be made externally, which eliminates the need to get inside the display.) The assembly of the display itself has also been simplified. For example, some units come in one whole piece and require no assembly, while other larger displays come in sections that can be assembled on the ground rather than in the air. One of the most tricky parts of an insignshop.com
stallation can be lifting the sign. Displays are usually lifted from two points. On some screens, however, lifting from only two places can create stress on the sign, so a spreader bar with multiple attachment points may be required. Either way, Sanchez recommends taking added precautions when lifting dis-
Getting a display to the job site can (and should) be a delicate process.
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April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
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it’s guaranteed to deface your display. we guarantee it won’t. When you make the leap to digital signage, you need to protect your investment. With over 27 years of experience, ViewStation from ITSENCLOSURES is guaranteed to protect your displays from rain, snow, extreme heat, frigid temperatures, theft and even the teenage vandal. From stadium to transportation terminal to drive-thru, ViewStation offers customized solutions for any display – large or small, inside or out. And each unit is installed by trained experts, made in the USA and comes with unparalleled customer support. To learn more, call 1.800.423.9911 or to view our entire online gallery of products, visit ViewStation.com.
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
signshop.com
Photo Courtesy of Grandwell IndustrIes InC.
plays. “Installers need to not just lift them from their designated eyebolts, but they should take extra precautions and tie the EMC with straps as well in case eyebolts break, which does happen once in a blue moon,” he says. “All it takes is one time for an eyebolt to break and drop an EMC and ruin an installation.” Using tag lines when hoisting the sign is also recommended, especially when windy conditions can cause it to swing. “Snow, rain, and strong winds can make maneuvering sections of the sign structure into place a nightmare,” says Sanchez. Attaching the sign to the structure has become a simplified process, as well, thanks to the use of improved mountOne of the most tricky parts of an installation can be lifting the display. ing methods and engineered cabinets that allow attachment to be much more efficient because of fewer connection been engineered to limit the amount of have quick and easy, successful instalpoints. In fact, some seasoned installers pin action and still keep structural integ- lations,” continues Borns. “When you have something that entails a lot of difboast of installing multiple displays in rity,” says Borns. “When we designed all our products, ferent moving parts, that increases costs one day—including larger displays that we kept in mind our customers, we kept for installation. come in sections. “And that’s not what we’re looking “The connection points that you in mind our installers and even the sign would actually mount to a structure have companies, because we want them to for here.” ITS_ViewStation_spray paint_7x4.125_Layout 1 3/9/12 9:50 AM Page 1
WHEN IT LOOKS SO REAL IT’S PRINTED ON CELTEC
HOW-TO
By MArk k. roBerts
Vinyl
Back to School A sign maker creates a school spirit graphic for the wall of his alma mater.
M
y sign buyer at J. Frank Dobie High School here in Houston, Texas had a special project in mind when she called me into her office. Now my student years at this high school were fun and exciting, but I remember visiting the office way too many times during my four years there. Now I look forward to getting called to the office. I was fortunate enough to become a vendor for this school district, and I’ve created all sorts of signs, displays, and other custom projects for the various schools. I thoroughly enjoy helping the district administrators select the right graphics and wayfinding signs for their individual campuses.
The original J. Frank Dobie high school campus was a much smaller building than the one currently being occupied by the four grade levels. This building is the size of a small college campus, with various amenities to make the students feel right at home: high ceilings, huge cafeteria, and state-of-the-art laboratories, learning centers, and band and orchestra halls. My latest assignment for this school was to cover a 15-foot-wide-by-10-foot-tall sheetrock wall with a huge vinyl graphic. This print “graphically” explains the attributes of the facilities and the pride of the students for their school. During the pre-project briefing, my client
Mark stands in front of the finished “school spirit” wall graphic.
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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EZ . S e E . – d E U a FR IVERY in the yM a l L p e E s r i D whe dD n y a n A izing
net g a ,M g n i t Prin
! D E R DELIVE FlexCoat-EZ – engineered to eliminate the hassles associated with flexible magnetic printing and laminating – is now available at a special online price. Get a 50-foot roll of 0.030-inch x 24 5/16-inch FlexCoat-EZ for only $85, with FREE delivery anywhere in the U.S. Now you’ll be able to expand or create a new revenue stream with magnetic media, using your current printing technology. FlexCoat-EZ is compatible with inkjet, digital, flexo, offset, litho and screen printers. Thanks to FlexCoat-EZ’s revolutionary coating*, hassles like curling and gummed-up cutting blades are eliminated, so you can easily produce magnetized signs, posters, business cards, displays, calendars and more. It’s as easy as print, magnetize, display!
Go online now to take advantage of this offer at www.flexmag.com or scan our QR code below. Credit cards accepted, there’s no minimum order, and we’ll ship to you the next business day! *Patent Pending White Coating
Made in the USA
The old wall graphic.
Fisso® Clamper™
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Positioning the vinyl with masking tape.
All of the attributes your finished projects deserve. All products are in stock & ready to ship.
Dimensional™ Edge Gripper Fisso® Clamper™
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VISIT CLEARPATH’S [Booth #2626] at the ISA Sign Expo, April 4-6, to view our extensive offering of popular stand-offs, sign frames, mounting fixtures and Rowmark’s laser and rotary engravable sheet products.
Removing the tape and adhering the text and graphics..
866.953.2777 clear-path.com 30
sbi.indd 1
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013 3/12/13 11:52 AM
signshop.com
Leslie presented a layout that was rather unique. For starters, the entire wall would be covered with black, 2-mil high-performance cast vinyl. So I selected ORACAL 751 black, as I knew it would stick to the sheetrock like a magnet—and it did. After covering the wall completely, I began spacing the lines of white copy from the top down. The graphics called for a total black and white appearance, with the exception of four elements in terra cotta vinyl and one digital fade print for the word “DOBIE.” The artwork was designed with several fonts (serif and sans serif) with some words italicized or extended. On the lefthand side, there is a vertical layout above their longhorn head logo in white vinyl with one-inch-thick border bars. This element breaks the horizontal pattern of the rest of the graphic. Back at the shop, we cut all the white vinyl on our Roland Envision™ 375 plotter and the terra cotta elements on our Roland VP-540 printer/cutter. After weeding and trans-mask application, we were ready to decorate this wall. Installing this super graphic was facilitated by the use of the school’s scissor lift. This little workhorse really shaved some hours off the project by elevating me from the top to the bottom and lengthwise across the wall as I positioned the graphics with masking tape. After a few tweaks here and there, the graphics were finally taped into place and adhered to the black vinyl covered wall. My wife, Sherry, kept a close eye on my line spacing, to make sure the wall looked like the provided layout print. Once all the trans-mask had been removed, it actually looked like the print they gave to me for the project—albeit much larger. School spirit displays, such as this one, play an integral part in the daily lives of the students and teachers. By viewing this display, the students and faculty will assume pride and ownership in their school—which is always a great thing to do. Mark K. Roberts is a thirty-fiveyear sign company owner-operator based in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit www.theintersigngroup.com and www.signprice.com. signshop.com
Finishing up the new sign.
Wilkie Model 60 ladder your Service Fleet oF the Future
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April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
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ISA Preview ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
2013 ISA International Sign Expo Preview Arlon Graphics: Booth #3112
The latest and greatest in signage on display at the 2013 ISA Sign Expo!
Arlon Graphics will feature several new Automotive Restyling vehicle wrap films, including Series 2300X in Carbon Fiber and Brushed Metal and Series 4600LX in matte and gloss finishes. Stop by and see a vehicle wrap demonstration featuring these print and restyling wrap films, as well as a preview of Arlon’s new www.Wrapitright.com Web site and videos. (www.arlon.com)
The who’s who in the sign
Avery Dennison: Booth #4350
industry will be exhibiting their
The Avery Dennison® Supreme Wrapping Film line now features a full spectrum of forty-six opaque cast films in matte, brushed metallic, and gloss colors. Black and white carbon fiber films have recently been added to the line, in addition to Conform Chrome. World-renowned car wrap installer Justin Pate will also be demonstrating paint wrap installation techniques throughout ISA. (www.averygraphics.com)
latest products and materials at this year’s ISA International Sign Expo being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada April 4-6. For the first time ever, exhibit space has topped 200,000 square feet. The following pages feature just some of the companies with booths located in the exhibit hall, along with write-ups about what they'll be showcasing there. Company listings are arranged in alphabetical order. (Note: Speaking of booths, be sure to stop by and see us at Booth #3421.) For more in-depth coverage of the products featured here in this section (as well as an updated list of announcements made by
Canon Solutions America: Booth #3353
The Océ Arizona® 480 GT UV flatbed printer, featuring Océ VariaDot® imaging technology, includes a precise vacuum system with six zones; eight independent ink channels with support for varnish or doubleopacity white ink printing; and active pixel placement compensation for optimum image sharpness, density, and uniformity. It offers the standard table size of 49.2-by-98.4 inches; the Océ Arizona 480 XT model is also available with a table size of 98.4-by-120 inches. (www.usa.canon.com)
CET Color: Booth #5764
CET Color is bringing a competitive UV flatbed and hybrid product portfolio: the X-Press 1000HL, a versatile 3.2M hybrid; the X-Press
exhibitors after going to press), check out our “2013 ISA Preview” link at www.signshop.com.
