Sign Builder May 2021 by Sign Builder Illustrated

THE HOW-TO MAGAZINE

M AY 2021 | S I G N S H O P.CO M

SIGN BUILDER

ILLUSTRATED

P P A R A

L L A T S N I G N I L EL

DIGITAL SIGNAGE: DISPLAYS TELL THE STORY OF LABOR

TRAILER WRAP:

DESIGNING FOR AN ANIMAL RESCUE

CONTENTS MAY 2021

HOW-TO COLUMNS

PRINT PROOFING IN A DIGITAL AGE

By Andrew Bailes-Collins Why we proof print jobs.

VOL. 35

NO. 310

ON-PREMISE VS. OFF-PREMISE

By David Hickey Sign code cases meet the Supreme Court.

DEPARTMENTS

Cover Photo: Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville.

10 30 32

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Recent polls and surveys about sign shop challenges show Editor Jeff Wooten that finding employees is a top concern.

IN THE INDUSTRY

Recapping ISA International Sign Expo 2021 - Virtual, the winner of the Design-A-Bus Art Design Contest, and a direct-view LED greets guests at a job search office.

SIGN SHOW

The newest products and services from sign manufacturers.

SBI MARKETPLACE

Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade.

SHOP TALK

Vanessa Thill reports on how YESCO designed, built, and installed new signs for the City of Mesa, Arizona.

FEATURES

20 24 27

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THE LABOR OF DIGITAL SIGNAGE

By Jeff Wooten How LED digital displays tell the story of union labor in Illinois.

DOTS A UNIQUE INSTALL

By Jeff Wooten “Dot Dot Dot...” is the 2020 Alliance Franchise Brands Project of the Year.

HITCHING UP A TRAILER WRAP

By Jeff Wooten An animal rescue organization invests in the power of a vinyl wrap. May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021, Vol. 35, No. 310 Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

Subscriptions: 800-895-4389

EXECUTIVE OFFICES

President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Group Publisher Gary Lynch 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005 Office: 212-620-7247; Cell 646-637-5206

EDITORIAL

Editor Jeff Wooten 323 Clifton Street, Suite #7, Greenville, NC 27858 212-620-7244 jwooten@sbpub.com Managing Editor Ashley Bray 212-620-7220 abray@sbpub.com Contributing Writers Andrew Bailes-Collins, David Hickey, Vanessa Thill

ART

Art Director Nicole D’Antona Graphic Designer Hillary Coleman

PRODUCTION

Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers

CIRCULATION

Circulation Director Maureen Cooney mcooney@sbpub.com

ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager David Harkey 212-620-7223 dharkey@sbpub.com

Sign Builder Illustrated is published monthly. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. To purchase PDF files of cover and layouts or hard copy reprints, please call Gary Lynch at 212-620-7247 or e-mail glynch@sbpub.com.

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

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EDITOR’S COLUMN

AGENDA

BY JEFF WOOTEN

Note: Due to COVID-19 concerns, all events listed below are subject to change. Please check each show’s Web site for any cancellations or reschedulings that may have taken place after press time.

JULY 2021 JULY 21-24:

The Mid-South Sign Association’s SignConnexion event will be occurring at the Ross Bridge Golf Resort in Birmingham, Alabama. (midsouthsign.org)

OCTOBER 2021

Wanting for Help

OCTOBER 6-8:

PRINTING United Alliance, which brings together the largest and most diverse audience in the printing industry, is scheduled to take place in Orlando, Florida. (printingunited.com)

The challenge in finding the right workers.

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

ly/3s9RsYs). And I was fortunate enough to host a “Most Pressing Industry Needs” session on project and employee management where I spoke in-depth with Adam Brown, president of full-service Sign Effectz, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about the methodologies he implements. A poll during the session asked attendees the biggest challenge to running their sign shop today, and an overwhelming majority picked “Finding/Hiring New Workers.” Interestingly we also conducted a recently concluded month-long reader survey with a similar “biggest challenge” question, and 50 percent of respondents selected the same (ahead of “pricing sign projects”). And I’m sure, once you’ve found employees, retaining them is just as important for your shop. So let’s return to my earlier question of age or experience. If you’re interested in bringing younger minds onboard at your shop, be sure to join us for a Webinar later this month called “Business Management: Successful Ways to Recruit Younger Workers to Your Shop” that will be hosted on our Web site (signshop.com). We’ll be speaking with several sign shops that have successfully hired young people looking for careers in this industry, and we’ll discuss how you can do so too.

JEFF WOOTEN Editor, jwooten@sbpub.com

OCTOBER 25-29:

The 2021 LightFair architectural and commercial lighting conference and tradeshow, which will be incorporating new safety protocols and specific mitigration measures, will be happening at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, New York. (lightfair.com)

NOVEMBER 2021 NOVEMBER 4-6:

Photo: Shutterstock/ ADragan.

t appears there has been a tectonic shift that occurred in the general American workplace sometime over the last several years. “Workplace Culture” has become a big, driving philosophy, particularly in relation to employee health and retention. While this mindset might be weighted more heavily toward the white collar business side of the workforce, there are hints it’s taking shape on the blue collar production side too—with the sign industry being a perfect cocktail with its blue-white mix of design, fabrication, and/or installation. Making generalizations can be a dangerous thing, but I’ve read several recent reports concluding that many members of the youngest working demographic are more attracted to hours worked than dollars earned (not even taking the pandemic into account for future feedback). But this attitude is at direct odds with the production-oriented sign industry. So does something like this influence whether you’re looking for age or experience? Workplace improvement factored heavily into the role Sign Builder Illustrated played at last month’s ISA International Sign Expo 2021 – Virtual sessions. (Note: See page 6.) For example, Managing Editor Ashley Bray facilitated a Peer Group discussion dedicated to SBI and ISA’s Women Leading the Industry initiative, where participants had a lively conversation on topics ranging from personal development to workplace challenges (visit https://bit.

Reconnect, Rethink, and Recharge, in-person, at the 2021 SEGD Conference Experience Philadelphia. This gathering is the only conference specifically created for the experiential design community. The three-day event will focus on inspiration and education, with a combination of hands-on workshops, design tours, summits, networking socials, thought leadership sessions, and the NEXPO show floor. (segd.org)

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IN THE INDUSTRY

lexandria, Virginia—The ISA International Sign Expo transformed into an online experience this past April 7-9. This year’s ISA Sign Expo® 2021 – Virtual event offered up over seventy education sessions, seventy-plus interactive virtual booths, and plenty of opportunities for networking over the three-day period. The all-virtual experience brought more than 7,500 attendees—a figure that blew past the projections and industry averages for these types of events.“People were skeptical that any virtual event could come close to replicating the excitement of an in-person [Expo], but those who participated told us we came pretty darn close,” says ISA President and CEO Lori Anderson. “In fact, more than 2,000

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

[people] signed up after the event began. While some of those were probably people who procrastinated, I believe others got an email or heard from a colleague how valuable they were finding the event. “One attendee said he ‘took an idea he learned in one of the peer groups and connected that to something that he heard in a Women Leading the Industry (WLI) education session and has already pulled his team together to see if they can make this change in his company.” (https://bit.ly/3s9RsYs) In all, some seventy-five suppliers and manufacturers were present on the Expo floor, and most reported a tremendous level of engagement from signs, graphics, print, and visual communications companies who were ready to buy and invest.

