Small Business Printing Blog

Redz, Redzee, Redz scam, Redzee scam, Redz search engine, Redz.com

2011-03-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

I usually write about all the cool things going on at SignArtEtc.com. Today I want to warn other business owners about a total scam from a company called Redz. I believe the company used to be called Redzee. They advertise themselves as a search engine and their product is sort of cool. Unfortunately, it produces no results.

Here is my actual data...comparing Redz vs. Google pay per click vs. Bing/Yahoo:

Date        Google Pay/Click       Redz                            Bing/Yahoo
                Clicks   $ Revenue      Clicks $ Revenue        Clicks $ Revenue
2/28/11     127           $1262           13           $0                  7            $    0
3/01/11     123           $ 691            20           $0                12            $    0
3/02/11     121           $ 326            15           $0                17            $    0
3/03/11     124           $ 464              7           $0                12            $419
3/04/11     83           $1038         121           $0                14            $481
                 More clicks from Redz than Google PPC???
3/05/11       38           $ 0              203           $0                  5            $    0
               5 times more clicks from Redz than Google PPC.....interesting
3/06/11       53           $ 0                49           $0                11            $    0
3/07/11    127           $ 0                66           $0                10            $    0
3/08/11    110           $1338           12           $0                17            $    0
3/09/11     109           $ 828            33           $0                11            $414
3/10/11     102          $ 271              4           $0                13            $    0
3/11/11       89           $ 0               310          $0                15            $    0
                3 times more clicks from Redz than Google PPC.....wow
3/12/11       28           $ 0                 25          $0                  3            $    0
3/13/11      29           $ 0                 58          $0                  3            $    0
3/14/11    128           $ 318             19          $0                11            $    0
3/15/11    111          $ 0                   9          $0                  8            $414

We have been in business almost 8 years....most of that time on the internet. We are B2B....so our orders and activity is down on the weekends. We are long time users of Google Analytics. Analytics is where this data comes from.

In Total 2/28/2011 - 3/15/2011
Google Pay per Click: 1502 visits, $7078 revenue
Redz : 964 visits, $0 revenue
Bing/Yahoo : 170 visits, $1729 revenue

I hope this helps someone decide to keep their hard earned money and not give it to Redz for no return on your investment. I would guess their red zebra mascot is red because he is embarrassed to be part of a company that gives on-line services such a bad name.

Step and Repeat Banners for Night Clubs and Bars

2011-02-22T02:41:00.000-08:00

The best activity to make your presence be felt by others is none other then events. However, the presence has to be noticeable enough to make it effective. Nevertheless, a huge target market drives to night clubs every night. This gives business an opportunity to advertise their product to them in order to add them in their clientele. This makes the job of marketers a bit tough, since they are going to advertise in a night club. This is not an easy job. Night clubs are made with the purpose of entertainment and people don't give appropriate attention to in-club advertising, unless it is really "catchy". As for the nigh clubs it earns them revenue, as they are being paid by the brand and also using step and repeat banners make their event a red carpet affair.

Step and repeat banners advertise the night club as well. Apart from the company, which is conveying its message to the targeted audience, the night club is earning a good reputation as well. Let's take an example of a recognized brand and a well known night club, the match is excellent and this match allows both of them to leverage their brand equity. However, certain problems pop-in with this opportunity. The more alarming one is about how to grab the attention of the customer who is not there to read the banner, but for other activities regarding entertainment. To solve the problem a little knowledge about the customer's attitude has to be discussed. Customers do not go for something that they are asked to read. However, the brand can make its presence to be felt even in the night club, by giving little to read about and little to see at. The blend is perfect for conveying your message to the targeted audience. This is where the step and repeat banners come in, to help the company in publicizing its product in a night club. And who doesn't like to have their picture taken in front of a step and repeat banner.

This way, the individuals who are present in the night club, would get attracted to the brand readily and this can therefore, turn into massive "Advertising Campaign" for the company. To be at that position brands have to be simple and yet attractive to get the attention of the customer in the night club for a while. This earns the brand a competitive edge over its competitors. To gain that, many night clubs use step and repeat banners for their major events following the same approach.. For this reason night club are using step and repeat banners. The event will drive the public in the club and step and repeat banner will make them notice about the brand. Since major events drive in a huge traffic in the nigh club which makes the communication effective as they are exposed to a larger number of people.

Step and Repeat Banners are provided by Sign Art Etc. We design, print and ship repeat banners for events all over the US.

Red Carpet Backdrops for Proms

2010-06-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

Are you trying to find decorating ideas for your prom? Being on the prom committee isn't an easy task. Everyone expects you to have the best prom ever. That's a lot of pressure. But there's no need to panic. There are all kinds of decorations available now - from red carpet backdrops to movie themed backdrops. You can set any mood for your prom. Here are some ideas that will help set you apart from everybody else.

A Movie Themed Prom - Red Carpet Backdrop

The first idea revolves around movies. What's a movie that all your friends love? It doesn't have to be a current movie. Any popular movie will do. Think about your favorite movie. Perhaps a movie that has inspired you or that is in some ways very meaningful. Run the idea past the other students on the decorating committee.

The next step is to see if you can find a party supply store that might have something to remind you of the movie. If not, you can also always try to create the decorations yourself or search online. The reason why this particular idea is so appealing is because you don't actually have to do all the thinking yourself. You can get inspired by the movie.

Maybe a movie themed prom isn't to your liking. Well, you can use a red carpet backdrop to create a glamorous prom atmosphere. The students will get a kick out of walking the red carpet into their prom. Everyone will be dressed in their very best formal wear. So it will actually look like a big movie premiere.

Most proms have a professional photographer on hand to take pictures. You can position the photographer on the carpet. Students can decide if they want their pictures taken as they walk into the building. You can also have the photographer on the inside to take pictures. If you do, try to find movie props for students to pose in front of.

To be fair, this particular option may end up costing you more in the way of time and money. However, if you're trying to do something different, this is a good option. Most people have traditional proms with traditional decorations, like balloons and streamers. Why not go the extra mile? You'll certainly create a prom you and your classmates will remember.

Sign Art Etc provides dozens of red carpet backdrop each week to clients and customers all over the US. Give them a call or drop them an email and they will help you make your prom ideas come to life.
Email: Info@SignArtEtc.com
Website: www.SignArtEtc.com
Phone: 1-800-799-7436

Step and Repeats for Non Profit Events

2010-04-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

Non profit events are organized either to promote a noble cause or used to serve the societal need of the people. Non profit events are designed in order to communicate the core cause for which that event has taken place. The speaker is the central point serving the purpose of the event, and podium therefore is of great importance. However, the publicity and promotion is equally or sometimes more required in non profits events. Therefore, the marketing efforts in non profit events are always directed to using media options in a way which will optimize their reach using low cost and higher display options.

Mostly events are lingering to high media coverage. Usually print media is in support of non profit events which require still pictures of the speaker, and the event to be displayed in forth coming editions. It creates news for print media by educating and attracts more people, telling them about the happenings of society. Electronic media, because of its high on air charges are not seen promoting unpaid events too often.

In still pictures, background of the picture is of vital importance as it creates the aura and the ambiance in the picture about the event, and issues related to it. Also giving it the meticulous look to the picture by creating the boundary of the picture in which there is usually the information about the event.

Step and repeats usually consist of a large vinyl display attached to an aluminum stand. It has one or several company/organization logos......and the information is printed in the successive forms. It has low cost attached to it, and usually is large enough to cover the camera lens, which captures the speaker. The frame structure provided with the banner provides comparatively a firm base for the banner which allows it to stand still. It is also light in weight.

When it comes to the publicity of any non profit event, as stated earlier, print media becomes the forte to the promotion. Usually still pictures are taken. However, the question is how does step and repeat banner help in promotion? The answer is that step and repeat banners are a great way to promote non profit event, as non profit events in consideration usually have a low marketing budget attached to them. All that it gets is publicity provided by the print media. In step and repeat banners, the logo of the organization; which most often is an NGO in non profit events, or the core purpose of the event is stated in the banner. Now, every time the picture of the speaker is taken: the logo goes along with it. As a result, where ever the picture of the speaker is displayed, whether consciously or not, the company logo is displayed with it. It increases the impact of the advertising message and reduces the promotion cost.

Sign Art Etc is offering creative solutions in the field of step and repeat banners. Our Company offers different sizes of the step and repeat banners according to the clients need. Comparative cost of step and repeat banners is also low which makes it more suitable to the organizations which are organizing events in non profit cadre.

2010-01-30T03:41:00.000-08:00

Step and Repeat Banners

Step and Repeats are a part of the background behind the podium or the speaker or the person being photographed. These banners are made to make the background more attractive and also to communicate the brand logo of the advertiser in subliminal way. Step and repeat banners have the power to transpose any event into the red carpet event by creating an eye-catching ambiance.

Step and repeat banners feature the logo of the company in a tabular or a symmetric form. These banners usually find their place in press conferences or in opening or closing of any media event. The reason for their tremendous popularity is their low cost.

Step and repeat banners are available in a multitude of designs and therefore attract viewers. However, they require a lot of creativity in their fabrication. There are certain variables which set the quality standards for step and repeat banners and you have to keep them in mind while selecting such banners for your organization. One such variable is that these banners have to be in contrast with the clothes of the speaker.Camera lights also have an impact on the quality of step and repeat banners because the reflection in the vinyl or any other material which has been used in the banner will make the banner blurred or unclear.