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
500QE-4X, an attractively priced Q-Series 4-foot-by-8-foot flatbed; and the X-Press 1000Q-20Z, CET Color’s top-of-the-line 5-foot-by-10-foot Q-Series flatbed featuring 20 Ricoh heads. CET Color will also debut an exciting new printer for 2013 that you’re not going to want to miss. Come see for yourself how you can “get more than you can imagine for less than you can believe.” (www.cetcolor.com) signshop.com
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CLEAR FOCUS Imaging: Booth #3951 CLEAR FOCUS will showcase DuoVue™, a 12-mil, doublesided, nonadhesive white banner film with a 60/40 perforation pattern and 1.6-mm holes; PromoVue™, a material with clear, removable pressure-sensitive adhesive and a patented dual-layer release liner compatible with a range of wide-format print technologies; PromoLam™, a new 1.3-mil clear cast, conformable PVC overlaminate; MeshVue™, a black-backed mesh film offering see-through visibility from the black, non-print side; and UV-See™, a 3-mil gloss clear polyester film specially treated for use with UV digital and screen inks. (www.clearfocus.com)
ClearPath Signage Systems/Rowmark: Booth #2626
ClearPath Signage Systems has added three new products to its stand-off offerings: the Fisso® Three™, Four™, and Six™! Unlike traditional, round standoffs, Fisso Three, Four, and Six are three-, four-, and six-sided to create triangle, square, and hexagon shapes. Not only do they achieve an innovative design element for projects, but they also offer a tamper-proof mounting solution. In addition, Rowmark will have its new range of engravable UltraGrave™ laminates on display. (www.clear-path.com; www.ultragrave.com)
Component Signage, Inc.: Booth #2907 The new CSI-300UL series features the thinnest and most cost-effective LED backlit architectural sign system on the market. Using energy-efficient LEDs, the system features a three-inch-depth frame, which can accept different panel materials to accommodate backlit acrylic faces, routed faces, or push-thru copy. The system can be used as a wall mount or as a post-and-panel with single or double posts in any post design. Stop by the booth for more information and a free company catalog with pricing. (www.componentsignage.com)
Delcam: Booth #2927
Dixie Graphics: Booth #3443
It’s “The End of A Great Run…The Beginning of A Better One!”, as Dixie Graphics (DG) will feature new products and materials, including photopolymer ADA, multi-substrate digital printing, and 3D rendering of signage and plaques. All new materials (including Nova Polymers photopolymer material) were chosen as strategic fits for deep-etched zinc, which is DG’s existing signature material for signage and plaques. Dixie Graphics project coordinators will be working the booth this year to meet current and new customers face-to-face. Attendees can also stop by to enjoy a bottle of water, pick up a 4G flash drive, and become part of Dixie Graphics’ growing network. (www.dixiegraphics.com)
signshop.com
Delcam will be previewing the latest version of its ArtCAM Pro software for design and manufacturing. The newest addition is “Free Relief Modeling,” which is a technique that allows previously created reliefs to be selected and than moved, rotated, rescaled, and copied—individually or as a group. Any part of the design can be isolated, edited, and then recombined into a group for duplication or further editing within the group. (www.artcam.com)
Elliott Equipment Company: Booth #1135, #726
Celebrating their sixty-fifth anniversary, Elliott will be showcasing a wide range of truck-mounted aerial work platforms and cranes. Key models at this year's show will include the L60R HiReach, which features a 62-foot working height, a 5,900-lb main winch, and a 500-lb jib winch on a non-CDL truck. Other equipment at the show will range in height from 43 to 140 feet and feature crane capacities up to seven tons. Operators will have the opportunity to review Elliott’s performanceoptimized remote controls, lightweight fuel economy, and payload capacityengineered design. (www.elliottequip.com) April 2013 // Sign Builder Illustrated
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ISA Preview ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Epilog Laser: Booth #4319
Epilog Laser will be showcasing the latest additions to its CO2 and fiber laser engraving product line—the Fusion and FiberMark Fusion. The Epilog Laser Fusion is designed for engraving and cutting on a variety of materials, while the FiberMark Fusion is intended for more industrial applications on bare metals and engineered plastics. The two systems offer robust USA-made construction, a host of time-saving features, and amazingly precise laser cutting and marking results. (www.epiloglaser.com/ fusion_laser_series.htm)
Esko: Booth #3759
Esko will feature its new Kongsberg XN24 with i-cut (pictured), a highly versatile and productive digital finishing table that can operate in the widest range of applications, from kiss-cutting to heavy-duty milling delivered by the high-power three kilowatt MultiCUT-HP milling spindle. Also on display will be the Kongsberg XP24, and i-XE10 Auto (all with i-cut Vision Pro). ii-cut Suite workflow software, recipient of a 2012 InterTech Technology award, will be accompanied by Esko Studio and ArtiosCAD. (www.esko.com)
Fisher Textiles: Booth #4844 Fisher Textiles has added style DD 7866 Vistatex (FR) (pictured) and updated styles DD 7817 Soft Knit (FR) and DD 7880 Heavy Knit (FR) to its digital printable fabric line for direct dye-sublimation printing. These 122-inch-wide fabrics have a special coating that allow for direct printing onto the fabric and do not require heat transfer paper. They are compatible with printers using dispersed inks. (www.fishertextiles.com)
Flexmag Industries, Inc.: Booth #4415
FLEXMAG has engineered patentpending FlexCoat – EZ™ to eliminate the issues associated with conventional flexible magnetic products laminated with a printable surface. FlexCoat EZ utilizes a strong magnetic sheet as a base, which is then coated with a revolutionary printable surface that is compatible with the most popular printing methods used in the print industry today. It is “EZ to print,” “EZ to cut,” and “EZ to display.” (www.flexmag.com)
GE Lighting: Booth #4566
Finally there’s a high-brightness LED solution for cabinet and box signs. New GE Tetra® PowerStrip, EdgeStrip, and miniStrip high-output LED lighting solutions deliver up to two-times more lumens than standard Tetra, transforming any-size cabinet sign into a strategic branding advantage for your customers. Thanks to the company’s impressive OptiLens technology, bright, uniform light spreads evenly across the sign face, eliminating the unsightly hotspots and striping of traditional fluorescent lamps. (www.gelighting.com)
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FUJIFILM: Booth #1512
FUJIFILM’s Acuity Advance Select 8 UV flatbed inkjet printer (pictured) has eight channels that offer extended color, white, and clear ink options. The printer also includes configurations with double-strike white capability or white plus clear ink. The Acuity LED 1600 wide format hybrid printer uses a patent-pending UV-LED ink curing system to produce exceptional-quality display graphics on roll or rigid substrates. (www.fujifilmgraphics.com)
Gemini Incorporated: Booth #2726 & 2929
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
In addition to celebrating its fiftieth year of business, Gemini Incorporated will be showing its brand-new professional engraving stock, Duets by Gemini, to serve sign and engraving companies that require high-quality laminated engraving substrates. Called “Duets” in reference to the twocolors that the sheets have for customer engraving usage, the product is available as either an ABS plastic or impact-modified acrylic. ABS plastic is designed for rotary engraving and is suitable only for interior applications; impact-modified acrylic is designed to be laser-engraved and is intended primarily for indoor use but does have several options available that are approved for exterior applications. (www.signletters.com) signshop.com
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HP: Booth #4357
HP is exhibiting its large format sign and display solutions—including the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press, the HP Scitex FB700 and FB500 Industrial Printers, the HP Designjet L28500 and L26500 Latex Printers, and the HP Scitex LX850 Industrial Printer. HP’s booth will also feature vignettes of printed output to showcase the wide variety of applications made possible by HP printing solutions. (www.hp.com/go/gsb)
Graphics One, LLC: Booth #5166
GO Cubix 308 UV ((pictured) is a highperformance and high-speed 30-inch, 8-color channel UV LED 3-in-1 flatbed printer. Capable of printing rigid substrates up to five inches thick, the printer’s 3-in1 multi-platform capability also offers options to print on roll-to-roll for traditional roll media and to print on rotating threedimensional cylindrical objects such as glass and PET bottles. GO NeoTack Ink is a professional-grade dye-sublimation ink that enhances the tackiness of tack paper and eliminates the need for tack paper altogether with some polyester media. (www.graphicsone.com)
ImageOne Impact: Booth #3715
ImageOne Impact introduces two new Straight Line Cutting tools: the sixty-four-inch SLC64 and the ninetysix-inch SLC96 Sooper Straight Line Cutters. Both are durable straight edges with the added feature of an attachable cutting head to make perfectly straight cuts every time. The SLC64 and SLC96 are simple to use—the harder you press, the deeper you cut. The cutters have a non-slip bottom and permanent laser-etched measurements for accuracy. ImageOne will also show the new ProRoll TASeries application roller, an improved Application/Transfer Tape Applicator. (www.image1impact.com)
Master Magnetics, Inc.: Booth #2714
Master Magnetics, Inc. (The Magnet Source™) will be highlighting PrintMagnetVinyl™, which allows for high-resolution printing directly on flexible magnetic material with solvent, eco-solvent, UV, and latex ink systems. Meanwhile the company's Flexlron™ magnetically receptive sheeting allows magnets to be used on any non-metallic surface, such as drywall, wood, concrete, or plastic. (www.magnetsource.com)
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ISA Preview ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Magnum Magnetics: Booth #3558
MuscleMag™ Printable High Energy Magnets are now available for inkjet and digital presses and come in widths up to 24.375 inches. MuscleMag™ Digital Printable Magnets are offered with a matte white polypropylene printable surface, with a total thickness of 17-millage. MuscleMag™ Inkjet Printable Magnets were created for those who wish to print magnets on an inkjet press. They are available in a 15-millage thickness option, with a white vinyl printable surface, available in matte or gloss finish. MuscleMag™ Inkjet 15 is thin, yet very strong, which allows it to easily conform around wraps. (www.magnummagnetics.com)
Mimaki USA: Booth #4515
Mimaki is showcasing its line-up of UV, dye-sub, and latex wide format roll-to-roll and flatbed printers. Brand new for 2013 are the JFX500-2131 UV LED flatbed (pictured), Mimaki’s fastest printing, sharpest imaging UV LED flatbed ever; the TX500-1800DS direct-tofabric printer, capable of printing 1,614 square feet per hour; the high-speed 64inch UJV500-160 roll-to-roll UV LED printer; the UJF-6042 UV LED tabletop flatbed; and the new CG-SRIII roll contour cutter. Mimaki’s latex printer, the JV400-130LX, will be demonstrating soft signage applications and the latest in latex ink technology. (www.mimakiusa.com)
MultiCam® Inc.: Inc.: Booth #3953
MultiCam® Inc., will display three affordable, easy-to-use CNC cutting solutions (MultiCam Graphi-XCutter™, MultiCam High-Speed Digital Express, and MultiCam EZ Knife®) that route, knife cut, crease, and perforate at top speeds. Dan Sawatzky, owner of Sawatzky’s Imagination Corporation in Yarrow, British Columbia, Canada, will also be cutting sign foam samples and discuss how the MultiCam 3000 Series Router has made him a creative force in the industry. (www.multicam.com; www.imaginationcorporation.com)
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ORACAL: Booth #4532
Orbus Sign Company: Booth #5232
Products on display include the new tension fabric Hopup™, which is lighter, has a smaller footprint, and includes new stabilizer feet on every straight frame over seven feet high; the Formulate™ Flip™ twenty-foot tension fabric exhibit kit that incorporates layered, staggered walls and stretch, pillowcase fabric graphics creating a unique and dimensional display; and the giant ten-foot-tall Mosquito, an affordable, versatile retractable banner stand that features a heavy-duty aluminum, silvercolored base and sleek black end-caps. (www.theexhibitorshandbook.com)