Other notable highlights of ISA Sign Expo 2021 – Virtual included: Game Changer Session. Futurist Sheryl Connelly shared her thoughts on the factors that will affect the future and your business. Connelly pointed out that a company’s strengths aren’t owned by them—they are determined by the market, which can be fickle. “The only way to predict the future is to create it,” she urged. When looking to add people to your company, Connelly said to focus on diversity, multidisciplinary candidates, and passionate/creative types. In fact, according to a paper from Michigan State University, Nobel Prize-winning scientists are 2.85 times more likely than the average scientist to have an artistic or signshop.com

Shutterstock/ Eakrin Rasadonyindee

ISA INTERNAT A IONAL AT SIGN EXPO 2021 VIRTUAL RECAP

DIRECT-VIEW LED GREETS GUESTS

crafty hobby. (https://bit.ly/3g9tlH0) Titan Talk with Harry Patz. ISA President Lori Anderson sat down with Harry Patz, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Display Division, Samsung, to discuss the lessons he learned from the pandemic. “Leadership is very important during this time,” he said. “Hire people for strong leadership qualities, as good leaders will be remembered through this.” (https://bit.ly/3g9tlH0) Titan Talk with Matt Shay. Anderson also chatted with Matt Shay, president & CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF). Shay said any processes that have eased friction in consumers’ lives—curbside pickup, online ordering, improvements in customer service etc.— are here to stay long after the pandemic. signshop.com

“COVID-19 has affected branding and the way retailers speak to consumers,” he said. “Many businesses acquired new customers during the pandemic and, as a result, have had to rethink their approaches to storytelling and branding.” Shay went on to say that, as people may be reluctant to return to “normal” right away, health and safety signage will continue to be in use. He also said retail businesses are rethinking real estate. “Some businesses are partnering with other businesses for stores within stores. Some are turning them into distribution centers, etc,” he said. “This all creates opportunities for the signage market.” (https://bit.ly/3a6uL0Y) Next year’s ISA International Sign Expo is scheduled for May 2022.

EW YORK CITY, NEW YORK— Indeed®, the most popular job-search Web site in the U.S., recently added a narrow pixel pitch LED video wall to the reception area of its Seattle location, capturing the attention of anyone walking through the lobby. Commercial integrator Ford AV installed this new direct-view BRILLIANT™ LED built by SNA Displays. “The video content is agile, displaying the Indeed logo with amazing background graphics as well as moving video with custom content that can be programmed to change, so it displays content when it would be the most impactful,” says Ford AV Project Engineer Daniel Muraida. The three-foot-eight-inch-tall LED screen stretches seventeen feet and was wall-mounted behind a large reception desk on the thirtyeighth floor of Qualtrics Tower, a thirty-eight-story building just a few blocks from Seattle’s iconic waterfront and Pike Place Market. “Indeed incorporates a large amount of AV technology throughout their facilities,” said Wes Akin, account manager for Ford AV. “It is important for their employees, clients, and visitors to see it in use. That is why a large, direct-view LED display is used to welcome each person who walks into the lobby, easily competing with full daylight streaming from surrounding glass windows.”

May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

IN THE INDUSTRY FASTSIGNS PROPELS FRANCHISING FORWARD

DESIGN-A-BUS-WRAP ART

CONTEST WINNER

AINESVILLE, OHIO—Olivia Indre, a senior at Mentor High School in Lake County, Ohio, won first prize for her design idea themed “For a Greener Future” that was submitted to the recent Laketran Design-a-BusWrap Student Art Contest co-sponsored by Avery Dennison® Graphics Solutions along with the county’s public transit agency, Laketran. The contest was open to middle school, high school, and college students from Lake County or students enrolled in a Lake County school, art school, or homeschooled during the 2020-2021 school year. Contestants were encouraged to highlight the contest’s “Lake County Pride” theme using their artwork to promote public transit or one or more features of Lake County. A total of seventyseven student artists submitted entries. Indre’s winning design was featured as a wrap on a full-size, thirty-five-foot local bus in Lake County, Ohio scheduled to run for six months. Avery Dennison donated its premium MPI 1105 Easy Apply™ RS wrapping film, clear overlaminate DOL 1360Z for added durability, V4000 beaded reflective film, and MPI 2528 50/50 perforated film 8

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

for the window graphics. Akron, Ohiobased Repros Color donated its services to print and install the graphics. “We had a unique opportunity to wrap a bus before it retires from service later in 2021,” Laketran Spokesperson Julia Schick explained. “We were excited to... allow all these talented student artists to have the experience of designing a bus wrap. Due to its success, the contest will now be held annually.” Daralyn Baldogo, senior marketing communications specialist at Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, says they were pleased to sponsor this program. “Our whole team got involved in the project, including serving on the judges panel,” she said. “We also appreciated the opportunity to increase awareness of the creative possibilities of vinyl graphics among art students, arts programs, and art instructors. As Olivia’s wrapped bus illustrates, vinyl film can be a powerful, engaging medium, commercially and artistically.” Repros Senior Account Manager Anthony LaGuardia was impressed with Indre’s well-designed graphics. “It worked out perfectly for us to get creative with Avery Dennison’s reflective vinyl film. It really made the graphic ‘pop,’” he said.

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ARROLTON, TEXAS—To better represent the expansion of services following the a c q u i s i t i o n o f N e r d s To G o , FASTSIGNS International. Inc., franchisor of the FASTSIGNS ® sign, graphics, and visual communicat i o n s f ra n c h i s e, h a s fo r m e d Propelled Brands (propelledbrands. com) as the corporate umbrella under which both brands and future brands will operate. “We are thrilled to officially unveil Propelled Brands as the umbrella under which we will operate and grow a portfolio of service-oriented franchise brands,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands and chair of the International Franchise Association. “We look forward to amazing opportunities ahead, in addition to the continued growth for our existing franchisees and our team members. Propelled Brands marks a key milestone for us as we lay the foundation to expand our portfolio of brands.” Propelled Brands will focus on service-oriented franchises and help each brand in its portfolio to confidently navigate forward based on their unique position, m o m e n t u m , a n d p u r p ose. Propelled Brands will advance the strategic path for each brand and will offer support and guidance to every franchisee to help them maximize success.