So, while designing a step and repeat banner, the designer has to take certain aspects in mind. First, he has to define the space and repetition in between the logos according to the event. Second, the designer has to anticipate the expected situations that banner will be used in so he can design them in the most attractive manner so the event will be a success.

Do you need help with your next event? At Sign Art Etc, we design, print and ship Step and Repeat Backdrops all over the US. Let us help you make your next event a success. Check out our website at www.print-art-etc.com/step-and-repeat.html.

2010-01-30T03:26:00.000-08:00

Step and Repeat Banners

Step and Repeats are a part of the background behind the podium or the speaker or the person being photographed. These banners are made to make the background more attractive and also to communicate the brand logo of the advertiser in subliminal way. Step and repeat banners have the power to transpose any event into the red carpet event by creating an eye-catching ambiance.

Step and Repeat banners feature the logo of the company in a tabular or a symmetric form. These banners usually find their place in press conferences or in opening or closing of any media event. The reason for their tremendous popularity is their low cost. Step and repeat banners are available in a multitude of designs and therefore attract viewers towards the speaker. However, they require a lot of creativity in their fabrication. There are certain variables which set the quality standards for step and repeat banners and you have to keep them in mind while selecting such banners for your organization.

One such variable is that these banners have to be in contrast with the clothes of the speaker.Camera lights also have an impact on the quality of step and repeat banners because the reflection in the vinyl or any other material which has been used in the banner will make the banner blurred or unclear.

So, while designing a step and repeat banner, the designer has to take certain aspects in mind. First, he has to define the space and repetition in between the logos according to the event. Second, the designer has to anticipate the expected situations that banner will be used in so he can design them in the most attractive manner.Step and repeat banners are generally available in a standard configuration of 8 ft x 8 ft.

Contact Sign Art Etc at 1-800-799-

Step and Repeat Media Backdrops

2010-01-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Step and Repeat Media Backdrops

Wanting to announce your presence? Using a step and repeat banner will do the job. What is a step and repeat banner? It is a banner that is used as a photographic backdrop. The logos are repeated in a step pattern all over the banner. This means that no matter who is photographed, the company name or logo will always be seen. This is a fairly large banner, whose top will not be seen in photographs. The banner material is usually matte so as to be non glaring. This will ensure that there is no glare in any type of photographs.

You see these step and repeat banners everywhere. If you will think back to any type of public news conference, the backdrop is usually a step and repeat banner. These banners are used almost everywhere that a publicity opportunity presents itself. From the NBA to NASCAR, these banners promote the sports world. In the world of news reporting, the backdrops also can be called a step and repeat wall. This is the same effect and is used for the same purpose. For Hollywood press parties or publicity events, the backdrops are step and repeat as well.

Step and repeat banners and walls are a useful publicity tool for any type of press gathering. This promotes either the business or the event and ensures that the name is gotten out there with little trouble. This is used expressly for the purpose of promotion and it is a tool that is very effective in that effect. When you see any type of press gathering or social gathering, you will more than likely see one or more of these step and repeat banners all over. It is a way to publicize the event or gathering for all to see.

This is a very effective marketing tool to promote a service, event or other type of public relations in order to get the name, product or service out into the public eye, therefore giving them maximum exposure. This is useful when you are trying to promote anything, such as for instance an AIDS charity ball. This is a way to get the name of the event out into the public eye and it just gets better with all the celebrity adding focus to the event. The banners are really hard to miss and make a statement that says this is who or what I am.

Whenever an event needs to really publicize their event, a step and repeat banner will be ordered for the event, with the event or company name prominent on the banner. It will be positioned prominently where everyone can see it and be photographed with it. This just increased the exposure and the publicity will then increase. It is a cost effective way to publicize an event or charity and it will definitely get noticed by the public at large. There is no way to miss the advertisement and adding celebrities or speakers just increases the exposure.

Interested in a step and repeat banner/media backdrop? Check us out at www.print-art-etc.com/step-and-repeat.html We will help make your event memorable and successful.

Using Big Checks for Your Presentations

2010-01-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

How to Use a Big Check in Your Business for Marketing

Business companies donate big checks for many purposes. These events are not given as much consideration as they deserve in marketing aspect. This article points out why and how big checks can be used for marketing and publicity in 12 points.

Steps To Ensure a Successful Event

Make sure you have good-quality, above-the-shoulders photos of all your experts who are likely to be interviewed by the media....have these folks in the big check picture if possible.

Consider asking your photographer to shoot "environmental portraits" of your experts. An architect, for example, might be shown holding several rolled up architect's renderings under her arm. A construction executive can be shown holding a hard hat or other tools of his trade.

Weekly newspapers that don't have big photo staffs would probably welcome these photos. Have these props available in the big check photo.

Have interior and exterior shots of your company available for the media. The interior shots can show people at work.

Submit presentation check photos with news releases about the donation.

Pie charts, bar charts and other graphics can often help readers understand complicated issues such as budgets. Offer to supply information to media outlets so they can create their own graphics to accompany the article they're writing about.

If you're sponsoring an event that doesn't necessarily warrant a story, call the photo desk at your local newspaper and let photographers know what's happening. Let them know that a giant check will be involved.....they are still unusual and help get your photo published.

If a photographer from a newspaper or magazine takes photos at your company, never demand to see the negatives, or dictate what photo they should use with the article, or ask for free copies of prints. The negatives are the property of the media outlet, and the media maintains full control over their use. If you want prints, expect to pay for them. Try to ensure that the photographer gets a photo of the large check exchange.

When sending prints to the media, be sure correct identification is on a sticker on the back of each photo. When sending several photos, slip a piece of paper between each one so the ink from the back of one photo doesn't bleed onto the front of the photo behind it.

Avoid using big clunky photos at your website because they slow down the time it takes a page to load....big check photos on your website show that you care and are active in the community.

In addition to the check passing photo, take a photo that illustrates what the money will be used for.

Make sure you offer all your images as digital photos that the media can access at your website, perhaps in a password protected area that the public can't access.

If you're sponsoring an annual event, take lots of photos yourself and offer them to the media the following year to be used for pre-event publicity. The oversized check photo can be used for many years.

Warnings
Do not discard big checks as just another event. It can help a lot in strengthening your brand name.

http://www.print-art-etc.com/bigchecks.html

Top 5 Best Ways to Use Vinyl Banners

2009-09-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

OK....this isn't as entertaining as a Letterman top 10 list....but it will hopefully give you some ideas on how to use vinyl banners.

It used to be that vinyl banners were only useful as short term replacements for more "professional" looking signs. But the advent of digital printing has meant that vinyl banners can be printed in full color. And they are very inexpensive compared to the alternatives. This means that vinyl banners have a wide range of uses. Here are some of the most popular.

1. Banner Signs - Outdoor Banners
Banner Signs are often used in the place of more rigid signage. Because they are outdoor banners, they are printed on very rugged tear-resistant vinyl. Grommets are applied where necessary for easy hanging. Banner signs can be tied down, or screwed down, and will last for years without tearing or fading. You can also mount your banner sign without grommets by asking for "pole pockets" instead. This way they can be mounted on poles at either the sides or top and bottom. The poles can be part of a mounting bracket arrangement, or, if it is made of wood or plastic, can be screwed directly to a wooden surface (such as a fence).

2. Trade Show Banners
Vinyl banners are ideal for many trade show applications. Since they are lightweight and very flexible, they can be easily rolled and unrolled, and can be used for many years. They make perfect banner backdrops when hung from the appropriate hardware, or can be used as a sign hanging on the front of your display table. Vinyl banners are especially appropriate for trade show applications because they are lightweight and can be easily shipped or transported. They can also be use in other products such as Banner Stands, Retractable Jiffy Rolls, or X-Banners. The printing on digitally printed vinyl banners is bright and colorful, and very durable, because they are made for outdoor use. Trade show banners are printed on a very smooth, soft vinyl material with solvent based inks.

3. Convention Banners, Conference Banners
Every special event can use an Event Banner. These normally function as focal points or as backdrops. A typical event banner is used at a conference or convention where there is a stage or podium. A banner can be hung as a backdrop in order to emphasize the convention theme or display a corporate logo. Event banner backdrops can be any size or shape, varying from your typical horizontal long and narrow shape to a more square backdrop shape. Large backdrop banners can be hung from cords attached to the ceiling either to a curtain rod style pole (using the pole pocket technique) or to a number of grommets in the top of the banner.

4. Event Banners, Birthday Banners, Anniversary Banners
Event banners can be either Indoor or Outdoor Banners. The cost is virtually the same, since only the material is different. In the case of Birthday Banners that are used indoors, the vinyl material is often softer, and less tear-resistant. Even paper will work, although it is much less durable, and not significantly less expensive. Many Event Banners are meant to be hung or mounted outside, like a Sign Banner. For instance many churches use event banners to announce programs like Vacation Bible School, or golf courses to promote a special tournament. These banners are usually printed on a more tear-resistant material, and should include seams and grommets where requested. If you need your banner to last for more than one event it is best to print it with durable outdoor inks to make it scratch, water, and UV resistant.

5. Street Banners or Boulevard Banners
Vinyl banners are perfect for adding atmosphere and identity to streetscapes. Special hardware allows you to hang your banners vertically from utility poles. Pole pockets top and bottom make it easy to put up and take down your banners. Streetscape banners are made more durable and weather-resistant by welding two banners together to make a two-sided banner. And of course solvent inks are essential for this application since streetscape banners are fully exposed to the elements. Be sure your vinyl banners are printed with full color outdoor resistant printing using solvent inks. Because the printing process is a digital one, banner designs can include photographs, logos, and special artwork. You can normally use your own vinyl banner design, or your supplier can create a banner design for you for a small charge.