Roland DGA: Booth #3511
ORACAL introduces twenty-three new ORACAL Series 975 Premium Textured Cast colors and textures, including Brushed, Cocoon, Crocodile, Dune, Emulsion, and Honey Comb. These new textures join the already popular Carbon Fiber texture now expanded with transparent, red, blue, and gold. ORACAL will also be displaying other fan favorites, including new ORALITE 5650RA Fleet Engineering Grade Reflective printable film featuring an air-release liner that makes application easier by reducing incidences of bubbles and creases. (www.oracal.com)
Roland is premiering SOLJET Pro 4 XR-640, a large format color printer that combines integrated print/cut technology with an innovative new printhead design; accelerated print speeds; and new, reformulated Eco-Sol MAX 2 inks in nine colors (including white, metallic silver, and light black). Roland will also be displaying its new Paparazzi™ Premium Matte Paper (pictured), an 8-mil., 210 gsm constructed premium paper specially designed for printing with Roland Eco-Sol MAX and Eco-Sol MAX 2 inks. (www.rolanddga.com)
Relax. It’s Easy to Print Magnets™ Printable Flexible Magnet Solutions for Any Printer • DigiMag® VINYL - Solvent, Eco-Solvent, UV and Latex Inkjet Printers • DigiMag® PAPER - Water-based Inkjet Printers • MuscleMag® - Thin High Energy Magnetic Media for Digital* and Inkjet printers • RubberSteel® - Flexible Magnet Receptive Material It’s Easy To Print Magnets™ No matter what type of printing you do, Magnum Magnetics has a magnetic solution for you. Magnum Magnetics offers printable magnetic media for offset, flexo, digital, and wide format equipment. We offer all of our printable magnet products magnetized prior to printing or un-magnetized for magnetizing post-printing. *Non-Magnetized (Use our post-production magnetizers)
800.258.0991 magnummagnetics.com sales@magnummagnetics.com signshop.com
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ISA Preview //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Signs By Benchmark: Booth #1015
From tiki pieces to monument signs to ten-foot-tall toothbrushes with fiber optic accents, Signs By Benchmark will have a lot of their projects on display at their booth. You can also find out more about the company’s signage solutions, which are created from a composite of expanded polystyrene (EPS) cellular plastic and a structural polyurea hard coat. (www.signsbybenchmark.com)
Trotec: Booth #3301
Trotec Laser introduces the Speedy 400, a laser engraving machine with a large working area of 39-by-24 inches, which handles the most common standard materials and saves users time and money on precutting materials and increased efficiency. The Speedy 400 has a maximum processing speed of 140 inches/second, which makes it one of the fastest machines in its class. (www.troteclaser.com)
Ultraflex Systems Inc: Booth #3521
MONARCH Z CLIPS • Hang signs, art work and panels • Fast, easy and secure installation • No screws in the face of the sign • Industry “Trade Secret” for over 20 years
Ultraflex will showcase some groovy new products in their Woodstockthemed booth, including Strip Mesh Pro LTX, a latex-compatible mesh with easy-to-remove liner. SuperSmooth PET GreyBack (pictured) is a noncurling, front-lit banner with a grey back and super-smooth print surface. For harsh weather, Ultima Pro 13oz. FL Matte is an outdoor-durable, semicoated banner. (www.ultraflexx.com)
STANDOFFS • Available in Aluminum, Stainless & Brass • Stock sizes in 1” to 2” Diameters
Watchfire Signs: Booth #3529
REQUEST A FREE SAMPLE OR WATCH A DEMO VIDEO AT:
monarchmetal.com
Watchfire Signs’ new slim cabinet sign is only five inches deep with full front ventilation, so installation is fast and trouble-free. This slim cabinet style is available on the company’s most popular models, including 12mm, 16mm, and 19mm LED signs up to 53 inches tall. Meanwhile the company’s 12mm, 16mm, and 19mm LED signs now have a twelve-inch-square modular design, so they can be custom-sized in one-foot increments. (www.watchfiresigns.com)
Tel: (631) 563-8967 / Fax: (631) 563-8976 1625 Sycamore Ave. / Bohemia, NY 11716
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//
LEDs look much better in uniform.
Makrolon® LD polycarbonate sheets deliver uniform light diffusion for today’s LED signage. They feature an advanced light diffusion technology that provides excellent light uniformity. LED hot spots and shadowing are eliminated in flat or formed applications. Makrolon LD is available in a range of standard sign colors and can be custom matched to industry colors. Don’t limit your design flexibility with LEDs. Makrolon LD delivers now. Call 800-254-1707 for samples or visit www.sheffieldplastics.com to locate your local, authorized distributor.
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//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Identity Signs / By Mike AntoniAk
Signs of Amusement All kinds of signs invite, inform, and guide visitors at an amusement park.
F
all PhotoS courteSy of cedar fair entertainment comPany.
or the more than three million visitors to Cedar Point amusement park each year, this complex on the shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio is the destination for fun, with enough rides, events, and shows to thrill those of all ages.
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Parkgoers will also find signs of every size, shape, and description throughout the complex, guiding them, informing them of prices and policies, and promoting the many attractions that make Cedar Point such a perennially popular destination. “In the average year, we probably do about 6,000 signs for the facility—everything from printed menus with pricing up to full dimensional signage,” says John Taylor, manager of graphic services for the park and parent corporation, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. (Note: Taylor has been a member of the Cedar Point staff for thirty-five years now, starting out as an apprentice sign painter.) Cedar Fair owns a total of eleven amusement parks, five water parks, and five hotels throughout the country. Taylor and his department are involved (directly or indirectly) in the design and/or production of signage and graphics for all the facilities.
A wide range of substrates are used for the park’s signage, including HDU foam (shown here), MDO plywood, and fabricated metals.
The attractions always keep sign-making fun, such as capturing a turn-of-the-Twentieth Century look with today’s materials.
“In the average year, we probably do about 6,000 signs.” Nearly all of the park’s posters, window graphics, and menus are produced via digital printing. signshop.com
— John Taylor Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
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snoopy & ohther peanuts characters Š peanuts worldwide group.
Certain signage in sections of the park, such as the Planet Snoopy children’s area, have to follow corporate guidelines since their characters are licensed by other companies..
Sign production is a combination of the old and the new, with digital processes used alongside traditional, hand-painted elements.
Cedar Point also features signage, such as this HDU monument, at its on-premise RV campground.
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Packed within Cedar Point’s sprawling 385 acres alone are an assortment of rides and roller coasters, four hotel facilities, the adjacent Soak City Water Park and Challenge Park destinations, a pair of miniature golf courses, fifty food locations, a state-of-the-art marina, and an RV campground.
we bring ideas to life. Gemini offers a broad range of letters, logos and plaques in a variety of metals and plastics — all customizable to match your design. Plus, every Gemini product is built to last and guaranteed for life.
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Sign Design Central As you might expect, keeping pace with the varied sign and graphics demands for Cedar Point alone is in itself a full-time job—yet there’s more. “It’s like we’re producing all the signs and graphics for a small town, as well as all the businesses there,” says Taylor. “We also work with the hotel industry, the food industry, the gaming industry, the merchandise industry, and all the attractions and shows.” Taylor’s department handles design and coordinates production of all signage and graphics, producing what can be printed-in house digitally. Design work is handled by a pair of full-time graphic artists, Brian Kniceley and Adam Vavroch. They work on PCs in Adobe® Illustrator®, Photoshop®, and Gerber OMEGA™ design software, as needed. The range of materials used throughout the park for signage includes MDO plywood, HDU, PVC, and fabricated metals. More complex CNC routing projects and awnings are all outsourced to area contractors and sign wholesalers. “We use a lot of awnings in the park at our restaurants, merchandise stands, and games complex,” he says. “Some of that requires direct digital printing to the awning fabric. “So we’ll design the awnings but get others to create them.” (Note: Contractors also fabricate the awnings and support structures, but all installation is handled by Cedar Point’s staff.) Some signs require following corporate guidelines, especially since some attractions in the park (such as the Planet Snoopy children’s area) are devoted to Peanuts© comic strip characters. “Certain safety signs and ADA signage also have to be standardized at the corporate level,” explains Taylor. “It’s much easier when you can centralize design and then coordinate production with the staff at each site.” signshop.com
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Painting & Printing As far as in-house sign production goes, Taylor’s department relies on a combination of the old and the new. “We still use some hand-painted signs in the park, but most of those are in our ‘Frontier’ area, where its part of the traditional look,” says Taylor. “For other signs, we’ll employ airbrushing, spray-painting, and cut-vinyl letters.” However digital printing is becoming a more integral component of their
production process. As mentioned previously, contractors handle any direct digital printing to fabric, but Taylor and his staff design and output digital prints onto adhesive-backed vinyl and then apply them to cut PVC panels in-house. Digital printing is also employed for the sets used in the park’s shows and its popular Snoopy on Ice spectacular. “Relatively few signs are completely digital prints—mainly posters, menus, window graphics, etc.,” notes Taylor,
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
“but nearly all the signs contain digital print elements of some kind.” For print production, the graphics department employs a fifty-four-inch Roland VersaCamm VS-540 eco-solvent printer they purchased last year. It’s their third large format printer. Taylor initiated the transition to digital more than ten years ago with a Roland CammJet CJ-5000, followed by a SOLJET. (Note: The department also has a thirtyinch Gerber vinyl plotter.) “We all use the VersaCamm sporadically, but it’s chiefly operated by our resident painter, printer, and fabricator Maureen Bluhm,” says Taylor. “Digital printing is pretty much starting to take over more and more of our day-to-day work, because it can keep up with our pace and production requirements.” Another advantage to digital printing is the variety and affordability of substrates that produce high-quality, durable images. Some signs, like those for souvenir merchandise and menu items, are likely to be updated frequently and need to only last one season. Others are intended as semi-permanent installations on the Cedar Point landscape and are likely to be in place for years. In January, the graphics department was finalizing work on one such semipermanent piece, a 20-by-13-foot welcome sign for Cedar Park’s new main entrance. At the same time, Taylor and his team were also putting finishing touches on signage for the food court areas and coordinating production with the other Cedar Fair facilities. “This year we have Coca-Cola® as a sponsor at all the parks, so the restaurants all have to be re-themed,” he says. Taylor’s department has been exploring the possibilities for digital printing on a range of print media from Kapco, LexJet, and ORACAL. In fact, they print to new materials every day. “We also print on canvas for our offices, where they want the print to look like a painting,” reports Taylor. “We also print on wallpaper substrates for walls and murals in the park’s restaurants and hotels.” In addition to his staff, Taylor can also draw on the talents of a dedicated paint department and the park’s building crews for installations. “We’ll get many of our substrates primed and ready from them,” he says. signshop.com
Many of the digital prints at the park are output onto adhesive-backed vinyl and applied to cut PVC panels.