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SIGN SHOW VINYL/VINYL FILMS CONVEX Films and Laminates are an Optimal Choice for Sports Helmets and Recreation Products Q u a l i t y, d u ra b l e CONVEX materials, distributed by Gerber Technology, are designed to withstand serious impacts and harsh conditions while being flexible enough to conform to complex curves and create long-lasting graphics. Their specialty adhesives bond with LSE and HSE plastics like no other. New additions to the line include CONVEX® GearWrap™ (perfect for contact sports decals), CONVEX® High-Bond (for complex curves on low-energy surfaces like plastic and powder-coated paint for motor-sport graphics), CONVEX® Chrome (offering a brilliant mirror-like finish for both indoor and outdoor applications), CONVEX® Laminate (providing extra durability to graphics conforming to complex plastic shapes like helmets and lacrosse gear), and CONVEX® Pro-Shield (ideal for applications like motor-sport decals). These materials won’t fall off, ooze adhesive, or collect dirt around the edges; they also resist wrinkling on complex curves when laminated with CONVEX or Pro-Shield™ Laminate. CONVEX is designed for smooth cutting with any sprocket, roll-fed, or flatbed plotter. gerbertechnology.com

SOFTWAREDESIGN/PRINT/ ROUTER/ ESTIMATING World Premiere of SAi EnRoute 7 CAD/ CAM Software The latest EnRoute 7 CAD/CAM sof tware from SA International (SAi) is packed with all the features of the previous software version—only now with a 64-bit engine that makes the software faster and more productive than ever before and keeps shops moving at optimum efficiency. EnRoute 7 boasts a new, modern user interface geared to make workflows easier. This interface includes right-click how-to videos providing instant access to SAi training videos and a Cloud window in the new EnRoute interface that allows customers to easily manage their account, access support, and connect them to the new EnRoute knowledge base. Other efficiency-enhancing tools available to users are improved fill logistics with a no-lift option to help Z travel time, as well as advanced editing tools. Additionally EnRoute 7 now includes the flatbed distortion tool that cuts based on the location of printed fiducials, so no camera systems are needed. SAi is currently offering EnRoute 7 as a subscription or traditional purchase. Current SAi EnRoute subscription users will be automatically upgraded to the new version free of charge. thinksai.com

DIGITAL PRINTING EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES Canon USA Offers High-quality Speed and Performance with Expanded imagePROGRAF Series Further showcasing its commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of print, Canon U.S.A., Inc., is excited to announce that they have added the imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 and imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 multifunction printer (MFP) Z36 to their imagePROGRAF line of large format printers. These new hybrid solutions feature high-speed printing, security features, and advanced media handling. Built with productivity in mind, the imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 series can produce a D-sized print in as fast as 14 seconds and up to 236 D-sized prints per hour. The integrated Top Output Stacker can stack up to 100 A0-size sheets face-down, providing an added measure of confidentiality. The product’s advanced air flow system can also help reduce paper jams while keeping prints neatly in place, and its integrated, compact design can help save office space (allowing printed materials to be easily retrieved from the front of the printer). The product’s Roll Paper Indicator displays four different media levels with LED lights to notify users if paper is running low. As an added convenience, users can load a second roll while the first roll is still printing through its Hot Swap feature—a Canon first. The imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 is also available as a powerful Scan-to-Copy/File system that allows the user to scan and print at the same time. Providing further efficiency and productivity, the imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 MFP version also includes the new Z36 scanner, developed by Global Scanning for Canon, as well as an updated system controller with a new intuitive interface. usa.canon.com

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May 2021

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SIGN SHOW SERVICE TRUCKS/ CRANES Elliott Equipment Company Introduces the M87 Aerial Work Platform

LAMINATING EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES Roland DGA Gets Even More Protective with New GuardLam Overlaminates Wide format imaging leader Roland DGA has announced the addition of two new high-quality overlaminates— GuardLam™ Glossy Floor Overlaminate (ESM-GLGF-150-54) and GuardLam Embossed Floor Overlaminate (ESMGLEF-150-54)—to its existing family of certified media offerings. Ideal for floor applications, the two different overlaminates provide clear protection or textured protection, respectively, to graphics printed not only for floors but also windows, worktops, displays, wallcoverings, and more. GuardLam Glossy Floor Overlaminate is a 4-mil optically clear film that adds a beautiful, smooth sheen and protects printed output, while also incorporating anti-slip properties. GuardLam Embossed Floor Overlaminate, a 6-mil film, delivers outstanding protection as well, while also adding nonslip grip and stability. rolanddga.com

E lliott Equ ipment Company has rolled out its newest HiReach material-handling aerial work platform, the M87. The company designed this unit to offer “greater performance, less weight, better ergonomics, and easier serviceability" than anything else in its class. The M87 can mount onto a 25,999-pound GVWR chassis, allowing the machine to be driven by operators without a CDL. It can be equipped with material handling at both the main boom and in the platform, significantly increasing the flexibility of the machine. The M87 has a 180-degree platform rotation and features an eighty-seven-foot working height and a seventyseven-foot working side reach, giving users a “great deal of flexibility” and allowing them to “do more work with a single set up, saving time and money.” The vehicle boasts a 2,000pound main boom material handling capacity and 600pound platform capacity, while it’s Stow & Go platform job comes with unrestricted 500-pound capacity. A QuickClip internal cable carrier improves serviceability. The M87 is an ANSI A92.2 aerial work platform in all modes of operation and is backed by a lifetime structural warranty. elliottequip.com

DIGITAL PRINTING EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES High-performance Epson SureColor F10070H Delivers Round-the-clock Productivity at Unmatched Speeds As demand for domestically made products continues to surge, it is more important than ever for textile and apparel print shops to be able to fulfill large, custom orders in shorter lead times. With this in mind, Epson has expanded its lineup of textile printing offerings with the industrial-level SureColor® F10070H dye-sublimation 76-inch wide format printer to meet these evolving customer needs. Leveraging six-colors (including Light Cyan and Light Magenta or Fluorescent Pink and Fluorescent Yellow ink configurations), the SureColor F10070H printers provide the ability to expand color gamut and bring bright, vivid colors to the production of custom sportswear, fashion items, décor, soft signage, and more with high levels of personalization. With six new user-replaceable 4.7-inch PrecisionCore® printheads and UltraChrome® DS6 ink technology, the SureColor F10070H delivers industrial-level, roll-to-roll performance at speeds up to 2,635 square feet per hour with exceptional color saturation and high contrast. The cost-effective, high-capacity replaceable ink pack system holds 20L of ink per color, allowing for longer print runs with less user intervention. The SureColor F10070H includes advanced auto paper-tension control and a fabric head wiper for simple, continuous production with predictable performance. A true turnkey solution for seamless workflow, the SureColor F10070H comes equipped with easy-to-use Epson Edge® workflow software featuring an Adobe® PostScript® 3™ engine for color management, smart nesting, pattern repeats, and more. The printer also comes with Epson Cloud Solution PORT, providing a live view of the printer fleet (including production rates and printer utilization) to optimize workflow. The new SureColor F10070H printers begin shipping this July. proimaging.epson.com

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May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

SIGN SHOW DIGITAL SIGNS/EMC/ VIDEO DISPLAYS

VINYL/VINYL FILMS Mactac Acquires Duramark Products, Inc., Formerly Ritrama USA

Daktronics Expands Its Line of Direct-view LED Solutions Daktronics has introduced their new NPN-6200 product line, an expansion to their direct-view LED displays solutions. Allowing AV integrators and solutions providers to quickly and easily install the technology, the NPN-6200 is engineered with a lighter and thinner design. The new line employs Daktronics proprietary Pure Pixel Processing technology designed specifically to allow LED displays to provide crisp, clear images through high-quality gray-scale capability and color reproduction. This product is available in a variety of pixel pitches (ranging from 1.2-millimeters to 2.5-millimeters) with many options for the AV integrator on a single 27.5inch panel size easily forming into a 16:9 aspect ratio. According to Daktronics, the new NPN-6200 product line is perfect for lobbies, boardrooms, storefronts, concourses, bars and restaurants, control and command centers, and many other applications with close viewing distances where clarity is extremely important. daktronics.com