Sign Art Etc at http://www.signartetc-banners.com/ can assist with any of your banner projects. We design, print and ship banners all over the US. From Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium to VH-1 and ESPN......Microsoft, GM, Congress, WalMart....and many small and medium size businesses.....we have provided banners, big checks, trade show displays and many other signage needs. Give Sign Art Etc a try......we won't let you down.

Vinyl Banner Design Basics

2009-07-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

Vinyl banner design is about as easy as it gets for the non-professional graphic designer. Generally speaking, a vinyl banner is easy to design. Anybody with a little bit of graphic design experience can design a banner. Using a bit of imagination can make a world of difference.

And even if you have no experience, your supplier (for instance, www.signartetc-banners.com) can point you in the right direction, or even design your banner for a small charge.

Here are some things to watch for when designing a vinyl banner...

Vinyl Banner Design Tips # 1. Use software that handles CMYK full color output.

There are at least three kinds of software you can use:

-- Image editors like Photoshop.
-- Page Layout programs like Quarkxpress, Pagemaker, or InDesign.
-- Illustration programs like Illustrator.

Generally speaking, programs that are designed for consumers or general office applications are not recommended: e.g., Word, Wordperfect, Publisher, Excel, etc. If you have a specific inquiry, don't hesitate to ask your vinyl banners supplier. A good source of information is your contact person at SignArtEtc-Banners.com. You can ask a design or production related question by using the contact form on any page on the site.

Vinyl Banner Design Tips # 2. Keep your design simple and striking.

The best designs for vinyl banners contain two or three basic elements. Usually these will be a photograph, a large headline, and an "identifier" such as your company name, logo, or phone number.

Vinyl Banner Design Tips # 3. Use bright colors.

The most striking vinyl banners have lots of bright colors.

Vinyl Banner Design Tips # 4. Design your vinyl banner so it is readable for your target audience.

If it is going on a building or beside a road on a fence, or on an outfield fence at a baseball, soccer or football field, MAKE SURE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE READ.

Vinyl Banner Design Tips # 5. Make sure your images have sufficient resolution.

For some advice on image resolution, see the Vinyl Banners FAQ.

Vinyl Banner Design Tips # 6. Make sure your vinyl banner fits the area where you're going to mount it.

Don't guess at the size. Most people who are not familiar with signage will UNDERESTIMATE the required size.

Get The Most From Your Vinyl Banner

2009-07-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

4 Design Tips For Effective Banner Marketing

By its very nature, a vinyl banner is meant to be like a big flexible poster or billboard. That makes it a piece of advertising, so all the rules and techniques that apply to advertising design should apply to vinyl banners as well.

Rookie Banner Design Mistakes
In the advertising business you see rookie advertisers making the same design "mistakes" over and over again. They think people are going to walk up to their poster, billboard or vinyl banner and examine every detail. So they cram it with lots of product information, a detailed map of how to get to their store, and the phone numbers of all their sales reps.

It comes as a bit of a shock to learn this is not how things work. In fact what happens is this: since we are bombarded with advertising images all day, every day, we do our best to ignore them. Especially the ones with lots of boring details.

It gradually dawns on the budding advertiser that what people DO notice is something striking, different, loud, funny, or shocking. That is why most professional advertising tries to create a distinctively memorable selling feature, and then focus on it with striking images, snappy, memorable slogans, or catchy, sing-able (often loud!) music.

Banner Design Tips # 1. Keep it simple
The first, most important rule of thumb when creating a vinyl banner design is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Stick to two or three main elements that communicate your most important selling points. Identify your product with a striking photo (if you have one), and then define the most important selling features with the other elements: usually a striking headline, and some other "feature" like the price, the amount of discount, or the "free" thing you are giving away.

Banner Design Tips # 2. Use Striking, Colorful Elements -- the "Photo ID Model"
Of course these days we are talking about vinyl banners made with FULL COLOR digital printing. So when creating your vinyl banner design, it is usually safe to use what I call the "Photo ID Model" for digitally printed state-of-the-art vinyl banners. The "Photo ID model" uses four basic elements:

Product photo or photo collage
Main Headline
Product Description
Company Identifier

The Photo ID Model is not the only design style you can use for your vinyl banner, but it gives you a professional looking, highly effective place to start. For a more complete description of this design approach, see my article titled "The Photo ID Advertising Design Model"

Banner Design Tips # 3. Use Color Effectively
Use COLORS to your advantage. Use FULL COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS that contain interesting bright colors. And make your headlines, special offers, and company identifiers jump out by using red, white or yellow on a black background.
This is called the "reverse text" or "knock out" technique. Look at the hundreds of signs you see everyday, and notice how often reverse text is used. The contrast between the light colored text and black (or dark) background gives your text much more graphic impact.

Banner Design Tips # 4. Use Your Imagination. Be Creative!!!
Unfortunately the "Photo ID Model" is so effective -- so obvious -- it is very tempting to use it without thinking much about the IMPACT or CREATIVITY of the various elements. So for instance, a typical vinyl banner or other type of display ad for a fictitious company called "Perk-it-Up Coffee" will often start out like this:

"Perk-it-Up Coffee" (headline)
Photo of can of coffee (photograph)
"Made from the finest coffee beans, blah, blah, blah."
Order yours today from Perky People Coffee, 123 Java Hwy

Notice how this list is just a series of relatively unimaginative "facts" about the product: the product name, what it looks like, how it is made, where you get it. Not terribly inspiring. No clear statement of its most important features. No attempt to "sell" the product.

You can do much better than that! With a little bit of imagination your "Perk-It-Up" vinyl banner could have MUCH MORE IMPACT. For instance, even a fairly uninspired headline like the one above will come to life if you associate it with an interesting photograph.

And I'm not just talking about a picture of the product. Use good looking people if you can. For example, a photo of happy, wide-eyed person holding a "Perk-It-Up" mug looking as though she just had a major java hit. Now even a boring headline like "Perk-It-Up Coffee" means something. And now you can go the next step and be more creative with your headline too!

Keep it simple, make it striking, use color effectively, and be creative. Then your vinyl banners will have the impact you are looking for.

Check out www.signartetc-banners.com if you need help with banner design or just need your banners printed quickly and professionally…….all at a great value.

Sign Design Tips

2009-07-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

Seven Secrets Of Highly Effective Sign Design

There is a "secret recipe" for highly effective sign design. Just one missing ingredient will have a negative effect that can destroy the appearance of an otherwise well designed custom sign.

The good news is, designing visually appealing signs isn't rocket science. Following solid principles graphic designers use to create attractive, high impact custom signage will help you yield the greatest return on your advertising dollars.

Are ALL CAPITAL LETTERS Easier To Read?
What Are The Very Best Letter styles To Use In Signage?
What is "White Space" And How Can You Use It To Enhance Your Design?
When Is Less, More?
How Big Is Big Enough For The Message To Be Readable On A Sign?
What Are The Best Color Combinations To Use?
Should You Use A Border On Your Sign?

Use this information anytime to create a competitive advantage in your sign program. Let's get started.

Secret # 1
Are ALL CAPITAL LETTERS Easier To Read?
There is a misconception that exists that since ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are "bigger" than their lower case counterparts, that they must be easier to read from a distance. However, visual tests have scientifically verified that Upper And Lower Case Text is more legible from a distance than ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS. Since passing motorists may only have 2-3 seconds to read your message, maximize the readability of your custom designed sign by limiting the use of all capital letters.

ALL CAPS do have a place in effective sign design. However, since you know now this secret, you will automatically be mindful if and/or when you choose to use them. When you preview a design for your new sign, stand back from the monitor to get a better idea of what the text will look like from a distance.

Top Secret # 2
What Are The Very Best Letter styles To Use In Signage?
In an attempt to stand out in the crowd, inappropriate type styles are often chosen for signage. "Designer Fonts" may look good on business cards and stationary, but they can greatly diminish the effectiveness of a sign. To make matters worse, fancy type styles are often used completely wrong.

For example, a
on a sign can be difficult enough to read but nobody should ever use ("ALL UPPER CASE SCRIPT") or

In general, clean, crisp, easy-to-read type styles should be used for maximum legibility. Prime distinctive examples include

Variations of the same type style can also be used throughout the design

If you look at what national companies do with their signage, you will notice clear, easy to read text in almost every case.

The second most legible group of type styles includes the serif style of fonts. Serifs are short horizontal lines added to the tops and bottoms of traditional typefaces, such as "Times Square" seen below. Please note the differences below between the block style letter (sans-serif or "without serifs") and the serif style letter.

There are several variations of similar looking serif type styles including

Each letter style has its own unique, defining characteristics. The distinctions from one serif letter style to the next are often subtle.

* As a general rule of thumb, never use more than two different letter styles in a single sign design. Our Online Sign Design Center let's you instantly select, view and revise type styles at will. By playing with different styles and combinations, a distinctive identity will emerge that will project your business image professionally. Top

Secret # 3
What is "White Space" And How Can You Use It To Enhance Your Design?

White space also known as negative space simply refers to the empty area of a design that is devoid of any text or graphics. The empty spaces surrounding text and graphics are just as important as other design considerations. There is a tendency to "fill up" the available area with as much as possible. To leave area unused almost seems counterintuitive because we all want to get the most bang for our buck.

