Vehicle Graphics| 3 Easy Steps For Un-wrapping Your Vehicle Wrap!
August 5, 2011
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Perhaps your formerly wrapped company delivery vehicle reflects branding from the past and needs to be updated, or maybe the vehicle in question is being put out to pasture to serve as this summers’ family cargo van. Either way, the vehicle wrap needs to be removed and you as a business owner have heard terrible stories about the wrap removable process and possible damage to the paint job underneath the vehicle wrap vinyl. Be assured that in most situations the paint below the vinyl will be just fine even though there are a few exceptions. The good news is that if the paint had cured a minimum of 3 weeks prior to having the vinyl wrap installed, the paint below will have been preserved from the elements by the vinyl covering.
One of the other exceptions would be removing a specialty vinyl like Carbon Fiber which requires special bonding materials, that when applied, will adhere to the car’s paint and will not remove cleanly from the vehicle.
1. The removal process involves applying just the right amount of heat using a blow torch. Too much heat and you have a bubbling vinyl mess, too little and you have vinyl that will not release. The lesson here is to use an experienced sign company with qualified installers/de-installers.
2. Once the large sections of vinyl have been removed the smaller more stubborn ones are tackled. Depending on how long the vinyl has remained on the vehicle and been exposed to weather extremes, like baking in the outdoor sun which creates brittle and flaking vinyl, removing the smaller sections may take some time.
3. The sticky adhesive residue does not come off with just soap and water, so we will wipe the vehicle down with powerful chemical that will leave your vehicle free of this otherwise guppy mess.
If you’re considering removing, updating or creating a new vehicle wrap, give the folks at SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000. We give you our expert advice and ensure that your vehicle wrap or removal is handled with the utmost care!
Vehicle Graphics| Food Service & Delivery Makes a Tasty Match
July 27, 2011
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Some industries have a unique advertising opportunity when it comes to using vehicle wraps to advertise their wares. This is certainly true of the restaurant and/or food service trades! Could there be a better way to advertise than employing a drivable billboard plastered with pictures of delicious and delectable treats, especially during lunchtime or when folks are headed home with “what’s for dinner” at the forefront of their minds? The more I think about it the more I think that this form of advertising including the barbequed ribs pictured in the above vehicle wrap, may well be the perfect match for car wraps and fleet graphics.
Fortunately food represents a product that is visually enticing which means a giant hamburger, sandwich or giant sundae pictured on the side of a vehicle can have an immediate impact on a passing driver, especially if they’re hungry. So why not get those stomachs rumbling by having your most popular food treats pictured on your work and delivery trucks? The brand exposure is great for business! Parking strategically at local events and festivals allows you to get even more brand exposure for your business. And, if you find your business is tucked away (or harder to find than you would like) why not park the vehicle on the closest busy street with your phone number very clearly visible so prospects can call for directions.
If you’re a restaurant owner, caterer or bakery, or in the food service and delivery trades, you may be missing out on a great advertising opportunity by not integrating vehicle graphics into your marketing and advertising strategy. Call SignWorks today at (510) 357-2000 and we will work with you on ways to maximize exposure for your tasty treats!
Vehicle Graphics|Making it Memorable, Keeping it Relevant!
June 23, 2011
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When you’re working with a designer to create your vehicle or fleet graphics you will want to create an attention grabbing design that will catch the eye of potential customers. By using photo’s that are relevant to your business you can tell a story about your products and services that may be hard for your customers to resist.
Take for example a restaurant or food specialty company. Is there a better way to advertise than having pictures of sumptuously prepared foods integrated into the graphics on the side of your wrapped vehicle? This way hungry passerby’s sitting in traffic will definitely be thinking, pizza, french-fries or other menu items, as your delivery vehicle rolls by. It stimulates the appetite and inspires potential customers to jot down the delivery phone number.