Seasonal Projects There’s always another project waiting in queue. “Since we’re a seasonal operation, our [workflow] changes throughout the year,” says Taylor. “The first five weeks of the year we’re usually working on the smaller signs for the parks. “Then in spring, we’ll work on the sets for the live outdoor shows.” As summer nears, they look ahead toward fall and the graphics that overtake Cedar Point for its “Halloweekend” celebrations running from September through the end of the park’s season
in late October. Halloween-themed directional signage, wallcoverings, and graphics for the park’s eleven haunted houses (as well as the make-up for their ghouls) are all the responsibility of Taylor’s graphics department. “It’s a blast and something that’s become more and more popular each of the sixteen years we’ve been doing it,” he says. No matter what the shop is working on, the park offers the kind of creative challenges that always keeps the jobs interesting and fun. “One day we might be designing a ’50s-style restaurant, and
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the next day, we might be doing sets for a show or a sign for one of our rides,” says Taylor. For example, they’re currently working on a sign for The Gatekeeper, the park’s newest roller coaster. The track for this winged roller coaster will soar above the entrance, and its sign will combine a fabricated metal cabinet encasing sculpted lettering highlighted with gold foil. “I’ve had an opportunity to work with some really talented people,” says Taylor, “and learned something from them all.”
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Vinyl Wraps / By Jeff Wooten /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Wrapping
for a Trade I
f it can be wrapped, TradeWraps™ (www.tradewraps.com), a 3M™ Certified™ company in the Northern Virginia city of Manassas, will wrap it: Single vehicles! Fleet vehicles! Walls! Windows! Customizable items! General Manager Brad Rapone refers to the company as a wrap specialist since it focuses exclusively on wrapping, which has given it an advantage over full-service shops in the area trying to take on too much (resulting in wraps with two-inch seams popping off, fading, banding, etc.). “We take any wrap job that comes our way—no matter how plain or crazy,” he says. The company currently completes an average of one wrap per day and regularly has jobs booked two or more weeks in advance. Even more interesting: TradeWraps has increased its wrap business by more than 50 percent since last June by targeting HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and plumbing companies in need of good, professional-looking wraps.
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all photos (except where noted) courtesy of tradewraps.
A wrap specialist corners the HVAC, plumbing, and zombie markets.
signshop.com
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“Real friends won’t let their friends get bad wraps.” —Brad Rapone
signshop.com
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One big advantage TradeWraps has found with the HVAC and plumbing industries is that these clients are more likely to have a fleet of vehicles needing wraps instead of something one-off, like a tanning salon’s van for example. (Note: Approximately 80 percent of their business is now dedicated to fleet wraps.) “Not only does this mean more profit, but from an operational standpoint, you’re just creating one design and then printing out copies of it for multiple vehicles (sometimes up to as many as fifty),” says Rapone. “And installs become easier because you get used to doing the same vehicle type over and over again.” It shouldn’t be surprising that this wrap specialist would “set” its sights on this particular market. TradeWraps Owner Allen Givens also owns an HVAC/plumbing company called Parrish Services. After spending a lot of time and money with outside sources over the years to wrap his box trucks and vans, Givens brought Rapone on-board as his full-time, in-house wrap guy. (Note: Rapone had already accrued ten years of wrapping experience with professional shops and as a “freelancer.”) But instead of incorporating these wraps strictly into Parrish Services, accountants advised Givens to treat it as a separate business. This would allow them to also cater to other customers needing wraps. Thus TradeWraps was born!
Behind the Shop Even though they focus a lot on HVAC and plumbing industries, TradeWraps actually welcomes any type of customer. (Note: You don’t become a wrap specialist by turning down jobs.) They even wrap plenty of creative objects—including air conditioning units, plungers (see sidebar, opposite page), and, believe it or not, toilets (albeit brand-new ones, so relax—until it comes time to remove said vinyl graphics). For custom wraps, it’s all about content for TradeWraps. “The cooler-looking ones always make the day a little bit better,” says Rapone. Equally impressive is that TradeWraps is able to handle all wrap requests with a small crew. In addition to Rapone, the company has two installers and one designer on staff. And the owner’s son handles all the RIP work, the printing, and the prepping of the vinyl graphics (the “production guy,” so to speak). (Note: Turn to “Shop Talk” on page 88 to read about their interns.) Because they want to be known as the 50
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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unStoppaBle cuStomIzatIon
requiredlights an old-school lights, whichwrap are socketed built intolook. the best at what they do (wraps), Rapone says they strictly use 3M™ Controltac™ Graphic Film with Comply™ Adhesive IJ180C and many of 3M’s other vinyls for their wraps. (Note: See page 88 for details.) The TradeWraps facility is set up like an “open book,” so its customers will know exactly what they’re getting and how they’re getting it. This layout is in response to horror stories the company has heard from some customers about previous experiences with other shops—i.e., the wrong material used, cuts and scratches on the surface of the vehicles, etc. As soon as someone walks into their shop, they’ll immediately see two HP Latex L26500 printers in action. “We’ll also show them our storage closets so they can see the 3M materials we have,” says Rapone. “And we have our wrapping bay set up so they can easily watch us install, if they want.”
Wrap deSignS 101 TradeWraps designs everything in-house using Illustrator™ and Photoshop™. (Note: They really like the latter since it’s easier to add symbols and create soft effects.) Although the company will create any design the customer wants, they find there are “universal” elements integral for any client’s wrap design. Rapone believes the best wraps help a company market itself and “drive” customers to them. “Our formula is big logo, big phone number, and big Web site address,” he says. When it comes to colors in a wrap design, none are off limits. However Rapone mentions it’s really about contrast here. “You don’t want to put pink text on a red background, for example,” he says. “The message has to be readable.” Nothing says “now” like a vehicle wrap, signshop.com
and if necessary, TradeWraps will also take the time to spruce up a company’s logo via fonts and colors to make it look more upto-date. “A lot of guys in the HVAC and plumbing industries are second- or thirdgeneration owners of their family business, which means their logos are usually older and in need of a facelift,” says Rapone. For clients with different types of vehicles in their fleet (vans, box trucks, panel trucks, cars, etc.), TradeWraps finds that size does matter in the design process. After all, it’s easier to take away from a design than add to it. “If they have mostly vans, we’ll design those first,” says Rapone, “and then transfer the design onto their other vehicles.” Their one steadfast rule: If the client is providing artwork for the wrap, TradeWraps will only work with high-resolution (300-dpi) EPS or JPEG files. “If someone gives you a small-size JPEG, it’s going to be pixilated when it’s enlarged,” says Rapone. “And when someone sees a pixilated wrap, they’re not going to blame the size of the file. They’re going to blame us. “And as a wrap specialist, you can’t afford for that to happen.” So TradeWraps will either tell these clients to bring a better photo or search Shutterstock. If the image is still not acceptable, they unfortunately turn them away.
let’S Wrap TradeWraps always performs wrap installs in a climate-controlled environment, such as their wrapping bay. “If it’s too cold, the vinyl will crack very easily and not adhere properly,” says Rapone. For installation, TradeWraps uses vinegar and alcohol for surface prep and squeegees and torches for installation. And that’s about it.
concept photo (right) by jeff wooten.
Although TradeWraps likes logos and A dimmer in the manager’s office controls the designs to look modern, this particular speed and brightness of the sign’s LED chaser
It’s not always about the large vinyl wraps you create for vehicles or walls that get you noticed; sometimes it’s the smaller things that do. One such wrap item that TradeWraps provides for companies in the plumbing and HVAC arenas is a customized plunger. Yes, you read that right: Customized plungers! “We buy wooden-handle plungers by the pallet-load from overseas and then wrap their handles,” explains Brad Rapone. “We can customize it or they can opt to go with their logo or some quote like, ‘If this free plunger doesn’t work, then call us for a discount.’” Rapone finds that offering smaller customized wraps such as these wrapped plunger handles is an excellent way of breaking the ice with potential clients. “If you’re cold-calling somebody or walking into their shop, you’re going to be viewed as just another solicitor,” he says. “But we bring them a sample wrapped plunger and start talking with them about plungers. The next thing you know, we’ve got five people standing around asking about this plunger. Suddenly, we’ve become that guy in the middle of a group, and people want to hear what we have to say.
“Then we can work the conversation toward vehicle wraps.” Rapone also notices that these wrapped plungers really come in handy when its time for their clients to go to plumbing and HVAC tradeshows. “They’re trying to find ways to get customers too,” he says, “and they’ll use these plungers to attract them.”