So why is white space so important to create highly effective sign design? Part of the reason is psychological and part of it is physical. Text without adequate white space leaves us feeling crowded and cramped. Text needs room to breathe. When text is crowded, the message becomes too difficult to read.

A general rule of thumb is that around 30% to 40% of the sign's face area should be left as white space for optimal readability. Trust your own judgment. If a design looks too crowded, it probably is.

Secret # 4
When Is Less, More?

This design tip goes hand-in-hand with the effective use of white space.

The most successful sign will communicate effectively and concisely. Therefore, in as few words as possible, clearly communicate the message you wish to convey to your target audience. Crowding the sign with too many words or lines of text makes it increasingly difficult to read from a distance. The number of words used on a sign is a classic example of where, "Less Really Is More".

Once you preview a completed design, stand back and look at it again and try to put yourself in your customers' shoes. What will most appeal to them? Top

Secret # 5
"How Big Is Big Enough For The Message To Be Readable On A Sign?"

Any sign that can't be easily read from the distance intended is virtually worthless. So when in doubt, better to go larger than too small.

The scientific answer though lies in the Letter Visibility Chart originating from a joint research project by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Penn State University and the United States Sign Council.

Unlike a lot of charts that seem confusing at first, this chart is very easy to read and understand at a glance. The beauty of this chart is in it's simplicity of use.

For example, if the farthest point you want your message to be seen from is 100', the Chart indicates that you should use a minimum 3" letter height. However, for "Best Impact", a minimum 10" tall letter is called for. The greater the size, the greater the impact and legibility of the message.

Selecting the right size lettering for your next project is no longer guesswork. Use the following steps to 'reverse engineer" the exact size your sign should be. Working "backwards", you can easily determine the optimal letter height for your signage. This will require a little bit of your time and effort but isn't your business worth it?

Start with the most distant point you want your audience to be able to read the sign
It's best not to guess so buy a cheap tape measure so you can accurately measure the distance
Once you know the viewable distance, decide exactly what you want the sign to say
As a rule of thumb, a 6" tall letter will take up around 6" in width. So if your line of text has 10 character spaces, you will need a sign at least 60" plus in width. Remember to include enough white space around text and graphics when deciding upon the final size of the sign itself.
If your sign has more than one line of text, add all of the vertical heights of the lines of text and add about a third more to that number for the height of the sign. For example, if all the lines of text add up to 12" tall, add about a third or 4" to make the overall height of the sign about 16". Adjust as needed to make the layout look balanced.

Speed is another factor that should be considered for signage visible from the street. The following chart outlines the feet traveled per second at different speeds. This is a supplemental tool you can use to help choose the optimal size for your custom signage.

Use the data in this table combined with the Letter Visibility Chart above to determine the amount of time potential customers will have to read a sign while driving.

For example, an 8" letter is has a maximum readable distance of 350'. If a vehicle is traveling at 45 mph, then divide 350 feet by 66' feet per second (FPS) to determine that a driver will have a maximum of 5.3 seconds to read the sign until they pass it.

You now possess the secrets to optimizing letter sizes that will be easily read by your target audience. Top

Secret # 6
"What Are The Best Color Combinations To Use?"

The effective use of color is vital to the effectiveness of a sign. So how exactly, do you use color "effectively", right?

The key is contrast. So what exactly is contrast? Contrast is the difference in brightness between the light and dark areas present in a single design. A bright yellow background for example, will contrast well with dark letters such as black, a dark shade of blue and even purple. The greater the contrast or difference between the light and the dark colors, the more legible text is from a distance. Colors that are closer together like a medium gray letter against a black background won't contrast as well and therefore will be more difficult to read.

Contrast:
Take a look to your left. Which of the two looks larger... the white one? They are both the same size. The use of a light colored letter against a dark background lends to it seeming larger. Light letters tend to come at you, where dark tend to recede.

Generally speaking, white as a background color is by far the most versatile because more colors naturally contrast better against a neutral white background than any other single color. When you choose a different background color for a custom sign other than white, you limit your choices for colors that will both stand out and "go with" that background color. That's not a good thing or a bad thing - it's just something to keep in mind when making color selections.

Comparing Visibility Of Different Color Combinations

These 14 color combinations for lettering were tested for readability at a distance. The test were carried out on different groups under the sponsorship of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). The results ranked in the sequence shown, with #1 the most legible and #14 as the least legible. Negative letters in 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 appear to be larger in appearance than their positive counterparts.

Color Combination Effects
Contrast Solutions

Weak color contrasts can be strengthened with an outline and/or drop shadow.

Colors create a mood, a perception, a feeling and speak very loud to our subconscious generating either a positive or a negative reaction within seconds. Consider the psychological characteristics of color when making your selections.

BLACK suggests authority, power, boldness, seriousness, professionalism, is distinguishing and classic. Business wise, it's great for creating drama and is good for a background color. It is ideal for text on a light background.

BLUE suggests security, authority, faithfulness and dignity. For business it suggests sanctuary and fiscal responsibility. It is the most popular and the second most powerful color. Blue can also be cold. People are more productive in blue rooms.

BROWN suggests richness, politeness, helpfulness and effectiveness. In business it suggests less important items. Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather.

GRAY suggests authority, practicality, earnestness and creativity. Business wise it is traditional and conservative.

GREEN suggests health, fertility, freedom, freshness, healing, tranquility and jealousy. Businesses use it to communicate status and wealth. It is the easiest color on
the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing color.

ORANGE suggests pleasure, cool, excitement, cheer, endurance, strength and ambition. For business it is good for highlighting information on charts and graphs.

PINK suggests femininity, gentleness, well being and innocence. For business you must be aware of it's feminine links and implications.

PURPLE suggests spirituality, royalty, luxury, wealth, sophistication, authority and mournfulness. In business it is upscale and works with artistic types. It is also
feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.

RED suggests excitement, strength, sex, passion, vitality, aggressiveness and commands attention. Business wise it's associated with debt, is great for boldness and accents. The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing.

WHITE suggests refinement, purity, devotion, contemporary and truthfulness. For business it can be sterile and refreshing.

YELLOW suggests warmth, sunshine, cheer, happiness, jealousy, deceit and cowardice. Business-wise it appeals to the intellectual types and is a good accent. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused.

People respond more to non-verbal cues than verbal ones. Make sure you use the psychology of colors in all your marketing, especially when you can't be face to face.

Secret # 7
Should You Use A Border On Your Sign?

Adding a border increases reading speed by 26%. Borders are often recommended whenever automobile traffic is the intended audience.

With forethought and careful deliberation, present the image you want to project that will attract customers and entice them to stop, shop, and buy. For example, full-color photo-realistic digital pictures can be incorporated into designs to add greater impact. Logos, artwork and other graphical elements can also be added to visually stimulate the viewer towards the desired action.

Actively participating in the final design of your sign is an ideal opportunity to make the best first impression possible. Put your best foot forward. Nobody else knows your business and objectives better than you do. Nobody cares nearly as much about your success as you do. You are the architect of you business. Plan well.

If you choose to use www.signartetc-banners.com - our own graphic designers will provide a professional review of your sign design and offer suggestions.

10 Tips For Advertising With Vinyl Banners

2009-06-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

Vinyl Banners are a simple cost effective way to promote your business. Read more to find out how to make the most of banner advertising.

1. What will your banner be used for?
Banner advertising is very versatile and can be used inside, such as in shops, offices or museums; outside shops, restaurants and on buildings; for exhibitions and trade shows and at sporting events and concerts. Outside banners need to be more durable and weather resistant than indoor ones.

2. What is the aim of your banner?
Your banner can be used to advertise many different aspects of your business. What about promoting a sale, the opening of your new business, increased opening hours at yourshop or café, a new product range or new season stock in your shop; a live band playing at your pub; the fact that you now serve food in your museum, or are launching a new product at a trade show?

3. What needs to be on your banner?
Depending on the aim of your banner, you may need to include the message, phone number, website address, corporate slogan and logo. Or you may only need basic information such as Sale Now On, Car Park Next Left, Under New Management, or Now Open Longer.

The banner will need to contain just enough information to convey your intended message. Too much information and people will be put off, and if there's not enough information people will ignore it or not know what to do.

4. How big does your banner need to be?
If your banner is too small it won't be easy to read. If it's too big it might be overpowering. Consider the amount of space that the banner will take up, and measure carefully.

5. What shape does your banner need to be?
The shape will depend on where the banner is going. Long and thin banners work well for down buildings such as a pub or restaurant, whilst short and wide are ideal for above a shop, and perhaps you want square banner for a concert or sporting event.

6. Who will design your banner?
If you are a creative type of person, you could design a custom vinyl banner yourself, and it will be cheaper than employing a designer to do it for you. Using an experienced designer will ensure that your banner will be appropriate for printing, and will be more professional than using clip art and a compromised font, from a word processing package.

7. Are the images clear and obvious?
Images and artwork that look clear on a piece of paper may not be as obvious once the artwork has been turned into a banner. Are there too many colours or not enough?

8. Is your banner easy to read?
Will somebody driving past be able to tell what you are promoting and know what to do? Can someone remember the website address or phone number? Will somebody walking past be able to as well? That font might look good to you, but is it easy for your intended customers to read.

9. Are there too many colors on your banner?
Whilst you may be tempted to make use of all the colors available to get even better value for money, your banner will be easier to read if you keep the colors simple.