M a c t a c ®, a L I N T E C Company, has acquired Duramark Products Inc., previously known as Ritrama USA. The acquisition consists of the company’s Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Moore, South Carolina, facilities, including its new world-class coaters and advanced automation technologies. Both locations will be rebranded under the Mactac name, creating one of the largest, most diversified pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) suppliers in North America. Mactac’s continued focus on market growth and its diverse account base led to a need to strategically expand operations. With this significant investment, Mactac is affirming its continued commitment to expanding its technology, capacity, and adhesive formulation capabilities to be a fullservice resource for customers. Mactac and its parent company, LINTEC, will continue to invest heavily in R&D and operational enhancements as part of its plan. LINTEC is a global leader in the field of adhesive materials. Mactac’s acquisition of Duramark Products’ assets further solidifies LINTEC’s commitment to bringing its comprehensive global capabilities to the North American market. mactac.com

VEHICLE GRAPHICS Reflecting the Power of Light: Four New Gloss Supreme Wrapping Film Colors Avery Dennison® Graphics Solutions has introduced its Spring 2021 color collection featuring four exciting new color additions to the company’s Supreme Wrapping™ Film portfolio. Launched under the theme, The Power of Light, the four premium colors inspire creativity with hidden gradients and mesmerizing sparkle effects. See the thrilling impact of different kinds of light on Gloss Metallic Mystery Black and Gloss Metallic Mysterious Indigo. Marvel at the shifting iridescent shades of ColorFlow™ Gloss Hidden Forest (the first addition to the Supreme Wrapping Film ColorFlow line since 2017) and Gloss Metallic Pride Prismatic Grey (pictured). The Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Film vehicle color change portfolio continues to reflect the latest in automotive color trends, as the company reports that gloss films represent one of their most popular color finishes. Outstanding durability and performance are the high standards Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Film continuously sets as one of the world’s leading vehicle wrapping film brands. The Power of Light Spring 2021 color collection delivers excellent conformability around curves and recesses. Easy Apply™ RS adhesive technology makes application simple and fast, and the films are easily removable (even after long-term use). Avery Dennison says that these spring colors evoke a statement and attitude of uncompromising richness and quality. The four new Supreme Wrapping Film Gloss colors can be viewed and experienced online using the Avery Dennison Car Visualizer Tool available on their Web site. graphics.averydennison.com

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

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HOW TO

SOFTWARE | BY ANDREW BAILES-COLLINS

Print Proofing in a Digital Age

he purpose of proofing a print job is to create a contract between the printer and the customer. It’s an agreement that the printer will deliver to the customer exactly what is expected. Content, color, and quality are agreed upon and upheld. A proof proves to the customer that the printer’s process can produce the materials that are ordered. The Way We Used to Do It Historically the proofing process has been a manually output, physical representation of the printed piece. There were drawbacks in the time it took to create a proof. As far as production processes go, and by today’s standards, a contract proof was relatively downstream. That means if changes to the content were required,

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

producing another proof pulls the job back several stages in production. Running a press used to be a craft with learned nuances that couldn’t necessarily be taught. An experienced, talented pressman could be relied upon to match a proof. The color would be accurate and consistent from the first saved impressions to the end of the run. Technology has come a long way with both color systems on presses and plating software. Having ink key settings sent to the press for each plate extremely improves make-ready and the number of impressions to start saving sheets. Advanced press controls with precise quality systems translate into far more efficient results when training new press operators. Matching a proof became more

objective than subjective. As far as proofing time is concerned, the late 1940s saw the introduction of the first overlay system, GAF Ozachrome. In 1965, 3M Color Key debuted, while the 1970s saw 3M technology become Kodak Match Print and the introduction of Dupont Cromalin. Iris inkjet made an impression in 1987 followed by dye sublimation and laser sublimation in the 1990s. Soft proofing emerged in 2003, and in 2005, the first spectrophotometers were integrated with inkjet printers. In 2010, the majority of hard proofs were being produced on an inkjet. How Print Proofing is Done Today The printing industry threw up its collective hands when PDF technology first crept into its world. “There is no signshop.com

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Shutter B Photo.

Why we proof print jobs.

SOFTWARE

HOW TO

BY ANDREW BAILES-COLLINS

Photo: (Left) Shutterstock.com/VTT Studio; (Right) Dmitry Nikolaev.

THE PURPOSE OF PROOFING A PRINT JOB IS TO CREATE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PRINTER AND CUSTOMER. IT’S AN AGREEMENT THAT THE PRINTER WILL DELIVER TO THE CUSTOMER EXACTLY WHAT IS EXPECTED. way that will ever work for a quality print job!” they exclaimed. In the same vein, the idea of approving a job on-screen instead of by hard proof just seemed ludicrous. Soft proofing by email or Web site took some time to take hold as an acceptable contract proof. The accuracy of soft proofing has greatly improved in recent years. It’s become a typical, expected, and desirable way to approve a print job. Color-calibrated monitors are a requirement for accurately assessing a soft proof. However there is a great distance between what customers and designers are seeing versus what printers are seeing either in prepress or at a pressside viewing screen. Aligning these assorted devices is what color profiles are signshop.com

for, but there are shortcomings in the implementation. Verifying content is quite simple via soft proof, but without a hard proof, there needs to be some contractually definitive way to approve color. An agreement on CMYK mix and specifying PANTONE® color are two places to start. When color is critical for continuous tone images, the best way to ensure accuracy is providing a hard proof. With the quality of modern digital presses, it’s possible to run only two or three sheets and present those to the customer as a proof. The time it takes to get files into a print shop and on press is mere minutes. Automation combined with digital press technology facilitates the plausibility of press sheets used as contract

proofs regarding time, cost, and convenience. It also provides customers with proof of the process. Soft Proofing Methods The common methods of soft proofing used today boil down to sending PDF files by email or serving up a print job rendered in a Web portal. There are disadvantages to both. For instance, neither method ensures color management from file design to proof viewing. Even with adherence to ICC profiles and device calibration, viewing environments and rendering engine variances do not guarantee color accuracy. As technology progresses, this final hurdle will eventually be overcome. Sending a PDF by email can be the easiest way to get proofs to customers, May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

since no additional software is required by the printer or the customer. Emailing PDFs as a soft proof does have some caveats. File sizes can lead to issues with attachments. Prepress technicians reduce or optimize the production PDF using various software. Adobe Acrobat Pro has a feature to

perform file size reduction. Viewing PDF files happens on a wide array of devices, software and render engines. There is no way to ensure that prepress departments are seeing the same content on screen as the customer. Transparency can be one of the biggest uncertainties, leading to unexpect-

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May 2021

Transparency Issues Caused by White Overprint Online soft proofing requires the printer to integrate and maintain a method of providing that service. The cost of such a service is relatively low, and it is convenient to customers. The use of a Web portal to provide soft proofs can also have a downside. Managing users, administering the system, and seamless integration with production systems contribute to overhead. As with an emailed PDF, the file being viewed is likely not the one that will be sent to press. Acceleration Due to a Pandemic The need for digital proofing techniques has been increasing, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that the pandemic has proven to be a major accelerator to this trend. On-premises visits are pretty much taboo, and processes, including print, went digital at warp speed. There are many advantages to digital proofing nowadays: • Relieves production staff from manually creating and sending PDF proofs; • Speeds up the response time from file received to proof ready; • Approvals go straight to production; • Customer inspects the production PDF file; • Inspection tools can be customized; • Removes the uncertainty of customer viewing methods; and • The interface can be branded to your business.