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With this in mind, let’s look at some of the company’s recent HVAC (and nonHVAC) projects: Croppe-metCalfe. Croppe-Metcalfe Services bills itself as a premier, five-star HVAC company in the D.C Metro area, and they had TradeWraps wrap fifteen of their spanking-new fleet vans at once. The vehicle dealership delivered them straight from the lot clean and ready for wrapping. Because of the large number of vehicles, TradeWraps took a risky, yet logical gamble—printing out all the vinyl wrap panels for the vans ahead of time—which paid off big-time. “Our installers were able to place the graphics on quickly because they didn’t have to measure each time,” says Rapone. “They already knew that it was going to be two inches from this spot to this spot and five inches from that spot to that spot.” Rapone cautions others trying this advance strategy to be careful that the wrong colors or templates aren’t used, which can lead to wasted effort. “The customer can then get upset if you’re not getting them done fast enough,” he says. “The longer their vehicles are in your shop, the longer they aren’t out on the road.”
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
The TradeWraps formula for the essential elements that make a successful wrap design: Big logo. Big phone number. Big Web site address.
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TradeWraps finished the fifteen vans in less than two weeks. “We were pumping out about two vehicles a day,” explains Rapone. “They later brought over some box trucks for us to do, which took a little more time because we had to measure and design again.” pride heating and air Conditioning. The owner of this HVAC company wanted a wrap for his new Chevy HHR vehicle. The previous vans and trucks that TradeWraps had done for him were halfwraps, featuring a green-to-white fade and a hand-drawn lion logo. However the owner this time was looking for something more eyecatching. Rapone admitted upfront that he wasn’t a big fan of the client’s request for a “fire and ice” theme because he thinks that gets overdone a lot. So TradeWraps added a little extra to make this design stand out better. First they had the client pick a high-resolution photograph of a lion from an imagehosting Web site. Next they spruced up the logo by fading this lion’s eyes into the background of the logo fonts. Rapone employed some in-stock highresolution imagery of flames along the bottom portion of the wrap design. However he wanted to do something a little more “stylish” with the icy theme along its top. So TradeWraps found a couple of snowflake images and repeated the pattern so that it would look like it was snowing heavily in some parts of the wrap and very-detailed views of the snowflakes on other parts. george’S poWer WaShing. TradeWraps makes certain that it always treats even their smaller one-off customers just like their larger fleet accounts. After all, one can reap unexpected benefits from doing so. Take
TradeWraps will take the time to put a little extra flourish to a design for customers of all sizes.
the van wrap they created for George’s Power Washing, for instance. The owner originally wasn’t looking for a full wrap; he only knew he wanted something featuring his old-school airbrushed logo. “His frog is an icon around this area,” says Rapone. “Everyone knows who he is and what he does just from this frog alone.” TradeWraps started by offering to give this logo a facelift during their initial design discussions. “We traced his frog in Illustrator, digitized it, and exported it to Photoshop, where we airbrushed it at a high-enough resolution so that it wouldn’t pixilate,” says Rapone. “We then gave him a nice water background, a big logo, and a big phone number, and he was sold!” Rapone states that it was this personal touch during design—as well as how they treated him just like they would their larger
clients during the install process—that really hit home. “He was so excited that we worked so hard for him that he went and told a gazillion people—give or take a few,” he says. “We were able to close deals with five other customers with three or more vehicles because of him. “It also made us feel good about how he really appreciated the work we did for him.” Bergman’S dry CleanerS. Remember how we told you earlier that Rapone likes to “spruce up” logos for use in wraps to look more modern? Well for this dry cleaner, TradeWraps had to go “back to the future.” Bergman’s Dry Cleaners has been around since 1917, and when the current owners came to TradeWraps for a new van wrap, they were adamant that the old-time cursive logo they’d been using since they first opened had to appear in the design. Rapone took inspiration from the old black-and-white photo provided to them of the current owners’ great-grandfathers and grandfathers. “We scanned in this photo with a super-high-resolution scanner,” he says. “We then added a lot of ef-
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fects onto the edge to help make it look even more like an older photo on the side of their vehicle. “And they loved it! They came back to us the first week in January, and we did three more for them just like it.” pho JunkieS. To add flavor to the workday, TradeWraps also embraces the “outside-the-ordinary” wrap jobs. And how else would you describe some zombiethemed wraps? Yes, you heard me: Wraps! With!! Zombies!!! Rapone had originally wrapped his personal Toyota Scion™ with a post-apocalyptic, zombie theme—complete with metal plates, rivets, faded-out warning decals, and a healthy dose of the undead. This wrap made quite an impression on the owners of mobile restaurateur Pho Junkies, and they came to TradeWraps requesting a similar wrap for their food truck. (“Zombies—mmm, mmm, good?”) Rapone basically copied-and-pasted
the design he had created for his car into the template for the much-larger food truck and worked from there. The big difference for the food truck: Less blood. “I also redid their logo for them so it would appear more zombie-like,” he says. “It has a zombie head saying, ‘Pho Junkies.’
Rapone explains that this “crazy job” came to them because of a shared interest with the client. “Their business has nothing whatsoever to do with zombies,” he says. “They were just big zombie fans.” “The Pho Junkies crew just has a lot of fun with what they do, and I commend them for that.” Rapone also mentions that social media here provided additional free mar-
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keting for their wrapping skills. “The owners were excited about it, so they posted a lot of photos of their zombiethemed truck onto their Facebook page and tagged us,” says Rapone, “so all their friends and followers were able to see what we did for them here.”
On the ROad again Recently TradeWraps created a van wrap featuring high-resolution cake images and a caricature of Uncle Harry that was designed to resemble the packaging of Uncle Harry’s Premium Ice Cream Cakes products, which you’ll find in grocery stores. This project brings up two interesting points. First it was installed on a Nissan NV commercial van, a vehicle that Rapone has noticed business clients are using more these days. “I’ve heard that their fuel economy is better than a standard work van,” he says. The company has been getting a lot of these vans in their shop lately, and Rapone says they aren’t hard to wrap since they’re mostly flat. “The only difficult area is that recessed area in the middle, but we handle this like we would a Sprinter van,” he says. Second Rapone and his installers ventured down to the Uncle Harry’s headquarters in Virginia Beach (a four-hour drive) to perform the install. Because of word of mouth that spreads about their work, they do travel out to wrap jobs if needed. When this occurs, they’ll also schedule other projects to do for clients that are also on the route. Rapone only asks that these longdistance clients provide a climate-controlled space they can work in. “One of the worst things that can happen when you’re [doing jobs] out of town is that the vinyl comes up later and then you have to venture back and fix it for nothing,” he says.
Being the Best Rapone admits that there can be a bit of pressure working as a wrap specialist. “All it takes is just one bad wrap before people start talking negatively about you and, in the process, earning you a ‘bad rap,’” he says, noting proudly that they’ve yet to encounter this scenario. They do take some preventative measures. When scheduling multiple-vehicle
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projects for a client, TradeWraps gives themselves an internal buffer as to when they promise these wraps will be ready. “Something could always go wrong— whether it’s one of our guys out sick, somebody messing up a panel, the customer dropping a vehicle off at the wrong time, etc.,” he says. “One of the worst things that you can do as a professional company is to give your clients a logistics plan and then you fail to deliver on it.” Judging from the enthusiastic cus-
tomer feedback and repeat business, Rapone knows that TradeWraps is headed in the right direction. This trickles down to the employees they hire as well. “We look for people who have that sense of creativity and that sense of pride of being able to produce something great for a customer,” says Rapone. “I don’t want a guy who just wants to work here because they think it’s ‘cool.’ “And this goes for installation too. That’s a really hard skill to learn.”
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Digital Printing / By Johnny Shell ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Digital Textile Printing nce a subset of the fledgling digital graphics industry, digital textile printing has grown into a strong industry of its own, offering a growing number of applications produced using materials, technologies, and products unique to this segment. To learn more about digital textile printing, we talked with Vince Cahill, owner of VCE Solutions (www.vcesolutions.com); Paolo Capano, director of INX Digital (www.inxdigital.com); Scott Fisher, president/owner of Fisher Textiles (www.fishertextiles.com); and Carter Church, print product supervisor at Orbus Exhibit & Display Group (www.orbuscompany.com). 56
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photo courtesy of orbus.
Soft signage, fabric solutions, and innovation.
Digital textile printing for graphic applications has become a highly valued, higher-margin choice for signage, environmental graphics, and other applications.Where is digital textile printing used most effectively and why is it an effective choice? Cahill: Digital textile printing is used profitably and effectively for a number of applications and markets. Service bureaus provide textile designers and producers with prototypes in a variety of color ways. Many designers have acquired inkjet textile printers for their own design development, print samples, and short-run production. The largest segments related to printing textiles, however, remain banner printing, flexible signage, building graphics, and exhibition displays. Digital printing’s ability to place eyecatching photographic images on easily transported and versatile textile surfaces has captured the imaginations of designers, advertisers, and clients with
One of the hottest markets today in digital textile printing is in the field of garment printing. its possibilities. Fisher: Digital printing is used most effectively when the client needs customization with a relatively low volume.
The short-run nature of digital printing, along with digital files being used to generate the images, makes this a perfect match.
Capano: We see digital textile printing as an effective choice because it fills an empty space in [the] advertising and decoration markets. Digital textile printing covers mostly areas where vinyl and banners can’t be used for certain occasions, such as outdoor flags. Fabrics are being looked at in a different light and, in many cases, are preferred instead of banners. This includes interior decoration for tradeshows, showrooms, and point-of-sale advertising. A great deal has been said about the advantages of using digitally printed textiles—particularly relating to reduced shipping costs. Beyond that, what are the factors driving the ongoing adoption of digitally printed textiles for graphics applications? What is it that compels customers to pay a higher price point for this type of printing? Capano: The main factor driving the choice is that it’s all about the final result and the application itself. There are applications when both printed fabric and plastic can be used, but a printed fabric has a certain touch-and-look appearance 58
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metomic_THIRDPAGE.pdf
that plastic lacks; fabric has such appeal that customers will pay the additional price for it.