10. How will your banner be attached?
Often overlooked, how the banner will be attached is arguably just as important as the design of the banner. The popular choice is to use metal eyes so that rope or elastic cord can be used to easily hang the banner. Internal banners will not be subjected to wind and movement the same way that external banners will be. If you are able to use existing railings, or shop fixtures to hang your banner on, you can then decide which method of attaching will be best. Perhaps you will need to use additional fixing methods, or make alterations to the building structure.

Want to advertise your business to passing traffic? Need to let people know your restaurant is open longer? Want to tell people you've got a sale on? Then use banner advertising and let your customers know. Get a vinyl banner printed today.

Church Banners

2009-06-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

Bulletin boards are a good venue to post church news, announcements, reports and updates. But not all people read bulletin boards. They may be cluttered and contain a lot of old news mixed in with the news. Sometimes, important notices are overlooked or don’t get the attention they need.

When you have to announce something very important, do it with a banner posted on the church’s façade to everyone to see. As church announcements are relatively simple, a banner wouldn’t cost much. Parishioners will learn more about your activities and are more likely to participate.

For special occasions, like a Christmas play, anniversary or a visit from a senior church official; spread the feeling of welcome and joy by hanging a colorful, announcement banner. You can have one done on vinyl in full colors, attractive images and catchy text. A Banner will add a touch of professionalism to any church announcement you may have.

Church banners can carry photo quality images and backgrounds that attract and bring attention to your church project. You can have it designed in such a way that drivers and pedestrians will see it across the street. They are the perfect welcoming sight for your important guests, as they do convey hospitality and warmth. A vinyl banner is waterproof, fade resistant and will last a long time. You can use it for church signage as well. You can print church schedules and list weekly or monthly activities. Better informed parishioners can and will contribute to your cause.

Full Color Vinyl Banners

2009-06-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Most of us know what a "banner" is -- not the kind used in web pages -- but the kind used as signs on the sides of buildings, on fences, or across the stage at conferences. Roughly speaking, a banner is a large flexible sign or poster made of a durable material that can be easily folded or rolled. We are used to seeing banners strung across the road at fall fair time, or to promote a worthy cause.

In recent years banners or "banner signs" have become much more versatile than even five or six years ago. Banner signs are now used in all kinds of places where we used to see more permanent signs. Instead of a sign made of wood or aluminum, we now often see a vinyl banner sign that serves the purpose very adequately.

These days, the most common material used to make outdoor banners is smooth, good looking but durable vinyl. A banner printed on vinyl will stand up to the sun and rain for a number of years, so vinyl banners are often used in places where a quick, low cost alternative is needed.

Sometimes vinyl banners serve as a temporary substitute for a more permanent sign which will come later. Other times where the site is only temporary -- such as a construction site, or a special event like a family reunion -- a full color custom vinyl banner is the only sign that will ever be used.

The great advantage of banners is that they are made of flexible and lightweight material. That means a vinyl banner can be rolled up or folded when it is time to take it down or move it to a new location. They are also relatively inexpensive when compared to the alternatives.

What has made vinyl banners so versatile is that they can now be printed digitally in beautiful full color. Printing vinyl banners used to be a fairly crude and laborious process, but the "digital revolution" changed all that. Special printing machines can now print directly onto vinyl that can be used either indoors or outdoors.

The design and printing process is actually quite simple -- as long as you know something about digital printing. Banner designs can include photographs, artwork, fancy backgrounds, company logos. In other words, any graphic image that can be captured in a computer file can be printed on a vinyl banner.

All suppliers do not use the same process

The best place to find a source for vinyl banners is on the internet. A small number of companies specialize in providing low cost, fast-turn-around vinyl banners. A specialty vinyl banner company has mastered the details of banner printing and prints hundreds or even thousands of them every month. They can usually offer the lowest price and fastest delivery too.

But not all vinyl banner suppliers use the same process or the same equipment. Some use silk screening, while others use low end ink jet printers. The best suppliers use higher end UV ink printers. It is important to know the difference between these processes, and often you cannot tell by looking at the descriptions provided to you on supplier websites.

Silk screening has adapted some digital capabilities, but when it comes to the actual printing, it is still an older "low tech" process. It remains an important method of printing certain things that cannot be done "digitally" -- for instance, for printing on unusual materials, or wherever special inks are required. But setup costs are normally higher, turn-around times are longer and printing smaller quantities is often not feasible.

Lower end ink jet printers are sometimes used to print on vinyl. But the bottom line is that these inks are meant for indoor applications and short term outdoor use. They are more quickly faded by UV from the sun, and are also susceptible to scratching and water damage.
When ordering a vinyl banner for outdoor use, or one that you want to last a couple of years without fading, be sure to go with a true UV ink process.

Marketing with Vinyl Banners

2009-06-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

One way to make your outdoor advertising efforts successful is to choose vinyl banners. Vinyl banners are relatively easy to design and will have a big impression on the viewer if you follow some of the basic design rules. All you need to have is a little imagination and some basic design skills, and you can create a banner that inspires.

Software Matters

If you will be designing the vinyl banner on your own computer, then make sure that you choose a program that does CMYK full color output, not your average office application. This way, you can guarantee that your final product has the design that you are picturing. Most professional printers will use CMYK full color output, so if you have a specific question about the colors, you can talk to your supplier. They may even be able to send out color samples to make your decision process easier.

Keep it Simple

For some people, the larger canvas of a vinyl banner is an invitation to cram in as much information as possible. However, a simple and striking design is much more effective. Stick with two or three basic elements. Generally, these will be a photograph or graphic, a headline, and your company's name, logo or contact information.

Be Bold

Keep in mind that vinyl banners are designed to be viewed from a distance. Because of this, bold and bright colors are much more effective than muted colors or pastels.

Can You Read It?

Vinyl banners are often hung up high or in such a way that they must be read from a distance. Because of this, you should be careful with your font style and size. Make sure that the lettering is large enough to be read from a distance, and avoid difficult script fonts that can be hard to read.

Higher Resolution is Better

While a low resolution image may work fine on smaller items like business cards and brochures, you need a high quality, high resolution image for banners. Remember, the bigger you blow up a picture, the more obvious imperfections are. A low resolution image will look distorted and fuzzy the bigger it gets.

Know the Size You Need

If you are accustomed to working with smaller mediums, it can be very easy to underestimate the size of the vinyl banners. Measure twice and order once - never guess at the size you will need as 99% of the time you will be wrong.

Consider Other Methods of Hanging

If you are going to be hanging your banner on a wall or a fence, then grommets are often the best way to go. However, pole pockets are easier to use and allow for a variety of display options. Contact your banner printer to see what styles of mounting are available and which ones will best meet your needs.

Vinyl banners can advertise your store, your event, your show, or any number of things. Creating an eye-catching vinyl banner is an essential part of making these marketing endeavors more effective.

Retractable Banner Stands

2009-06-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

Banner Stands are an attractive and convenient way to showcase products and messages to a target audience. They are usually portable and flexible structures and carry attractive graphics.

One of the popular types of banner stands is the retractable banner stand. Easy to use, retractable banner stands work like a window blind- simply slide up the graphic over a pole and secure it. Retractable banner stands are also called roll up banners.

These banner stands are ideal for trade show displays. Because the printed graphic is stored inside the base, assembling and re-assembling is easy and takes little time. Retractable banner stands take about a minute to set up. All that is required is extending the pole and raising the banner.

Retractable banner stands also protect the printed graphic during transportation as it is secured at the base. Retractable stands like roll up stands exhibit displays and pop-up displays are ideal for exhibitions and trade shows.

There are two types of indoor banner stands – pole and retractable. Of these, the retractable banner stand is the most popular. It is has many advantages. For one, it is easy to use and does not require any training. It does not require any tools to set up. It does not have any bits to loose. The best feature about it is that the graphics are protected in a cassette. However, retractable stands are more expensive than the ordinary pole type. They are heavier than other banner stands. It is also difficult to change the graphics.

Budget roller or retractable banners range from $150 - $300. Banner stand prices include the printing of the full color graphic using digital artwork used by the company.

Retractable banners are a wise choice for exhibitions, trade shows, etc. as they are easy to assemble and costly graphics are protected. They can be setup for a show in a matter of minutes and taken apart and reassembled for the next show.

Options: Vinyl Banners

2009-06-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

Generally speaking, a vinyl banner is easy to design. Anybody with a little bit of graphic design experience can design a vinyl banner. And even if you have no experience, your supplier can point you in the right direction, or even design your banner for a small charge.
Here are some things to watch for when designing a vinyl banner...
1. Use software that handles CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) full color output. There are at least three kinds of software you can use:

- Image editors like Photoshop, PhotoPaint, or PhotoImpact
- Page Layout programs like Quarkxpress, Pagemaker, or InDesign
- Illustration programs like Illustrator or CorelDraw

Generally speaking, programs that are designed for consumers or general office applications are not recommended: e.g., Word, Wordperfect, Publisher, Excel, etc. If you have a specific inquiry, don't hesitate to ask your vinyl banners supplier. A good source of information is your contact person at SignArtEtc-Banners.com.

2. Keep your design simple and striking. The best designs contain two or three basic elements. Usually these will be a photograph, a large headline, and an "identifier" such as your company name, logo, or phone number.

3. Use bright colors. The most striking vinyl banners have lots of bright colors.

4. Design your vinyl banner so it is readable for your target audience. If it is going on a building or beside a road on a fence, or on an outfield fence at a baseball or soccer field, MAKE SURE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE READ.