The Biesse Rover J CNC Router is the answer to increased production for growing shops processing sign and graphic materials, packaging, plastics, Sintra, foam, composites, non-ferrous metals and wood. Featuring a video camera for managment of print markers and Digital Finishing of printed material.

ed content in the printed piece.

Of course, the above is all reliant on if you are able to implement it correctly. Be sure to find an online proofing system that integrates with web-toprint, MIS, and production. A software investment is typically a fraction of a new piece of equipment. So with that in mind, what are you waiting for? Andrew Bailes-Collins is senior product manager at PDF preflight and automation software technology developer Enfocus (enfocus.com). signshop.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated is the “how-to magazine” of the sign industry. Each issue includes SBI’s signature “how-to” columns and features with detailed, step-by-step instructions covering a wide range of signage. SBI’s website (signshop. com), newsletters, Buyer’s Guide, and digital edition keep you updated with timely news, recent projects, and upcoming industry events.

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HOW TO

ENGRAVING |BY BRAY REGULATIONS BYASHLEY DAVID HICKEY

There is a distinction in capabilities and purpose between on-premise and off-premise EMC signs. Shown: Wildwoods, NJ Convention Center.

On-premise vs. Off-premise

number of sign code cases that are swirling throughout the lower federal courts could end up before the Supreme Court of the United States. For those keeping score, this would be the second time in less than a decade that the court has taken up a major sign code case. In 2015, Reed v. the Town of Gilbert had a significant impact on the sign, graphics, and visual communications industry and forced communities throughout the country to revisit their sign codes. As communities revisited the codes to ensure they met the Reed requirements, the International Sign Association (ISA) and the Sign Research Foundation (SRF) were able to help. That meant that many communities were able to develop reasonable sign codes, allowing businesses to thrive. However, in the aftermath of the Reed

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

decision, billboard companies have been suing cities and states to invalidate sign regulations that treat off-premise signs differently than on-premise signs. ISA has strongly supported maintaining the longstanding distinction between onpremise and off-premise signs (https://bit. ly/3mn6Gbu). On-premise signs have different owners and locations and very distinct capabilities and purposes. In addition, on-premise signs target a specific audience and have traditionally been treated under separate legal and regulatory regimes. ISA believes that categorizing signs as on-premise or off-premise is not a content-based distinction. However, many of the efforts by billboard companies to invalidate regulations treating on- and off-premise signs differently have been successful. These cases, such as Thomas v. Bright in the 6th Circuit

Court of Appeals, have the potential to disrupt how signs are regulated. The International Sign Association filed a “friend of the court” brief in one of the first post-Reed cases on this issue, Lamar v. City of Los Angeles. The California state Supreme Court found in 2016 that the city could regulate the billboards differently than on-premise signs. The ISA urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a similar case, Reagan v. City of Austin, which may rise to SCOTUS in the next term (which begins in the fall). In both the Reagan and Lamar cases, ISA sided with local governments and organizations such as the American Planning Association and Scenic America, both of whom we typically find ourselves on opposite sides of sign code issues. However, in this case, we are in mutual agreement of maintaining the traditional signshop.com

All EMC photos: Watchfire Signs.

Sign code cases meet the Supreme Court.

HOW TO

REGULATIONS | BY DAVID HICKEY

regulatory distinction of on-premise signs and billboards. In the Austin, Texas case, the issue has been a prohibition on digital billboards while digital on-premise signs (EMCs) were allowed. Reagan Outdoor Advertising successfully persuaded the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prohibiting off-premise digital billboards was a violation of the First Amendment’s protections on freedom of speech. As it stands currently, all communities within the 5th Circuit’s jurisdiction (which includes Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana) will have to adjust their local sign regulations to treat EMCs the same as digital billboards. This could result in all digital signs being required to comply with the Texas Department of Transportation requirements for digital billboards, which include an eight-second hold time, no animation, or other requirements that could reduce the ability for sign users to use digital signs. In addition, local jurisdictions could decide to treat digital billboards and signs the same by not allowing them at all. By the time this column runs, we may know whether the Supreme Court will hear the Reagan v. Austin case. The International Sign Association believes there are compelling arguments to maintain the distinction between on- and offpremise signs. There is precedent on this issue, including Metromedia v. San Diego (1981) and with Reed, where Justice Alito’s concurring opinion (joined by two other justices) explicitly listed this distinction signshop.com

as a form of sign regulation that is not content-based, writing, “I will not attempt to provide anything like a comprehensive list, but here are some rules that would not be content-based…[r]ules distinguishing between on-premises and off-premises signs.” In the meantime, ISA will continue to monitor developments in these cases

(Signs.org); advocate on behalf of the sign, graphics, and visual communications industry; and work with local codes officials to craft reasonable—and Supreme Courtcompliant—sign codes. David Hickey is vice president of Government Affairs with the International Sign Association.

May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

FEATURESIGNAGE DIGITAL NAME BY JEFF AUTHOR WOOTEN

THE LABOR OF

DIGITAL SIGNAGE llinois is a very rich labor state, and Reuben Soderstrom is a legend in this field of the state’s history. Not only did Soderstrom work as a newspaper man and serve twice in the state legislature, but he also spent forty years as the president of the Illinois AFL-CIO labor union organization. Soderstrom’s major accomplishments

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

were many during his Illinois AFL-CIO presidency (lasting between 1930 until his retirement in 1970). He guided the Illinois labor movement through the Depression, through the Second World War, and through the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. So when his grandson contacted current Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim

Drea and offered to donate a bronze statue of Soderstrom created by internationally famed sculptor Lonnie Steward in his honor, that reaching-out began the process of the Illinois AFLCIO deciding to build a brand-new labor history plaza at their headquarters in Springfield, Illinois with this statute prominently displayed on its grounds. signshop.com

All Photos: The Ace Sign Company.

How digital displays tell the story of union labor in Illinois.

The Ace Sign Company came up with the idea of installing digital displays to complement the new bronze statue of famed Illinois AFL-CIO President Reuben Soderstrom.

(Note: The statue shows Soderstrom pointing skyward, a pose made famous in a historic photograph taken during his campaign on the back of a flatbed truck for then-vice presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt.) This project also led to a successful collaboration with a nearby sign company that eventually turned into an investment in two new Watchfire Signs digital displays to complement the new statue signshop.com

and help further tell the fascinating story of Soderstrom to plaza visitors. Putting Plans into Motion The new Illinois AFL-CIO plaza, devoted to labor history and its personalities, is prominently located on a historic square within sight of the state capitol building. There were already other monument statues on the Statehouse grounds, including an “Illinois Workers” memorial, “The Coal Miner” memorial, and police and firefighter memorials. Drea began the plaza construction process by meeting with the architect. “He suggested putting up a fence on each side of our plaza where we could put up and switch out different plaques related to Illinois labor history as we saw fit,” says Drea. The first problem with this, according to Drea, was that this suggestion ended up looking like a chain link fence at both ends of the long, narrow plaza. The second (and just as major) development was that Drea found out that the fence manufacturer brought onboard was non-union. The projected $200,000 plaza development was going to be split between the Soderstrom Family Foundation and money raised by the Illinois AFL-CIO members. “We want to support working families, and their dues money is what supports us,” says Drea. “So when we spend their money, we want to make sure we’re employing union contractors.” With this in mind, Drea turned instead to The Ace Sign Company, also of Springfield. He was familiar with the positive reaction this full-service sign shop had generated from a walkway mural they installed across from a major thoroughfare coming into Springfield. “They have a great reputation here in the area and central Illinois,” he says, “and everything about them spelled out that they were a company we wanted to do business with.” Scott Bringuet, chief experience officer of The Ace Sign Company, noticed that the chain-link-looking fence wall wasn’t dug deep enough to stand up to the wind and knew the Illinois AFLCIO wouldn’t want to find plaques attached to it lying on the ground after