Cahill: For many applications, digital textile printing is actually the most costeffective method. Digital printing enables targeted marketing, reproduction of personalized and customized designs and full-color photographs, and printing of one-of-a-kind and short-run images and prototypes more cost-effectively than analog reproduction methods. The price of inkjet textile inks declines significantly with volume purchasing. As the volume of digital printing and market share of inkjet textile printing expands and competition increases, we will see the price of digital textile print output decline from specialty to commodity pricing, as we’re already seeing with the price of inkjet banner printing. What are the hottest markets for digital textile printing for graphics applications? Cahill: The hottest markets have been fabric banner and garment printing. Interior decoration and upholstery also are applications that carry high-perceived value, which can justify the cost of customization.
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Fisher: We’re also seeing a strong trend toward printing tents, awnings, and shades for outdoor use. How have recent changes in materials, inks, and printing equipment changed the possibilities and opportunities in digital textile printing for graphics applications? Capano: In the last ten years, many printing solutions have been introduced, and quite a few companies began to adopt them. Today there are companies producing great jobs, thanks to the easy solutions now available. The type of printing equipment, digital fabrics, and inks available in the marketplace make it very easy to accomplish today.
Cahill: The development of disperse dye inks for direct inkjet printing has found wide application. I expect that we will soon see more nanoparticle structural inks, decorative metallic, conductive metallic, and signshop.com
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Interior Décor: Wallcoverings expensive solutions associated with today’s digital printing technology are solving more of the problems out in the traditional marketplace. His company continues to use its HP Scitex FB500 UV Printer to create these décor requests, and six months ago, they started using the HP LX26500 Latex Printer—a lot. “Latex ink is less durable than UV, so we don’t sell any latex-printed wall covering without applying a liquid laminate top coat,” he says. “When we apply that top coat to latex-printed materials, it’s compliant with a full Type II in regards to stain, scrub, and abrasion resistance.” Walker has been promoting coatings for wall graphics with anti-microbial and anti-graffiti properties, as well as flameresistance. “If we’re doing an application for a cruise ship, it’s important the graphic not be flammable at all,” he reasons.
polymeric textile inks because the market is demanding that their digital prints provide all the decorative capabilities that screen printing and film transfers provide.
disperse dye printing involve systems that heat and fix dye to fabric inline. Indirect transfer sublimation is a good choice for pending projects when one
Can you describe some recent significant developments in dye-sublimation printing and explain why it is the primary process choice for certain product applications? Cahill: User adoption of inkjet disperse dye direct printing has enabled the elimination of production steps associated with the indirect inkjet sublimation process. It also eliminated the use of costly transfer paper. Sublimation dye is a low to medium molecular weight disperse dye. Direct inkjet print dyes often use the same inks that indirect sublimation printing employs. Most of the recent advances in
As the options for equipment, fabrics, and inks increase, more users are interested in adopting dye-sub technology.
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all photos courtesy of hp.
Green is playing a bigger role these days in wall coverings. “Solvent printers are less acceptable in the interior design community than they used to be,” says Pat Walker, president of 4Walls® (www.4walls.com), an award-winning design studio in the wallcoverings industry based in Cleveland, Ohio. “In addition to our designs, the message that we sell to designers and architects is an eco-friendly, legitimately well documented green solution for inks, coatings, and materials. “And the latex message just resonates so much with that group.” Although 4Walls started up twentyeight years ago as a creative services business providing designs, colors, and photography for the residential wall paper industry, thanks to paradigm shifts in the industry over the past decade, they’re now able to sell their wall designs and murals to health care, hospitality, retail, and corporate customers through way of distributors as well. Their focus is on avoiding the ordinary. “We’re selling big, bold, modern graphic designs for places like hotel ballrooms or big jungle scenes or playful underwater scenes that are appropriate in pediatric hospitals,” explains Walker. Walker has found that the higher quality, better color and resolution, and less
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
photo courtesy of sgia.
wants to be prepared but does not want to risk imaging fabric prematurely. Transfers are also easier to transport than finished fabric. Direct disperse dye printing can re-
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duce cost for signage and banners but will often require post-print washing to remove all unexhausted dye.
cesses are similar to other digital printing methods. What it comes down to is, if you want a washable item, there is no other way to print it. Using solvent or UV inks is not an option.
ChurCh: Transfer or direct dye-sublimation technology can be incorporated into a wide range of display solutions—from portable displays (banner stands, back wall displays, hanging structures, pillowcase graphics, and table throws) to largescale custom tradeshow exhibits. Fabric printing allows for a more affordable shipping solution compared to rigid signs and rollable graphic panels. Fabrics can be folded up in a box and shipped directly anywhere.
photo courtesy of orbus.
Capano: The two main printing pro-
Do you have any advice for handling materials before and after dye-sub printing? ChurCh: Direct-to-fabric printers can require up to twelve feet of material to set up the machine for a print run. It is important to try and nest as many jobs together to reduce material waste and downtime from switching materials on and off the printer. When handling fabrics, the best advice is to keep the area clean. This includes everything from inventory storage area, printers, work area, sewing, etc. Fabrics can easily snag or collect dirt, which makes a clean sewing/finishing area a must. This article first appeared in the SGIA Journal. (Some additional reporting provided by Jeff Wooten.)
For everything textile printing—from dyes and pigments to inks and printers—utilize SGIA’s online Digital Textile Primer at SGIA.org, Keyword: TextilePrimer. signshop.com
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Custom Sign / By Jeff Wooten //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
ToasTing a Barrel sign
A round for everyone involved with a creative bar sign.
T
he above may sound like the set-up for a joke that you think you’ve heard millions of times before, but it turns out this is actually no joke. And chances are that you’ve never seen a custom sign design quite like this—a project for a new bar in Kentucky that combines a 20-year-old whiskey barrel, 150-year-old reclaimed wood, and classic copper piping with state-of-the-art LED channel letters and accent lighting. Kentucky is known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” so you’re probably already thinking that this is reason enough to toast this innovative sign solution. But you’ll also want to keep your glasses raised for the father-and-son-run sign shop, Advent Sign & Neon in Nicholasville, Kentucky, that put this project together. Advent Sign possesses a combined forty years’ worth of experience designing, manufacturing, and installing signs of all kinds with cutting-edge technologies. They never farm 62
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anything out to third parties. Amazingly the shop has just two employees—Owner Rick Garr Sr. and his son Rick Garr Jr. Not only do the two bend their own neon, but they also work with LEDs, computer-cut vinyl letters, large format prints, and more. For this project, the father-son team completed a custom sign for Paulie’s Toasted Barrel, a new destination for “live music and fine spirits” in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Like Advent Sign, this establishment is a celebration of the classic and the modern. Its classic interior décor consists of reclaimed wood floors acquired from a tobacco warehouse combined with nine large screen HDTVs. Garr Jr. was a former roommate of one of this bar’s principals, so he had a good inside track to fulfilling its signage needs. “He was helping run the bar and get it started,” he explains, “and he came to us requesting banners and simple digital prints on metal signs.” When Garr Jr. walked into the bar to get ideas for signage signshop.com
all photos courtesy of advent sign & neon.
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design, he was flat-out amazed at its interior ambiance and theme. “The floor was made from reclaimed warehouse wood out of a tobacco warehouse in Winchester, Kentucky,” he says. “And the bar counters were made from the same wood. “And to beat it all, the furniture being used in the bar was made out of bourbon barrels!” As mentioned earlier, the bar owners were set on using only a metal sign with a digital print for the exterior, but Garr Jr. wanted to do something with illumination that was more attention grabbing. “There is a way to utilize legible fonts and creative design,” he states, “so
I knew if I could present something that was unique and would fit the bar’s theme, then they might change their mind about this exterior sign.” Garr Jr. literally credits a dream he had later that night of the sign’s design, and the next morning, he drew it up as a quick sketch on paper and worked with it further using FlexiSIGNPRO™. The design was based off of the bourbon barrels and antique wood inside the bar. “However this bar is located in a New Age industrial location in Lexington, as well as a block away from the historical distillery district, so I envisioned a sign with antique characteristics as well as an industrial appearance,” says Garr Jr. noting the decision to use exposed copper piping with white LED channel letters here. Since this sign was going to be the only one of its kind in the Central Kentucky area, the Paulie’s Toasted Barrel owners quickly opted to go ahead with it. As stated earlier, Advent Sign & Neon is a two-man operation. What makes this setup even more special is that Garr Jr. is actually a full-time paramedic/firefighter, so he’s only able to work at the shop on his off-days. “We don’t have any other employees,” he explains, “because it’s been too hard in the past to find anybody who could
manufacture signs with the same quality my father and I have.” Still even with all their experience, the Garrs had never really built anything like this sign before. Its reclaimed wood is the exact-same wood found on the interior floor of Paulie’s. The first challenge was making sure that the “crazy weather” of Kentucky wouldn’t affect the exposed reclaimed wood or the barrel. “We were worried about issues with rot and water damage,” says Garr Jr. To alleviate their fears, the Garrs spoke with a boat restoration expert specializing in Chris-Craft wooden boats. “He recommended some products that he used to seal and varnish the boats he worked on,” remarks Garr Jr. “After all, wooden boats are constantly in water!” The Garrs planed the wood pieces just enough to knock off the grit and did no sanding to the wood. They sealed it with a two-part epoxy and coated the wood with a clear varnish (the same techniques performed on the wooden boats). The wood panels were attached to the background via stainless steel bolts, while the barrel was added onto it using wood screws. The second challenge was deciding how to build the acrylic-face channel
The sign design literally came from a dream, and it incorporates the bar’s theme of bourbon barrels and antique wood with LED channel letters. 64
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letters with their black trim cap. These three-inch-deep channel letters range in size from six inches tall with a one-inch stroke up to twelve inches tall with a threeinch stroke. “Typically channel letters are screwed together or locked,” explains Garr Jr. “The problem using that solution here is that the backs of these letters would be visible to people who walk underneath the sign, so we had to make the backs just as nice as the fronts.” To achieve this, the Garrs welded
the letters out of aluminum; this way, they could sand the seams out of them later. “The hardest part about welding the letters was the fact that some of the strokes were one-inch-wide,” states Garr Jr., “but fortunately, we have experience welding in small places.” To bend the letters, the Garrs used metal finger brakes and a three-foot metal stomp shear. They then applied primer and paint to them. “We then sealed the letters using caulking,” says Garr Jr. The Garrs decided to use white Z-Light
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Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
LED modules inside the channel letters because neon would needed to have been fitted for insertion. “Due to the nature of the small letters, white LED tends to put out a sharper image and avoid the appearance of the letters looking blurry together,” explains Garr Sr. Advent Sign & Neon attached the channel letters to the copper piping on the sign with aluminum screws. However when mounting these letters onto the one-half-inch pipes, the Garrs found that the screws would slip off them as they were securing the letters. “To solve this problem, we used a small drill bit,” says Garr Jr. “This gave us some pilot holes to use so the screws wouldn’t slip.” For the barrel, they employed red ZLight LED modules to help bring out the red tones in the wood. “It really gave the wood a warm feeling,” comments Garr Sr., noting that all the LED modules for this entire sign are run off of one 60W driver that they mounted in a raceway located behind the “PAULIE’S” letters. The fully assembled sign weighs 220 pounds, so the Garrs had to use their crane truck to lift it up into place. “We had ladders positioned on each side of the sign to help guide it into its centered location,” says Garr Sr. Garr Jr. adds, “We welded and bolted it to hooks made of steel angle onto the back of the sign. This allowed us to drop the sign onto an existing exposed I-beam with covers on it.” Standing on ladders, they then hooked the sign onto the existing background and inserted metal screws through the face of the sign and into the background. Reaction to this one-of-a-kind sign has been nothing short of phenomenal (lots of credits to the unique customized sign design), and the Garrs were just as happy with the way this project turned out. “It was nice to work on something that wasn’t your typical block-style channel letters,” says Garr Jr., noting that the project (from fabrication to installation) took approximately three workweeks to complete. In fact, Garr Jr. actually heard words that were music to his ears. “As we were installing it, a representative from a local brewery walked by and stated, “Now that is a bad-ass sign,” he remarks. “I’d never heard someone use those words to describe a sign before. “And honestly, I’d much rather hear that at the end of a project than just, ‘It looks good!’” signshop.com
H D U / By Ja n F l e t c h e r / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
all photos courtesy of classic signs.