The same is true of the local plumber or electrician who place photographically relevant information on their vehicles. Pictures of cool looking faucets or light fixtures speak volumes about the product and service offering. The same is true for contractors, handy-men, and landscapers who can take pictures of their latest project and use the visual to provide illustrations of their work. This allows potential clients who are considering a similar project to immediately identify resources for an upcoming project.
Regardless of the industry you are in pictures will help you tell your story. Florists can use big beautiful bouquets, or long stem roses and the like to communicate the product offering. Pet sitters and animal care providers might think about using puppies and kittens, since these have universal appeal and are down-right cute! Use pictures so your prospects know who you are and what you do. And, if you need our help to come up with the right visual, just give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000.
Vehicle Graphics| A Wrap Well Done!
June 14, 2011
We just concluded a vehicle wrap for a St. Louis Ad Agency, called Switch: Liberate Your Brand. The client has a fleet of Ford Transit Connects in multiple locations and had had a bad experience with a sign company that had used lots of relief cuts when installing the roof graphics. This is particularly problematic on a channeled roof because the water can sit and puddle after a rainy period, hence the water and dirt accumulation will make it virtually impossible to avoid lifting if relief cuts are present.
Our certified installer chose to take this challenge to whole new level and worked the roof vinyl as a solid piece instead. This approach, though more tedious to install, affords the client peace of mind regarding the roof section which is now less susceptible to the effects of rain and dirt. We hope you will agree that the job looks great based on the pictures posted here.
If you need a top of the line certified installer capable of working on cars, buses, trains and other more challenging wrap installations, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000. You’ll be pleased with the results!
Vehicle Graphics| Ford Transit Wrap In Progress
June 9, 2011
I’m always amazed by the artistry of wrap installers and though I might appear to be bragging I’m proud to say that SignWorks is affiliated with one of the industry’s’ very best. When the Advertising agency Switch: Liberate Your Brand (located across the country in St. Louis) was looking for a signage company to do a vehicle wrap installation for one of their clients in San Leandro, we were pleased to have gotten the call. The wrap itself is bright and colorful and we were pleased that the material selection was 3M Controltac vinyl and over-laminate. The material is conformable and extremely easy to work with, so our installer was very pleased. Recently he had been forced to work with an off brand vinyl material of very poor quality which made his work far more difficult and time consuming.
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So far we are half way through the project having cleaned the entire surface with alcohol to remove dirt and debris. We’ve removed all the vehicle emblems and those accessory items that get in the way, like windshield wipers, etc. We completed the bumper and hood first, as these are the curviest parts of the vehicle that take the most time. We’ll keep you posted on our progress and will post more pictures when we’re done.
Whether you own a single vehicle or an expansive fleet, please call SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 if you are contemplating a vehicle wrap. We pride ourselves on doing excellent work!
Vehicle Graphics| Window Perforation Basics
June 2, 2011
Recently we were approached by a client who continues to have issues with their fleet graphics due to the peeling and curling of the window perforation material used as part of their fleet graphic design by another sign company. Over the years the window perforation has been lifting and curling and our client’s response has been to trim away those portions of the material that has curled or peeled away. This means that parts or sections of their graphics are incomplete and some of the vehicles no longer have the design integrity that was initially intended.
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Deciding to extend your graphic image into the window areas of your vehicle or fleet is a personal decision so it’s important to remember that adding an edge sealer as well as trimming a 1/8 inch from the window edge will help to extend the life of the window perforation. Window perforation vinyl does not have the same extended wear characteristics as typical wrap vinyl, so expectations regarding wear life need to be realistic. Also, over laminating window perforation in the same way that the vinyl is over laminated will increase the wear life. Complaints about window perforation include the tendency for poor visibility when it rains and/or the tendency for the windows to fog up which further limits visibility.
We are working with our current client to redesign their graphic in such a way as to float some portions, like logo’s and simple decals, into the window area of the vehicle (instead of full graphics that would require window perforation). This particular strategy will eliminate the need for window perforation entirely since this is the preference of this particular client. We will keep you posted on the results.