being blown down. He also thought about how this could be more than just informational plaques that one can walk up to read. “We started asking ourselves if this could be something that can be appreciated from up close as well as down the road,” says Bringuet. “We brainstormed about how to make it really engaging and how to invite people into the space to learn more. That’s when the digital display application started to become part of the conversation.” Inspired by the monolithic digital displays at Millennium Park in Chicago, The Ace Sign Company design team drew up the idea of using two 8-by-11foot 8mm Watchfire digital displays that face each other at opposite ends of the plaza about ninety feet apart. The back side of these multi-functional digital solutions would feature identification for the AFL-CIO on one side of the plaza and, on the end, interpretative information regarding the statue and AFL-CIO throughout the year. “We were very impressed by what [Scott] told us,” says Drea, “and the next thing you know, we now have two Watchfire signs on our plaza.” (Note: Drea was also excited that union members would be involved with all the construction and installation of the signs.) Engineering a Solution Once the display designs and sizes were agreed upon, The Ace Sign Company developed a foundation and steel column detail base, much like they do with most of their freestanding structure creations. “We did that to support the wind load,” says Bringuet. After breaking ground in October of 2019 (and waiting for weather to improve), the new plaza construction started in April of 2020 and finished in late August. Construction crews tore out the concrete pads that had existed on-site previously and replaced them with new pavings and bollards, railings, stairs, and pillars across the front façade. Bringuet ended up coordinating with the architect and the general contractor to leave an area of foundation open so they could place foundations for the May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

The two digital displays are located at opposite ends of the newly constructed plaza, as both screens feature their own unique content.

digital displays and then have the finish poured around them. “This created a really nice, built-in look with the displays so that it appears as though they’re just sitting there on those pavers,” says Bringuet. Since the plaza is adjacent to a historic zoned area, The Ace Sign Company made sure to follow the signage code in the area. “We proactively approached the city regarding the project, and due to the interest of that area being near the State Capitol building, we were able to get good reception from the city allowing us to do it,” says Bringuet. “We had the same brightness controls we would do for any other sign in the area. “But one of the things that was made clear proactively by us was the intent of these displays. They would be more image-based and would promote civic and community events and would not to be promoting political affiliations. The city reacted to that very well.” This project ended up being a two22

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

trip installation for The Ace Sign Company, who worked hand-in-hand with the union contractor last summer. First, their crew of three handled excavation, boring, and pole-setting. Because of the size of the digital displays, they had to lift them up via a crane from the roadside and slip-mount them onto the poles. The Story of These Displays The digital displays are in operation for twelve hours daily starting at seven o’clock in the morning. Watchfire Signs displays are fully encapsulated to seal out moisture and pollutants. “This allows for an exposed diode, so there’s no glare and you get to see the image clearly,” says Bringuet, “but all the components are watertight under that sealant.” The visual-only Watchfire displays are a mix of signage and artwork. Video content on the displays repeats on fifteen-minute cycles. One display is devoted to the labor story of Illinois

(the Haymarket riots, the Cherry mine disaster, and the speech by Dr. Martin Luther King at the AFL-CIO convention in Springfield in October of 1965) and AFL-CIO announcements and messages, while the display nearest the statue acts as its backdrop, featuring content that’s geared toward the legacy of Soderstrom. “The Watchfire displays are very image-based,” says Bringuet. “Our goal was to create a kind of combination of an artwork installation, in the terms of images that really connect with the purpose of the AFL-CIO and the plaza and then old images that show the timeline of Mr. Soderstrom and his legacy. There are also some content slides as well that have the mission and goals of the AFLCIO and some of the messages that they put forth on their Web site as well.” Drea and one of his Illinois AFL-CIO graphic designers handle content creation and management for the displays after learning from a tutorial by Watchfire signshop.com

Signs and The Ace Sign Company. Since Abraham Lincoln is an icon in the area (“A Grand Tour of Digital Sigange,” February 2021), the organization programmed a quote from Lincoln about labor on the display. “It’s relatively easy, and everybody gets excited about it,” says Drea. “We have pictures about the history of labor in Springfield and things like that, as well.” The 8mm displays are also the highest resolution in the Springfield area. “Since they’re in an area where you can walk right up to them, we wanted to make sure that we had a tight pixel pitch for this application,” says Bringuet. Giving the Displays Their Due The statue and the new displays were honored in a dedication ceremony for the new labor plaza. Ironically, although the new plaza was designed around the

statue, Drea says it was actually the last item to be installed. The digital signs, the labor history plaza, and the Soderstrom statue garner extra attention as they are located on a T-intersection near a stoplight on the same street as the State Capitol. While COVID-19 concerns have halted general assembly legislative sessions that usually attract even more tourists to the area, hopes are that the content presentation on the displays will ramp up when tourism reopens and people start traveling again. Drea told reporters last fall that President Soderstrom “left a legacy of tremendous accomplishments and progressive ideals that our generation is working to build on today.” It is proving true that the new statue and Watchfire Signs digital displays are also helping to build on his impressive legacy.

Bronze plaques detailing key moments of Reuben Soderstrom’s AFL-CIO presidency can also be found on the plaza’s brickwork.

Video of the dedication ceremony can be seen on the Illinois State AFL-CIO Facebook page.

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May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FEATURE NAME BY JEFF AUTHOR WOOTEN

DOT’S QUITE

AN INSTALLATION

ary Lou Goehrung is the president of Hunt Graphics, Inc. d/b/a Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville, a full-service sign center based in Rockville, Maryland. Her company loves doing jobs that are considered challenging, as well as tackling “unusual” types of jobs others might pass on doing. In fact, a recent project that could be considered both “challenging” and “unique” for the exterior of a Lululemon athletic apparel retail store (titled “Dot Dot Dot...”) earned Goehrung and her Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville sign center Grand Prize honors for the “Signs & Graphics” category in the 2020 Alliance Franchise Brands™ Project of

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

the Year. This is an annual project-based contest open to all the franchisees under this umbrella. This installation consisted of sixtythree shiny metal dots that were custompainted glossy in seven alternating PMS colors. These dots, each housed in their own frame and attached directly to the Lululemon storefront, were created in two sizes—forty-eight of them are fourteen inches in diameter, while fifteen are twenty inches in diameter. The sign company got involved with this project when the owner of this shopping strip wanted to “spruce up” and “grab attention” for the Lululemon store. “He hired a construction company, which, in turn, contacted us based on a

referral, thanks to our twenty-nine-year solid reputation in the sign business,” says Goehrung. Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville is an award-winning women-owned sign company that started up in 1992. They are also a family operation, as Goehrung’s son Scott is a mechanical engineer there, her son Glenn and his wife are graphic designers, and her grandson Tyler helps out in the installation department. Three generations are working together. They currently have twelve team members on staff, and their production floor includes Zund and MultiCam routers, two eight-by-ten-foot Fujifilm flatbed printers, two laser cutters, a ten-foot HP latex printer, a half-dozen smaller latex signshop.com

All Photos: Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville.