The
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Bourne HDU Identity British ex-pat sign maker builds a thriving business in HDU.
I
n his quest for a longer-lasting signage product, Trevor Bourne proved an early advocate of HDU signage. Today the sign shop owner and managing director of Classic Signs (www.signblasters.com) in Aberdeen, North Carolina, produces high-volume, high-density urethane (HDU) sign blanks, as well as beautifully crafted one-offs.
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Bourne first experimented with HDU his very first year as a sign maker and began selling HDU signage the following year. “I found it to be an amazing material,” he says. “I started playing with it straight away.” He says that, for years, there was a lot of resistance against HDU. “People didn’t think it was strong enough,” says Bourne. “I think what really brought it into its time is when they stopped cutting all those redwoods.”
This British expatriate crossed the pond in 1991 to purchase Classic Signs, his first sign shop actually. Seven years later, when he launched his Web site, he registered its domain name as Signblasters.com. “I had no clue that name would turn out to be such a great domain name for me,” says Bourne. “That same month, two guys from Google applied for their first $100,000 loan. “Now if anybody’s searching for sand-
blasted signs, I’ll come up somewhere near the top pages.” In addition to his prescient abilities, Bourne previously managed a kitchen manufacturing company in Europe. Unquestionably, the engineering perspective he brought to the business also contributed to the shop’s success. When Classic Signs received a large order of over 160 dimensional signs—many involving complex routing and carvings with sandblasted backgrounds—the
Many of Bourne’s sign designs incorporate gold and variegated leaf adornments.
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Bourne works with large measure three feet highsignshop.com
4.56x4.875 Justin Sign_March013:4.56x4.875 Justin Sign_Dec06 3/6/13 11:17 AM Page 1
shop’s crew zipped through the order in under three weeks. “Nobody was doing anything with wood grain, so that’s why I started,” says Bourne. Years later, Bourne continues to tinker with materials and techniques for crafting castings for sign blanks destined for the architectural signage market. His HDU blanks are large (measuring three feet high-by-ten feet wide). “I have sandblasted HDU signs that are now twenty-one years old and still look great,” he says. Bourne also developed an improved technique for sandblasting large signs, solving the problem of adding unwanted lines. He does a secondary and (sometimes) even a tertiary sandblast to emphasize a particular part of the sign. One HDU sign Bourne constructed for Parker’s Market Urban Gourmet in Savannah, Georgia, incorporates two visual effects: wood grain and stone. Each one of the wheat stalks adorning the sign was sandblasted, individually cut out, and then glued into place. He also recently constructed a two-sided
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InfoDirect # Company
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1 3M Commercial Graphics . . . . . . . 86 2 Advantage Sign Supply . . . . . . . . . 53
38 GravoTech/Gravograph . . . . . . . . . 83
74 Stamm Mfg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
39 Gyford Standoff Systems . . . . . . . 83
75 Stimpson Company, Inc . . . . . . . . . 12
3 AgiLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 Allwood SignBlanks Ltd . . . . . . . . . 66
40 Hartlauer Bits, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
76 Sylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
41 ITSENCLOSURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
77 T-Led Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5 Alpina Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . 86 6 Alpina Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . 86
42 Justin, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
78 Techno, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
43 Kern Electronics & Lasers, Inc . . . . 11
79 Tesa Tape, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
7 Aries Graphics International . . . . . 21 8 A .R .K . Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
44 L&L Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
80 Thermwood Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
45 LEDtronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
81 Trim-Lok Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
9 A .R .K . Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 10 Arris Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
46 LMT Onsrud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
82 Universal Laser Systems . . . . . . . 57
47 LuciteLux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
83 US LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
11 ASE, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 12 AXYZ International . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
48 Magnum Magnetics Corp . . . . . . . . 37
84 Wilkie Mfg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
49 Master Magnetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
85 YJ, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
13 Bayer MaterialScience LLC . . . . . . 39 14 Biesse America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
50 Metomic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
86 Vycom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
15 Bitro Group, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 16 Brinks Mfg . (Van Ladder) . . . . . . . 24
52 MultiCam Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
17 Brooklyn Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 18 CAO Group, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
54 Nova Polymers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
19 Car Top Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 20 CET Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
56 Orbus Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
21 Clearpath/Rowmark . . . . . . . . . . . 30 22 CLN of South Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 45
58 Ornamental Post
91 FLEXcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 92 FUJIFILM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
23 Coastal Enterprises/
59
93 GSG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 94 Inca Digital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 72
Page
Precision Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Delcam International . . . . . . . . . . 35 Duxbury Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Elliott Equipment Company . . . . . . 23 Epilog Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Estimate Software Corp . . . . . . . . . 79 Fastenation, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 FASTSIGNS International, Inc . . . . . 1 Fisher Textiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Flexmag Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 29 Gemini, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Gerber Scientific Products . . . . . . 42 Gill Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Graphics One LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Graphics One LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
51 Monarch Metal Fabrication, Inc . . . 38 53 Mutoh America, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 55 Oracal USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 57 Orbus Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73
Panel & Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Plaskolite, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Principal LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Rochester Magnet Company . . . . . 82 Roland DGA Corporation . . . . . . . . 36 Safety Speed Manufacturing . . . . . 64 ShopBot Tools, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Sign America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Sign Bracket Store By Hooks & Lattice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Sign-Mart Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Sign-Mart Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Signs365 .com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Signs By Tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 SloanLED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 Small Balls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Southern Stud Weld . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Companies in the Sign Show 87 A .R .K . Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 88 Amana Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 89 Aurora Specialty Textiles Group . . 14 90 EGL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
95 JKL Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 96 LaserBits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 97 SA International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 98 SloanLED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 99 Techno Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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clear coat on it, so that they don’t go bad and tarnish,” he says. For larger mounted signs, Bourne sometimes inserts a flat bar made of steel through the middle of the sign blank and then glues the blanks together. “Sometimes we’ll put aluminum in there, and sometimes we’ll put plywood in there. It depends on what the sign has to do,” he says, noting that glue-treated plywood is also used on the back of HDU signs, if extra support is needed. Bourne says the design for these signs should draw the eye but also enable passignshop.com
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sers-by to quickly and clearly perceive the sign’s message. A variety of factors go into how a sign is noticed, includ-
74
ing the size of the letters, which often dictates the shape of the sign. Bourne carefully weighs each factor, taking into account local sign ordinances, as well as the client’s budget. “Hopefully it’s a happy medium somewhere in the middle,” he says. He also presents each client with an extensive list of questions, including where the sign will be located, what toll the elements may take on the sign’s finish, and if the intended viewer will find the sign readable once it’s installed.
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
Left: The Parker’s Market sign incorporates two visual effects: wood grain and stone.
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The size of the letters often dictates the shape of the sign.
Bourne weighs a number of factors when designing a sign: local ordinances, budget, and how the sign will be perceived overall.
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Bourne advises his customers to remember a sign’s border should provide a focal point to draw the eye to the message of the sign, but not take away from it. “A lot of the wonderful signs we have made have been scrapped because what was really needed was a clearer message. That’s one of the things that drives us,” says Bourne. When sandblasting, Classic Signs also strives to avoid creating any undulations in the background. “Those create shadows that detract from the message of the sign,” says Bourne. Bourne also advises clients to steer clear of wood-grain backgrounds in HDU signage. “Just blast it with a stone background, because you don’t want the background to become so busy that you’re losing the message of the sign,” he says. According to Bourne, no matter how artistic or how creative you want to get, the wording on the sign is what’s absolutely paramount. “My job is to first make your subconscious go, ‘Oh what’s that?’” he says. “Then if I can make your conscious mind go, ‘Wow, look at that,’ I’ve done a brilliant job.”
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Blade Sign / By Lori Shridhare ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Big Lights, Bright Kansas
I
n 1977, the company known as Star Signs & Graphics Inc., was operating out of a garage in Lawrence, Kansas, taking on small jobs in the area. Flash forward thirty-six years later, and you’ll not only find the now-named Star Signs, LLC operating in a 10,000-square foot facility, but you'll also find them designing and building sign projects for big brand companies and local landmarks, including a redo of a historic theater marquee.