5. Make sure your images have sufficient resolution. For some advice on image resolution, see the Vinyl Banners FAQ.

6. Make sure your vinyl banner fits the area where you're going to mount it. Don't guess at the size. Most people who are not familiar with signage will UNDERESTIMATE the required size.

7. Consider alternative methods of mounting your vinyl banner. Grommets are the "default" method of mounting a banner on a wall or fence. But often "pole pockets" are simpler and more efficient.

Lynn Lee, Photographer, Goes To Sign Art Etc To Make Her Images 'POP'

2009-06-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

Marketing with Signs & Graphics

What's New, Cool Project of the Month and Sign Art's Sign Tips & Tools.

Teamwork.....Creativity......Reliability.
Every Time.
Our clients tell us they really like our team approach, our creative solutions and our ability to complete their project on time and within budget. They've said we are the best team in the business. Period.

In many instances, our clients have been disappointed with other sign suppliers. They found the end result wasn't what they expected in terms of quality or delivery or that the entire experience was not handled in a professional manner. The only surprise with Sign Art Etc is how easy it is to work with our team. Let us make you a hero.....

Words of Wisdom...
"I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
- Christopher Reeve

COOL PROJECTS OF THE MONTH....

Lynn Lee is one of the area's top photographers. She needed several of her pictures printed out 48" tall and mounted on a solid backer to be used as display graphics. Sign Art Etc was able to take her beautiful images and print them to the large size with great color and detail. Lynn was pleased and we like the results so well we have one in our showroom.

If you need a photographer to create a work of art for you....give Lynn Lee a call. If you need a photograph or digital image printed to poster size or larger...give the Sign Art team a call at (765-449-1884). PS....I liked Lynn's work so much that she photographed my wedding.
_____

Crestview North is one of the "class" apartment complexes in the area. When they wanted a new look for their signage, they teamed with Sign Art through the design and manufacturing process. A new shape, new colors....and another successful project. Don't let the picture fool you, the sign is 10 feet wide. With the addition of lights and landscaping, Crestview has a new West side landmark....day or night. We can do the same for you.

Banners, Electrical Signs, Commercial Developments, Trade Show Displays, Big Checks, Interior/Exterior Signage....you name it, we can do it.

Sign Art Etc has North Central Indiana's LARGEST sign and graphics showroom. Stop by & let the Sign Art team turn your ideas into reality.

Watch for your project in upcoming newsletters. If you are interested in Large Format Graphics and Displays, Interior or Exterior signage or any other cool or unusual project, check out our website at www.signartetc.com or email us at info@signartetc.com

TEAMWORK.....
CREATIVITY.....
RELIABILITY.
EVERY TIME.

In terms of pure cost effectiveness, signs provide remarkable values! When evaluated as part of an overall marketing media mix, signs at the point of sale consistently deliver more market coverage for a lower cost than any other form of advertising - by a wide margin. As the chart indicates, signs not only provide an astoundingly low cost per thousand exposures, but also do so at the very point of sale, where people impressed by the graphic message can respond to it instantly in terms of a purchasing decision.

For More Free Tips and Information, Stop by our Showroom at 3861 State Road 26 East -Suite C (International Sports Complex) for your free literature.

Sign Art Etc Comes Through For Monkey Joe's

2009-06-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

Marketing with Signs & Graphics

What's New, Cool Project of the Month and Sign Art's Sign Tips & Tools.

Let us make your next project a winner....
Email us at info@signartetc.com or call us at 449-1884,
or toll free at 1-800-799-7436.

COOL PROJECTS OF THE MONTH....

_____

One of Lafayette's newest destinations is Monkey Joe's. Located at the same International Sports Center complex as Sign Art, Monkey Joe's is an indoor play center for kids aged 2-12 with exciting inflatable slides, obstacle courses & jumps and party rooms for all occasions. When our newest neighbor needed electrical signage for the front of the building, banners and other cool signs....Sign Art was able to help them out.

Remember Monkey Joe's as a cool place to hang out with the kids.....Remember Sign Art Etc as a cool place for your next sign project.

Let the Sign Art team help you with your next electrical sign project. We provide a great combination of superb quality and reasonable price.

Check us out at 765-449-1884 or email us at info@signartetc.com . We look forward to working with you. And remember that we will beat any local price by at least 10%.

Sign Art Etc has North Central Indiana's LARGEST sign and graphics showroom. Stop by & let the Sign Art team turn your ideas into reality. For any type of sign or graphics... banners, electrical signs, trade show displays, event signage, indoor or outdoor signage, projects both large or small.....the Sign Art team would love to assist you.

Watch for your project in upcoming newsletters. If you are interested in Banners, Any type of graphics, Interior or Exterior signage or any other cool or unusual project, check out our website at www.signartetc.com or email us at info@signartetc.com

TEAMWORK.....CREATIVITY.....RELIABILITY. EVERY TIME.

For More Free Tips and Information, Stop by our Showroom at 3861 State Road 26 East -Suite C (International Sports Complex) for your free literature.

If you feel you received this email in error and would like to be removed from our mailing list, Please send an email to info@signartetc.com with "Remove" in the subject line.

Marketing with Signs & Graphics

2009-06-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

What's New, Cool Project of the Month and Sign Art's Sign Tips & Tools.

COOL PROJECTS OF THE MONTH....

How do you make the most of your marketing dollars in this uncertain economy? Banners are a great way to display your message....boldly and cost effectively.
Sign Art is the premier banner company in central Indiana. Large or small...on any type of material....we can help make you and your project successful. You will find superb quality, a talented design team and an outstanding value with Sign Art's banners and signs.

Check us out at 765-449-1884 or email us at info@signartetc.com . We look forward to working with you. And remember that we will beat any local price by at least 10%. How cool is that?

And through the month of April, we will beat any local price on banners by 20%.

Sign Art Etc has North Central Indiana's LARGEST sign and graphics showroom. Stop by & let the Sign Art team turn your ideas into reality. For any type of sign or graphics... banners, electrical signs, trade show displays, event signage, indoor or outdoor signage, projects both large or small.....the Sign Art team would love to assist you.

Sign Art Etc is built on Teamwork.....Creativity......Reliability. Every Time. Our clients tell us they really like our team approach, our creative solutions and our ability to complete their project on time and within budget.

They've said we are the best team in the business. Period.
In many instances, our clients have been disappointed with other sign suppliers. They found the end result wasn't what they expected in terms of quality or delivery or that the entire experience was not handled in a professional manner.

The only surprise with Sign Art Etc is how easy it is to work with our team.

Let us make your next project a winner....

Email us at info@signartetc.com or call us at 449-1884 or toll free at 1-800-799-7436.

Watch for your project in upcoming newsletters. If you are interested in Banners, Any type of graphics, Interior or Exterior signage, Electrical Signs or any other cool or unusual project, check out our website at www.signartetc.com or email us at info@signartetc.com

TEAMWORK.....CREATIVITY.....RELIABILITY. EVERY TIME.

For More Free Tips and Information, Stop by our Showroom at 3861 State Road 26 East -Suite C (International Sports Complex) for your free literature.

Sign Art Etc Newsletter

2009-06-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

Marketing with Signs & Graphics

What's New, Cool Project of the Month and Sign Art's Sign Tips & Tools.

Sign Art Etc is built on Teamwork.....Creativity......Reliability. Every Time. Our clients tell us they really like our team approach, our creative solutions and our ability to complete their project on time and within budget. They've said we are the best team in the business. Period.

In many instances, our clients have been disappointed with other sign suppliers. They found the end result wasn't what they expected in terms of quality or delivery or that the entire experience was not handled in a professional manner. The only surprise with Sign Art Etc is how easy it is to work with our team.

Let us make your next project a winner....

Email us at info@signartetc.com or call us at 449-1884 or toll free at 1-800-799-7436.

COOL PROJECTS OF THE MONTH....

How do you make the most of your marketing dollars in this uncertain economy? Banners and trade show displays are a great way to advertise your business or organization....boldly and cost effectively.

Sign Art is the premier banner and trade show display company in this area. Large or small...on any type of material....we can help make you and your project successful.

Check us out at 765-449-1884 or email us at info@signartetc.com. We look forward to working with you. And remember that we will beat any local price by at least 10%. How cool is that?

Sign Art Etc has North Central Indiana's LARGEST sign and graphics showroom. Stop by & let the Sign Art team turn your ideas into reality. For any type of sign or graphics... banners, electrical signs, trade show displays, event signage, indoor or outdoor signage, projects both large or small.....the Sign Art team would love to assist you.

Watch for your project in upcoming newsletters. If you are interested in Banners, Any type of graphics, Interior or Exterior signage or any other cool or unusual project, check out our website at www.signartetc.com or email us at info@signartetc.com

TEAMWORK.....CREATIVITY.....RELIABILITY. EVERY TIME.

www.SignArtEtc.com

For More Free Tips and Information, Stop by our Showroom at 3861 State Road 26 East -Suite C (International Sports Complex) for your free literature.

Seven Steps To Signs That Pay

2009-06-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

1. AVOID SIGNS YOU CAN’T AFFORD

Many business owners buy signs as an afterthought. They wait until their budget is nearly cleaned out and then buy the cheapest sign possible. These are signs you can’t afford. If you are not confident that your new sign will pay for itself then you are wasting your money.

The purpose of a sign is to attract new customers, brand your site in the minds of consumers and create impulse sales. A sign is often the only visible cue that a business exists! Therefore, it should be the predominant feature of your building.