The 2020 Alliance Franchise Brands Project of the Year.

The craft and creativity behind the completion and install of the “Dot Dot Dot...” project.

HP printers, and a new Mutoh flatbed printer for printing ADA specific signs. “Our clientele ranges from individuals to big corporations—from banners to whole building signage inside and out,” says Goehrung. “Our best marketing over the years has been our reputation for excellence in turnkey projects and customer service.” The general contractor provided Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville with the amount of dots needed for the storefront, their seven different colors, and their placement. Goehrung and her team refined this design further using Flexi software. Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville partnered with Gemini for the actual production of these colorful dots, but they first had to determine the material that would signshop.com

work best here. “Because some of the dots were at pedestrian height, we had to make sure that they were vandal-proof and couldn’t be picked apart,” says Goehrung. “So we went with a solid stainless steel construction with a 1/2-inch relief.” Goehrung says that they painted all the dots with the glossy specific PMS color provided to them. “We painted all their frame edges copper to help further define the colors inside,” says Goehrung. The entire installation of these sixtythree dots took two days and involved four people. The dots that were easily reachable at the bottom of the storefront were affixed to the building through the use of ladders planted on the ground. However there were several obstacles that prevented them from being able to simply use their bucket truck for the re-

maining higher dots—a narrow street and pedestrian sidewalk, overhead wires, shallow parking spaces, trees lining the area, and a difficult-to-avoid awning. This meant that the Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville team would have to rappel down the face of the building. While the concept of rappelling for a sign installation can seem either adventurous or daunting (depending on your point of view), it’s something that Goehrung’s center has actually performed quite often when circumstances prevent them from using their bucket truck. In fact, they used rappelling techniques two years ago fittingly for signage work installed on the exterior of the Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. The Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville rappelling team is made up of insurable May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

2020 Alliance Franchise Brand Project of the Year Finalists

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Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

window washers. They tied off to the building anchor points and lowered themselves down using a chair rig. One team member was always positioned on the roof lowering the appropriately sized and correct-color dot one at a time inside a bag to the chair-sitting installer below. “The [installer] only used one position and swung from left to right to reach the dots. They wore a tool belt to hold their insall tools,” explains Goehrung. “After completing the upper part of the building, he then ascended back to the roof.” Although the dots on the Lululemon storefront appear to be random, Goehrung says that they had to be placed exactly where the architect had plotted them. This involved coordinating and implementing ground communication to the aerial installers. “The person located on the ground used cell phone communication and a large mockup panel showing the dots’ locations to make sure everything was installed correctly,” says Goehrung, noting they were given artistic and practical placement license for final dot location. To attach the dots to the building’s exterior, Signs By Tomorrow – Rockville first screwed standard metal studs into the back of each circle. Then using a standard drill and a template for each circle size, they drilled four holes for each dot into areas of soffit and brick into the building and firmly pushed the stud-mounted dots into them and sealed the holes with silicone. “We got the owner’s permission before drilling, of course,” says Goehrung. Goehrung and her team of employees are honored to have been chosen as the winner of the 2020 Alliance Franchise Brands Project of the Year contest. “I am passionate about the sign business and continue to get excited about all the projects we work on both big and small,” she says. “The sign business is a rewarding business because we are continually ‘helping’ people in many ways through signage every day. “‘Signs Rock!’ especially here in Rockville at Signs By Tomorrow!” signshop.com

VINYL WRAP

BY JEFF WOOTEN

HITCHING UP A TRAILER WRAP

An animal rescue organization invests in the power of a vinyl wrap.

All Photos: Wrapmate.

iva Rescue is a 501(C)(3) non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary that focuses on the rescue and rehabilitation of equines and other farm animals in the Southern California region. This grassroots organization was co-founded by Maya Benperlas and Kallie Quigg in 2019, and they’ve managed to make a difference in improving the lives of such abused and neglected animals during this short time. However Benperlas and Quigg wanted to bring more attention to their efforts and their on-premise programs. They decided their then-plain-white horse trailer would be a good canvas to host an informative wrap that could get their message

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out to more people. “We figured we could help even more animals if our trailer actually said what it is we do and showed the services we provide,” says Benperlas, “and at least be easily readable.” The challenge here was that Benperlas and Quigg had no idea about what goes into an effective wrap design, nor how they could get their horse trailer wrapped. “It’s obviously a big expense for us as a small organization,” says Benperlas. “We both work fourteen and sixteen hour days and don’t have a lot of time to go through the process.” Benperlas searched Instagram and found Wrapmate, an end-to-end digital platform for consumers to get their graphics projects designed, printed, and

installed. Through back-and-forth email conversations, she provided them with Viva Rescue’s logo featuring a cat and horse and their color palette, as well as a list of the things they wanted to feature in the design. Wrapmate inquired early on about the exact measurements of the trailer and any shared templates. The overall square footage requirements of this wrap project were a bit limited, but they were able to successfully make the most visual impact by strategically spreading out the cat and horse design elements across various spots on the trailer. Scrollwork elements were also added on the back of the trailer and door to give it a contemporary classic feel. Detailed vector art of May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

CPR Signs tells customers the surface needs to be entirely clean before a vinyl install.

“It could have been difficult, but Wrapmate set everything up correctly for us,” says Higgins. “Viva Rescue delivered the trailer to us on time. I wish all our projects were this easy.”

the logo is featured on the front of the trailer. Meanwhile Viva Rescue’s friendly light blue/dark blue color theme is consistent throughout. “They came up with such a beautiful design,” says Benperlas. “It was everything I could’ve imagined but didn’t know how to design myself.” Next Wrapmate tapped their network and had their local Pro complete production and installation of the trailer wrap—in this case, C.P. Richards Signs in San Diego, California. C.P. Richards (CPR) Signs is a PDAA certified, full-service shop that has been around since 1948. Its current owner, Chuck Higgins, took reins of the business back in 2003, and he had a bit of an inside track here. “My daughter’s greatgrandfather actually started it,” he says. “Fortunately I was still close to my exfather-in-law (who also happened to be the owner at the time), and I really loved the business.” Higgins’ shop moved into vehicle wraps after purchasing their first large format printer a year after he took over. Today CPR Signs expertly prints, laminates, and installs vinyl graphics for not only their customers but also other shops all over the country needing help. Higgins also enjoys being part of the Wrapmate Pro network. They sent him the project outline and asked him if he would be interested in working on

it. Once he agreed, Wrapmate sent the “squared-away” wrap artwork to him at full scale. When it comes to what makes a good wrap, Higgins says it always starts in the design phase and knowing what one can and cannot get away with. “There are designers who can make these awesome renderings on a flat screen but don’t translate well in the real world. They don’t understand that a vehicle is not a flat box,” he says. “Most vehicles have some compound curves, and some of them have radical compound curves. If a person doesn’t design vehicle wraps on a routine, regular basis, they can get into trouble here.” C.P. Richards Signs used their HP570 Latex to print out these wrap graphics onto 3M IJ180mC-10 vinyl. They use this printer for about 90 percent of their wraps. “If there are some really strict color guidelines, we will use our Epson 80600 ten-color printer,” says Higgins. For lamination, CPR Signs used 3M 8518 Gloss laminate. “We have an AGL heat-assisted laminator for lamination,” says Higgins. “For the stuff that we contour-cut, we used a Graphtec FC9000-160.” Higgins says his shop follows a pretty set procedure when in comes to vehicles brought to them for wrapping—no customer is different. “We tell everybody the vehicle has to be clean,” he says. “It