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all photos courtesy of star signs llc.
Landmark solutions for a soon-to-belandmark marquee sign.
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Like many sign companies who have seen the 70s and left that era behind, Star Signs (www.starsignsllc.com) today rarely works with high-output fluorescent lamps or neon tubes any more; they instead rely heavily on LED lighting. (Note: And like many companies moving forward with the times, they also incorporate digital signage into many of their projects, adding features such as touch screens for office building directories, digital menu displays for quick service restaurants, and interactive informational kiosks for college campuses.) With Owner Bob Terry at the helm since 2007 (when Star Signs & Graphics officially became Star Signs), the company currently has a staff of approximately thirty-five people who work together to make its customers’ custom design-build sign projects happen. “Custom signage can be very challenging,” explains Vice President of Sales and Marketing Shelley Rosdahl. “There are no two projects alike. To be able to succeed, you’ve got to approach each one with a ‘can do’ attitude.” Versatility is a key word in the sign industry, and these days, the market for Star Signs is divided up among a few categories, giving them work that amounts to approximately 20 percent retail, 20 percent healthcare, 30 percent academic, and another 30 percent for multi-use facilities (stadiums, arenas, parking garages, office buildings, etc.). Unsurprisingly many of the big jobs they perform take place in the Kansas City metro area, working for larger clients such as University of Kansas Hospital, Children’s Mercy Hospital, and Liberty Hospital. But they do have reach. Their academic projects range from new campus wayfinding signs for Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge and the University of MissouriSt. Louis to interactive directories and kiosks for the University of Kansas in Lawrence and Overland Park, Kansas. By far, one of the most rewarding projects any sign company can do is work on signage that helps recapture the spirit and feel of a city landmark. And Star Signs recently did this. signshop.com
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Built in 1900, The Folly Theater has been a cultural center in Kansas City since opening its doors. It’s played host to many periods of American music and theater history (including burlesque), as well as select sporting events. Currently the renovated venue hosts concerts, plays, and other entertainment programs.
However even though The Folly Theater is a well-known entertainment venue in Kansas City, even many area locals were just as in-the-dark as outof-town visitors in trying to figure out where it is actually located. There was nothing to identify it. Owners knew they had to increase the
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visibility of their theater. The solution: A new marquee sign to hang outside it. Launching the bidding process, the theater owners sent out a request for proposal to several sign companies, which Star Signs won. After conducting initial interviews and working closely with the owners, Star
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Signs took a design/build approach. They initially considered a modern design and material finish, but they ultimately decided that a more traditional look would better complement the historic building. Along with input from the theater’s board of directors, Star Signs created the final design for this brand-new, blade-type
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A new marquee sign was built to draw more attention to The Folly Theater. Star Signs used historic photographs to create the design.
marquee sign after reviewing historic photos of previous signs that had graced The Folly Theater. (Note: They also conducted extensive photo research of similar existing theater marquees throughout the U.S.) Now it was a race to build something that would help attract more attendance to The Folly Theater’s box office.
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Approvals and Permitting The pre-approval process for this marquee sign actually turned out to be quite extensive. In December of 2011, the Folly knew it wanted some type of exterior sign, so theater representatives went before the Landmarks Commission and received approval for just such a sign. Yet even though the final design had been agreed upon, Star Signs still needed to get approvals from the following various city departments before they could begin the process of even obtaining a sign permit for this “landmark” sign:
✓ An encroachment permit from KCMO City Planning and Development for the sign to overhang the sidewalk;
✓ Approval from all city utilities and services stating that the encroachment did not affect their services;
✓ Approval from the Parks & Recreation Review Committee, as the sign is located adjacent to a city park;
✓ Approval from the Municipal Art Commission; and
✓ Approval from the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Company personnel from Star Signs appeared before the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) twice. Their first request was denied because several of the board members thought the sign was too large for its location. So Star Signs designers revised their drawings to accommodate a smaller sign. Success! They were approved by the board after this second visit. Once Star Signs received the BZA approval, it was only then that they were allowed to apply for a standard sign permit.
Fabrication and Installation Star Signs received their final approval from the BZA on October 9, and they began fabrication on October 10. (Note: See page 84 for in-depth construction details.) Originally Star Signs estimated that the blade-type sign would take approximately six weeks for fabrication, painting, wiring, assembly, and installation. Due to the challenges of getting approval 82
Sign Builder Illustrated // April 2013
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from the city, they were instead forced to fabricate and install the sign in basically half this time (three-and-a-half weeks). Installation took place on October 30. However they were actually ahead of the game here, as they still had a couple of days to spare before the scheduled “Light the Lights” dedication on Saturday, November 3. (Note: To view a video of this lighting “countdown,” visit http:// bit.ly/ZpbsHA.) While reproducing a historic sign alone has its creative challenges, Rosdahl stresses the most difficult part is attaching such a sign to a long-time, aging structure. “Most of the time, when you’re creating a historical replica of a sign, you're going to be installing it on a historic building or façade—in other words old!” she says. “A sign company must be knowledgeable— and sometimes very creative—when it comes to attaching to a historic substrate. Because the buildings are so old, there are rarely blueprints or section drawings available for review and use. “Site surveys are critical in determining the type of wall, its thickness, and what lies behind, so that no surprises arise when you’re ready to install the sign.” According to Rosdahl, everyone is very pleased with the simple look of the sign and how it reflects a historic era. “Our hope is that the new sign not only creates a lasting identity for The Folly Theater, but that the sign itself will also become a new landmark in downtown Kansas City,” she says. signshop.com
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Custom Signage Tips To work on both small and large projects, Star Signs builds flexibility into how they manage the design process. For large architectural projects, the signage and graphics packages are typically provided to Star Signs by an environmental graphics consulting firm or by the graphics department within the architecture firm. “These projects are typically taken to the design development stage of drawings and sent out to bid through the general contractor, owner’s rep, or construction manager,”
says Rosdahl. “We then put a competitive bid together for submission. Our bid amount usually includes shop drawings, material samples, project management fees, fabrication, and installation.” Rosdahl adds that sometimes Star Signs must provide a certified engineer stamp, permits, performance bonds, prevailing wages, and union install labor, along with a host of other requirements. “Every project bids differently, so it’s very important to thoroughly review all the bid documents and addenda before submitting a bid. Ask a
lot of questions, so you can provide the most complete and competitive bid to the client,” she says. On the other end of the spectrum, Star Signs also has clients that need just a simple sign to display their company logo. In that case, the company turns to their in-house designers who sketch ideas out in Adobe® Illustrator®, Adobe® Photoshop®, and SketchUp. With over thirty years of experience in the industry and a mix of sign projects under their belt, it’s no surprise the company would have words of wisdom for other custom sign makers. Rosdahl’s biggest piece of advice? Listen and communicate. “We encourage this not only with our customers but also with each other at Star Signs,” says Rosdahl. “We don’t try to sell the client something they don’t need or that won’t solve their problem. “We pride ourselves on providing good customer service from the beginning of a project until the last bolt is in place.”
Anatomy of a Theater Marquee The Folly Theater sign measures 31.6 feet high, 5-1/2 feet wide, and 1-1/2 feet deep. It weighs just under 3,000 pounds. It has 272 individual bulbs around the perimeter and inside the “FOLLY” letters on both sides of the sign. The sign is set up with a controller. This controller will allow The Folly to have the sign lit continuously but be able to switch the perimeter bulbs to a “chasing” mode when there is a theater performance. There is 1,100 feet of wiring within the sign. Because the sign is illuminated with low-voltage, energy-efficient LED modules, based on current electrical rates, the sign will cost The Folly less than one dollar per day to operate.
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“
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Wrap Specialist: TradeWraps™
Colors, Chromes, &
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n page 48, we profiled TradeWraps ™ (www.tradewraps.com), a 3M™ Certified™ company in Manassas, Virginia, and their vehicle graphics and vinyl customization work in the HVAC industries. But they’re more than just that. For example, TradeWraps has been using a lot of solid-color 3M™ Scotchprint® Wrap Film Series 1080 vinyl these days, thanks to an increase in full-color change-outs. These requests are typically being performed for personal vehicles. For example, they recently wrapped a Mercedes-Benz in 1080-M10 Matte White and a Ford Mustang in 1080-M12 Matte Black. “These particular wraps really appeal more to the masses who aren’t in the commercial industry,” says TradeWraps General Manager Brad Rapone, noting they earn their fair share of “likes” more from the general public whenever they post photos of these projects on their Facebook page. “We keep all the 1080 Wrap colors in stock because customers really just like to see them.” The company is also excited about the new 3M™ Scotchprint® Wrap Film Series 1080-SE420 Chrome material. Although this film is also going to be more in demand for personal vehicles, Rapone has noticed one commercial industry that’s pretty receptive here—bail bondsmen! That’s right, Colt Seavers to your wrapping res-
cue! (Note: Kids, ask your parents.) “Those guys want to be noticed when they’re parked outside the jails,” he says, “and they’re definitely going to get noticed when their name and phone number stand out in chrome.” As mentioned in our feature, TradeWraps has a small yet very talented staff. But Rapone also believes that working on the job is one of the best ways to learn, so he has up to three design interns from area community colleges onboard as well. “Everybody needs experience, and with markets that are flooded like the design industry, they need to get their hands on anything they can,” explains Rapone. “Besides these students have fresh ideas.” (Note: Rapone also serves on the Northern Virginia Board of Professional Graphic Designers and grades students’ portfolios.) Rapone notices that many of today’s graphic arts students are only taught print media skills and not specialty mediums like vehicle wraps. “Yet our interns really get a sense of pride from seeing the customer love a design they’ve created and then seeing our installers put it onto a vehicle,” he says. “They’re also able to see that there are graphic arts jobs out there in our industry that they hadn’t thought about before.” Rapone notes that his internship program has also led customers to select TradeWraps because they view it as “giving back to the community.”
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Sign Builder Illustrated
all Photos courtesy of tradewraPs.
TradeWraps capitalizes on even more trends in the wrapping industry.
// April 2013
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