Consider the case of Frenchy’s Bistro, opened by a husband and wife in the mid-1990’s. It is located on a four-lane road with lots of traffic in Southern California. After healthy growth, revenues leveled off at $250 thousand and wouldn’t budge. They attracted a local clientele from the immediate neighborhood and were known as “that restaurant next to the paint store.” Their signage was so poor that they were not bringing in hungry passing motorists.

A friend suggested investing in a better sign. They selected a V-shaped sign, internally illuminated, to mount to the side of their building. The result? Their sales grew 16% in the first year. Sales in the second year increased 32%. By the fourth year, Frenchy’s Bistro had expanded into space available next door and had grown a total of 322%, with revenues over $823,000.

TIP # 1 Spend time and money to ensure you have a sign that makes a positive impression on your marketplace. Your sign should be conspicuous, reflective of your company’s look and feel, and remain easy for your customers to recall.

2. MARKETING 101

Business signage should be your first consideration in any marketing and promotion plan. Why? Consider the following facts. A group of 488
Southern California businesses began to collectively poll their 7,200 first-time customers in 1997. They wanted to know how these customers had found out about their businesses. Here are the results:

Business Signage ------46%
Word of Mouth ---------38%
Newpaper Ads -----------7%
Yellow Pages -----------6%
Radio Commercial -------2%
Television Commercial - 1%

The conclusions from this survey are very clear. 1.) The signs on these businesses effectively speak to potential customers, and 2.) Signs are the most effective form of advertising for the small and independent business person.

TIP #2 The most important concern is bringing in more paying customers, not how much you can save on your signage costs.

3. WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?

Your sign should be of a sufficient height and size to be clearly seen and unobscured by trees, lampposts, etc. Its content, both text and logo, should be legible. It should also stand out from its background. Keep this chart in mind when selecting the size of your sign(s):

TIP #3 A sign has less than two seconds to capture a consumer’s attention. Consider simple and direct messages, highly visible letters, easy to read type styles, illumination and contrasting colors. The most readable background colors are white and yellow. The most legible letters are black, dark blue and red. Using a border can help a viewer absorb information 26% faster.

4. AVOID TMI AND TMM

That’s “too much information” and “too many messages.” We are overwhelmed by thousands of messages daily. Not only have we become adept at absorbing lots of data, we have also become skilled at tuning out obnoxious messages. Often a good, crisp presentation is best. You don’t need to inform your customers of everything you can do, you just want to capture their interest enough to have them call or come in. Maximum length of your message should be three to five words. Then leave 30 - 40% of your sign area blank.

TIP #4 Make your point with as few words as possible. If you can’t fit your message on a bumper sticker, then your message is too long.

5. SIGNS AND THEIR SETTING

A well-placed and attractive sign communicates to your ideal customer the true flavor of your business. Well-designed indoor signage reinforces your image. Sure, you want to stand out from the crowd, but be sure to temper the information on your signage by maintaining harmony with your setting. You don’t want to look like a pair of brown shoes in a tuxedo store! Consider the other signs near your business. Some beach communities prefer the look of sandblasted wood signs. An area known for its restaurants can be characterized by lighted dimensional signs. Often you can make your business stand out by having a simple but elegant sign, by incorporating a great design or by featuring materials no one else is using.

TIP #5 Select a design for your sign that reflects the key strength of your company—the service or product that your customers most value. Using an outside designer or good sign company can help you achieve this goal.

6. SIGNS AND THE CITY

Now that you are ready to have your masterpiece produced, there is just one more gating factor: municipal codes. It is always wise to find out what is required by code enforcement before requesting a sign permit and/or creating your new sign.

Usually there are two sets of codes that will affect your signage decisions. Often business parks, historical areas and other developments will have their own sign criteria and these can be stricter than city codes. Be sure to check with your property manager or the city itself to find out if there is a sign criteria or “architectural overlay” before relying solely on the city’s requirements. Part of the approval process may even include sign off by your landlord or property manager.

The second element is the city code itself. You can avoid wasting a lot of time by calling your city planning department in advance to find out what is required. You do have the option of appealing the local sign code, to request what is called a “variance,” but be prepared for long waits and a frustrating appeals process.

TIP #6 It is vital to plan ahead. Cities are getting stricter about what types of outdoor signage they will allow. Find out what is acceptable before you make any other decisions that might cost you money.

7. AS SIGNS GO BY

Time and weather are the great enemies of outdoor signs. Imagine going to a restaurant and noticing that their sign is full of bird nests. Makes you wonder what else they are not maintaining, doesn’t it? There are many new materials coming on the market today that have superior weatherability. Some manufacturers today are guaranteeing their plastics for life against fading or cracking. LEDs are much more lasting than neon and use less power.

TIP #7 While a great sign will bring in customers, a poorly maintained one will drive them away. Make sure the materials to be used in your new sign will last as long as possible. Inspect your sign(s) regularly for cleanliness, aging and operability.

At Sign Art Etc “Good Signs=Good Business,” meaning that good signage can produce positive results for a company, and ultimately boost the bottom line. Sign Art Etc is built on Teamwork…Creativity… Reliability. Every Time. Call us today for a free quote.

Copyright 2009 by Doug Ellenberger

Sign of the Times!

2009-06-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

New east side business wants to help you stand out in the crowd
By Michelle Warren

Those who stand out get the attention. It’s human nature to be drawn to the one that makes us take a second look, gets us thinking and makes us want to learn more. The same goes for businesses, and what better way to make a statement than with an attention-grabbing sign that does all the above?

For individuals and businesses looking to do just that, as of November there’s a place designed especially to cater to that need. Sign Art Etc, located at 3861 St. Road 26 E Suite C, Lafayette, provides full service sign, graphics and advertising solutions.

“We do anything from yard signs and banners to the big electrical signs for buildings. We have a new HP flatbed printer that allows us to produce almost any image on a wide variety of materials,” explained owner Doug Ellenberger.

According to Ellenberger, the focus of the business is to make the customers and their business successful.

“We’re here to help people attract the kind and number of customers they want to attract,” he explained. “Our goal is to help your business, organization or event succeed.”

The Idea

According to Ellenberger, a Purdue University engineering graduate who previously worked in manufacturing for Kirby Risk and Fairfield, the reality of Sign Art Etc just fell into place. He worked with a business consultant and discussed different ideas and options.
A poster hanging in the lobby features the following quote by Kobi Yomada: “Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down.”

According to Ellenberger, the piece was a gift from his then 14-year-old daughter Emily and was given to him during this decision-making time. Emily is now 20 years old and helps out at Sign Art while attending Ivy Tech.

After reviewing all their options, they decided to go with Sign Art Etc. And according to Ellenberger, the sign business was a good fit. “This is very much a technology oriented business,” he said. “It’s a great business for an engineering guy to be in.”

Working with the latest technology, the team at Sign Art Etc is ready and able to assist each and every customer. Joining Doug is Jeff Ward as operations manager. Jeff takes care of the day to day operations.

“We have a great team here,” Ellenberger said.

A great team paired with a great location is what Ellenberger has. The site for the new business is in the old Wal-Mart building which also happens to house the International Sports Club on the east side of town.

“We knew this was the place we wanted to be in the first time we visited,” Ellenberger said of the building. “There always seems to be a lot of energy here.”

He also added that International drives a lot of traffic to Sign Art Etc.

Service Made Easy

Customers have a variety of options when they enter the shop at Sign Art Etc. Services offered by Sign Art Etc. include:

ADA signs
Banners
Big Checks
Demonstrative evidence displays
Design capabilities
Exhibits and displays
Full Color Digital Poster Printing
Illuminated signs and channel letters
Labels and decals
Point of purchase displays
Pop-Up Displays
Retractable Banner Stands
Three dimensional signs and letters
Trade show displays and graphics
Vehicle lettering and graphics
Window and door lettering and graphics
Yard and site signs

And more

While the main focus is the business to business projects, Ellenberger said the team at Sign Art Etc is more than happy to assist individuals with their projects.

So far, a variety of local businesses have turned to Sign Art Etc for their signage needs. For example, Tracy Deno, owner of New Dimensions, which is located downtown, teamed up with Sign Art Etc for her new sign. That project included design, build and installation. The lobby sign and window lettering for local attorney Tony Dowell also is on Sign Art Etc’s resume. Other examples include work done for Purdue University, F.C. Tucker, FedEx, Ivy Tech, Morning Song and Harrison High School.

According to Ellenberger, sometimes the customers already have an idea of what they want, and other times they don’t. Either way, the team at Sign Art Etc can make it happen. Whatever idea the customer has, Sign Art Etc can help make it a reality and save the customer a lot of worry and hassle.

Project management is one of the many things Ellenberger said his team prides itself on.
“We provide a good value, and we’re great at managing the jobs,” he said. “We’ll deliver on time and within budget.”

The Future

“We intend to grow our business in the Lafayette area and the surrounding areas,” Ellenberger said. “We also increase our internet business each year.”

Since the launch of the business, that has been happening.

“The best part is being able to make our customers happy,” he said. “Seeing the smiles on their faces when they see the finished product is very rewarding. It is rewarding to help turn a person’s idea into reality.”

There have been surprises. “Demonstrative evidence for trial attorneys is an area that we did not consider when we started. That has turned out to be a service we can provide.”
Ellenberger encourages people to stop out and see what the business has to offer.

“We have a lot to show,” he said. “And the neat things about signs is that they are out there 24/7. Signs are a great, cost-effective way to get your message out to your audience.