Commercial Signage| Kiosk Wrap Project Update
May 17, 2011
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While we often write about vehicle fleet graphics and wraps let’s not forget that a wrap can be applied to many other types of objects, some mobile and others stationary! We were recently approached by a client wanting to wrap a set of tricycle carts used to “pedal” (pardon the pun) their delicious edible products around the Marina area they service. The “Trikes” are part of a culinary concession franchise and we were delighted to be one of the vendors under consideration. There are many mall style carts and moving pods that exemplify just how widespread the use of wrap vinyl is becoming.
Recently we completed a kiosk wrap for a local company that rents movies using a stationary kiosk. While not quite as curvy as a vehicle, the contour cuts for the grill work and delivery/depositary slots for the DVD’s were every bit as challenging. Again, selecting the right vinyl, one that conforms to curvy shapes like wrap vinyl and over laminates from 3M and Avery, is very important. This helps to avoid unnecessary creasing and bubbling and makes for a more professional and finished look. If you have a cart or kiosk wrap project in mind give SignWorks a call at (510)357-2000. We’ll put our wrap skills to work for you!
Vehicle Wraps Get You Noticed!
May 4, 2011
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Vehicle wraps are cost effective, longer lasting and have more visual impact in comparison to billboards and other forms media advertising. The combination of neighborhood driving, commute-time driving, and strategic parking means you can reach more of the population, not just those who happen to drive by a stationary billboard. If you want your company to stand out from the rest of your competitors, then a vehicle wrap is for you. We are proud to say that our new graphic designer designed a vehicle wrap that was noticed by not just local drivers but by the world’s largest vinyl wrap material supplier, “Fellers.” Since Fellers supplies most of the vinyl to many of the vehicle wrap companies throughout the nation, this is a significant accomplishment!With his extensive experience in graphic design we will be able to get your vehicle wrap noticed by, not just your target customer but interested onlookers/potential clients.
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Our experienced designer can guide you throughout the creative process to ensure your vehicle wrap will get noticed. Call SignWorks today at (510) 357-2000 to schedule your free design consultation.
Vehicle Graphics: The Importance of Over Laminate
April 19, 2011
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When it come to printed digital graphics it is essential to protect the print from scratching, fading and the harmful effects of UV rays. The fact that the laminate makes the print slightly thicker by a few millimeters prevents tears and makes the installation a little easier. It is also important not to mix and match laminates. So if you decide to use 3M premium vinyl for the wrap graphics then the matching 3M laminate material should be used. Trying to economize on over laminate material could lead to a mini disaster.At SignWorks all vehicle digital prints are allowed to dry or out-gas for a day or two before they are run through our Royal Sovereign Laminator. We use a “Cold” laminator at room temperature for this process. Be wary of any vendor volunteering to save you money by not over laminating your printed graphics! The result will be a poor quality job that will not hold up well in the elements.
If you are considering a vehicle graphic or wrap project, contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000.
Vehicle Wraps: Understanding Contours and Relief Cuts
March 25, 2011
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When a customer decides to wrap a vehicle whether it is an automobile, SUV or box truck, the complexity of the job will be determined by the complexity and curvature of the vehicle. While a box truck would represent a larger surface area than an automobile, the fact that only the flat sides and back roll-up door of the truck were being wrapped would make this particular job less complex than a smaller but very curvy or contoured vehicle. Big flat areas are much easier to wrap with vinyl than curvy ones!
With large trucks and semi’s it is the cab area that is more complex than the back and sides. This is because of the curvature of the cab area and the complexity of applying wrap vinyl to the grill, bumper and other more complex components of the cab. In the case of the grill many relief cuts will need to be made to ensure the slots of the grill are appropriately covered and match the rest of the truck. Relief cuts are also required where the vinyl needs to conform to any area where there are complex curves or where excess materials need to be cut away and seamed together around a curve.
Regardless of the scale or complexity of your next vehicle or fleet graphics project, consider contacting SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 for timely advice and tips that will make your project more manageable.
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