Sign Builder Illustrated

May 2021

doesn’t need to be detailed, as I don’t want wax on it. It just needs not to be covered in dirt, dust, mud, etc.” The reason for this is related to efficiency. “I tell our customers if they bring the vehicle to us dirty, then it’s going to be an additional fee,” he says. “Using air hoses to blow off dirt can take an hourand-a-half or two hours. You have to go into every seam, every crevice, and every crack. And we’re honest with customers—we already have two people working two to three hours just getting it ready after it’s been cleaned the proper way.” Higgins always tries to get vehicles needing a wrap dropped off the day prior. “That way, it sits inside in our temperature-controlled installation bay when it’s clean, and we let it air dry,” he says. Following Higgins’ preparation instructions, Viva Rescue removed all the stickers and decals from the trailer and gave it a good washing. “Because we are on a horse ranch, there is a lot of dirt everywhere,” says Benperlas, noting they immediately took it to CPR Signs upon finishing this. The Viva Rescue horse trailer wrap is not a full wrap; think of it more as spot graphics. C.P. Richards Signs installed the vinyl panels to the front, the rear, and both sides of the trailer. CPR Signs used 3M gold squeegees, Bernzomatic torches, and Steinel heat guns for vinyl application, as well as signshop.com

various worker-preferred wrap gloves (Avery, Ghost, Geek Wraps, etc.). They also used various X-Acto® (NT) cutters. “I prefer the NT yellow cartridge cutter, while some of my installers prefer the NT ‘red dots’—whatever works for them and works best. I like the cartridge ones. You can have five blades in it and you don’t have to stop when one breaks off. “With the red dots, you go through that one blade and then you have to stop, change it out, and put a new blade in.” It took two days for CPR Signs to wrap the trailer. Higgins says it could have been finished sooner but Viva Rescue hired a videographer to document the stages of the install for a promotional video. Still Benperlas ended up being amazed at how fast CPR Signs wrapped the trailer. “We thought it was going to take a week,” she says. The new wrap is heavy-duty and promises to withstand the ranch life and the contaminants in the Southern California air. “Vinyl on horizontal surfaces

can take a beating,” says Higgins. “UV rays and contaminants can float around and get stuck to the wrap, causing it to discolor and eat the vinyl.” As far as maintenance of the trailer wrap, Higgins advised Viva Rescue to not wash it for a week or two and to let it sit in during this timeframe. Higgins says that he gives all his wrap customers a 3M Wrap Care bulletin that contains advice for caring for the vehicle graphics, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions. “3M warranties the film, and we warranty the installation for the life

For more information about Viva Rescue: Web: Vivaglobalrescue.org

Instagram: @vivaglobalrescue

Facebook: @vivaglobalrescue

Patreon: Patreon.com/VivaRescue

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of the film,” he says. Everyone loves the new trailer wrap. “We’ve gotten such an increase in calls,” says Benperlas. “It’s just amazing to know the trailer is really serving as a mobile advertisement for us and is really reaching that many people. A lot of people tell us, ‘That’s so cool,’ and since it’s a permanent mobile advertisement for an animal rescue, we think so too. It’s just driving it around and getting the word out about what we do and the services that we offer. “A wrap is an incredible investment for any business or organization.”

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COMPANIES IN SIGN SHOW 14

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions

www.graphics.averydennison.com

Canon U.S.A., Inc.

www.usa.canon.com

Daktronics

www.daktronics.com

Elliott Equipment Co.

www.elliottequip.com

Epson

www.proimaging.epson.com

Gerber Technology

www.gerbertechnology.com

Mactac

www.mactac.com

Roland DGA

www.rolanddga.com

SA International

www.thinksai.com

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1/22/21 9:32 AM

May 2021

Sign Builder Illustrated

SHOP TALK YESCO OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH | BY VANESSA THILL

YESCO installs new signs for the city of Mesa, Arizona.

ESCO (yesco.com) is a company based out of Salt Lake City, Utah that specializes in the manufacture of custom electric signs, sign maintenance, and out-of-home advertising. In addition, YESCO operates sign and lighting service repair stores located throughout North America as well as a sign financing business. A little bit of history for you about YESCO: Thomas Young founded the company in Ogden, Utah, in 1920 after borrowing $300 from his father. YESCO began by offering wall painted advertisements, gold-leaf window lettering, and coffin plates. Today, helmed by the second, third, and fourth generations of the founder’s family, YESCO creates, services, and maintains award-winning displays for

some of the most prestigious brands. Recently the company completed the design, fabrication and installation of new signs for the City of Mesa, Arizona; Falcon District; and Falcon Field Airport. The Falcon Field District boasts plenty of market leaders in the aerospace, defense, and aviation fields (such as The Boenig Company, CAE Oxford, Marsch Aviation, MD Helicopters, Valkyrie Aero, and Van Horn Aviation, to name a few) and is anchored by the Falcon Field Airport and encompasses more than thirty-five-square-miles of retail, commercial, and industrial parks, as well as residential neighborhoods. “The city wanted to promote the area for its aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and technology companies and to attract new companies to the

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 1407, Cedar Rapids, IA. 52406-1407. 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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Photo: YESCO.

Monumental Completions

area,” explained Kelly G. Chipman, custom account executive at YESCO. A three-year-long project from start to finish, YESCO completed signage for the City of Mesa’s Falcon District, including three new 14-feet-by-6-inch center median pylon signs located on Recker, Greenfield, and Higley Roads south of the 202 highway. They also wrapped traffic signal boxes with vinyl graphics and light pole banners. Also completed were Falcon Field Airport directional signs, a multi-dimensional curved spire display with the airport name, pole-mounted directional signage, and an eighteen-foot high electronic message center pylon sign with a high-contrast, superiorquality 8mm Daktronics EMC display. (Note: To view photos of these new signs, visit https://bit.ly/3mWLcm2.) The Falcon Field Airport monument sign was installed on the northwest corner of McKellips Road and Falcon Drive. The monument sign is a part of the planned Airport Historic Zone improvements that also include the historic photo wraps on some of the City-owned hangars and the air traffic control tower as well as the wayfinding signs. At night, the sign will be illuminated for easy visibility. In order for the candy blue finish of the three monolith signs to be vibrant for years to come under the Arizona sun, YESCO used the best, high-end, automotive clear coat paint. The Falcon District includes three new YESCO center median displays, twelve signal box wraps, and fifty light pole banners. It took YESCO 1,024 man-hours to complete the Falcon District project. Meanwhile it took 2,177 man-hours for them to complete the Falcon Field directional, corner display, and EMC sign project.

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