We are part of the SignWorld organization of nearly 200 independent owners,” Ellenberger said. “We are locally owned and globally connected. There is no project that someone within the SignWorld family hasn’t previously tackled. We also have a corporate technical team we can use as a resource if necessary.”

Stop by Sign Art Etc Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to see what they can do for you and your business. For more information, call 765-449-1884 or visit the Web site at www.signartetc-banners.com/.

Color: Understanding Your Options

2009-06-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Color As A Medium Of Communication
One of the most important considerations in the creation of a sign revolves around the effective use of color. Color can convey emotions and elicit feelings. Red signifies life and passion. Blue gives the feelings of coolness and calm. Green connotes growth and springtime, and yellow says warmth and vitality.

Color Frequency and Vibration
Like sound waves, light rays have varying wavelengths or frequencies: the lighter the color, the higher the frequency. These wavelengths determine perception of color. Some pigments absorb certain light frequencies and reflect others. We see the reflected frequencies as color. Complementary colors such as red and green are not readily legible. They have similar black and white value, so their wavelengths set up a vibration. Any combination of colors of similar value, even without vibrating, will have low visibility. Although yellow and purple are complementary colors, they have strong contrast in value and therefore little vibration. They provide maximum visibility.

Comparative Visibility Of Full Value Color Combinations
These 14 color combinations for lettering were tested using only primary and secondary color of full hue and value. Tests for readability at a distance were conducted on different groups under the sponsorship of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). The results ranked in the sequence shown, with #1 the most legible and #14 as the least legible. Negative letters in 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 appear to have a broader stroke than their positive counterparts.

Color Wheel
The color wheel is divided into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These three are the foundation of all colors because they are used to create each and every color. When you combine two of the primary colors, you create the three secondary colors. The secondary colors are orange, green and violet. The six tertiary colors are created by combining a primary and an adjacent secondary color. The six tertiary colors are red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green, and blue-violet.

Color Temperature
Colors are also divided into categories by temperature feel. These are considered cool and warm colors. The cool colors are green, blue and violet, while warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Psychologically, the colors give the viewer the feeling of these temperatures.

Color Schemes

Related Schemes
Monochromatic: This color scheme uses a single hue. ( example: red and its varying tints and shades)

Analogous: The scheme uses adjacent hues. (example: red, red-orange, and red-violet)

Contrasting Schemes
Complementary
If two hues are opposite each other on the color wheel, they are considered to be complementary colors. When used together in a design, they make each other seem brighter and more intense. This is not always a good thing, however, as colors, such as red and green tend to make each other too intense and vibrate against each other. This can make for difficult reading.

Split Complementary
This color scheme uses three colors: any hue and the two adjacent to its complement.

Triadic
This scheme also uses three colors. They are evenly spaced from each other.

Discordant Schemes
Double Complement
This color scheme uses two pairs of complements.

Alternate Complement
This scheme uses four colors: a triad and a complement to one of the hues.

Tetrad
This scheme uses four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. A primary, secondary and two tertiary colors are used.

Sign Printing: Selecting The Right Material

2009-06-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Materials
The latest sign materials are designed for maximum flexibility and durability. We can help you select the best material for your sign based on the sign's intended location, look, and length of use.

Vinyl

Cast Vinyl
Cast vinyl is our highest grade vinyl due to the quality of materials used and the manufacturing process. It consists of high quality vinyl resin, organic pigments, solvents and stabilizers (the same ingredients in paint). These materials are mixed to form a paint-like liquid which is then poured onto steel rollers that drop the right amount of liquid onto a continuous roll of nonporous, thick paper. The paper carries the liquid vinyl through a series of low temperature ovens so that it dries. After drying in the ovens, the vinyl is rolled up off the paper and taken to a laminating line where it is carefully unrolled and coated with a clear acrylic adhesive. Cast vinyl typically has a higher gloss surface and is better for vehicles and applications for outdoor use. Because of the materials and manufacturing process, cast vinyl is much less likely to shrink in outdoor usage and has a warrantied life of 5 to 7 years depending on the application.

Calendered
Pellets of vinyl, together with colors and modifiers, are ground in the calendering machines. The resulting hot, molten plastic is extruded onto a series of steel rollers which will flatten it out to the right thickness. It then receives a gloss or matte finish and is stretched to the right width. Finally, rollers cool the vinyl before it is wound up and adhesive and backing is applied. Heat, pressure, huge volume, and stretching are the key words in this process. There is a great deal of internal stress built into the vinyl as a result. Calendared vinyl offers a slightly shorter life span than cast vinyl with a warranted life of 3 to 5 years depending on the application. However, it is typically more cost effective due to huge production volumes and easier to remove from signs that are resurfaced on a regular basis.

Translucent
Translucent vinyl is a cast vinyl. It is typically used in backlit signs such as light boxes. Translucent vinyl offers color consistency, a non-glare surface, and color brightness not found in other vinyl. The benefit of translucent vinyl is that when it is not illuminated it appears to be of normal color and when backlit it allows part of the light through for added visibility at night.

Reflective
Reflective vinyl is best known for its 24-hour advertising capabilities. These films are generally cast vinyl. It is more difficult to cut, weed, and apply due to its thickness, but it typically has a higher impact due to its unique appearance. During the manufacturing process, glass beads are added to the paint-like liquid and spread across the entire surface during production. These glass beads reflect light therefore making the vinyl reflective. The more common applications include fleet graphics, highway signs and locations where night viewing and long distance visibility is required.

Metallic
Metallic vinyl is a mirror finished film consisting of polyester and various finishing products. Its surface creates the look of an actual metal such as a silver, gold, or bronze. This vinyl is typically used for signs that offer a richer look, often times presenting the appearance of a higher end sign such as gold leaf, but for a far more cost effective price. This vinyl is typically used for interior or short-term exterior applications.

Such a wide selection of vinyls make it easy for Sign Art Etc to produce custom vinyl banners that suit your every advertising need.

Substrates

Aluminum
Aluminum is without a doubt the longest lasting material for outdoor signage. It has a factory baked enamel finish, and is coated with a plastic sheet to prevent damage during shipping. It will not rust and is available in a range of sizes and colors, based on the manufacturer. Typical applications include real estate signs, directional signs and any area where durability is a major factor.

Banners
These are probably one of the most popular types of signs used. They come in many different colors for maximum graphic impact. They are highly resistant to tearing and ripping, and are also highly flame retardant, not to mention that they are very easy to maintain! Banners are great for everyday signage, announcement and retail sales applications.

Cardboard/Sho-card
Sho-card is a waterproof cardboard that can also be used as a dry-erase board. This is the perfect sign for easel displays or inexpensive presentations materials.

Coroplast
Coroplast is an inexpensive, lightweight corrugated plastic material used for mostly small, indoor signs, or outdoor signs that are temporary. It comes in many different colors, and is easy to cut into different sizes. Use coroplast stakes and you have an instant yard or tournament sign.

Magnetics
Magnetics can be cut into all shapes and sizes, and can be used outdoors or indoors. They are weather resistant and color stable. One of the most popular uses for magnetics is on car doors, for effective advertising that can be moved between vehicles.

M.D.O. (Medium Density Overlay Plywood)
MDO is thick, durable, layered plywood that can be cut into many different shapes and sizes. This type of plywood is specific to the sign industry. It is layered as to prevent warping and coated with a finish so that vinyl and adhesives take to the material easier. Typical application includes job site signs, semi-permanent development signs and directional signs.

Acrylic
This is a type of plastic, commonly refered to by its brand name Plexiglas that can be formed and cut to make interior signage. Its polished finish gives it a glossy and elegant appearance which is great for office signs or more upscale occasions.

Polystyrene
This is an inexpensive, non-glare smooth plastic that is very easy to work with. It is best for interior signage such as cheap poster printing. This material is light weight and easy to transport. Because of its flexible nature, polystyrene is perfect for a sign that has to fit or contour to a curved surface.

PVC (Sintra/Trovicel)
Also called Komatex, or Sintra, PVC is a rigid plastic board available in many different colors. This material is easy to cut into different sizes and shapes. It has a textured surface for a matte appearance and is flame retardant. Great for retail store directional signs and interior identification signs.

Consider Your Readers: Choosing The Appropriate Size For Optimum Visibility

2009-06-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

The title may seem obvious, but if you perform a tour through your local community and take a studied approach, you may be surprised at how many signs and advertisements are nearly INVISIBLE. The reason being that someone didn't consider the impact of the sign in relation to its environment, rendering the effect of their marketing efforts null and void.

This does not need to happen, and if you consider a few basic guidelines ahead of time, you can increase the effectiveness of your ad many times over.

Such factors to consider include:
Color
Shape
Font
Complexity of Design
Background / Environment
and Size

When thinking about banner printing, consider the the type of traffic involved. Is your message intended to reach drivers at highway speeds, city speeds, or pedestrians? Perhaps even all three at the same time?

Have you ever watched a movie on your home television and realized as the end credits roll by that there is no way you could ever read them, if you wanted to, at that fast speed and at that tiny font size? The same principle applies to your banners and signs. One very basic factor to take into account is size -- both the overall size of your banner and the size of any copy on the sign. Here's a simple visibility chart to give you some idea:

Interior VS Exterior Signs: What Are The Options?

2009-06-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Article From Sign Art Etc

The places you can put your sign are limitless: cars, windows, floors, yards, doors. Location is only limited by your imagination. Choose where you want to put your sign and we'll help you determine the right materials, design elements, and other resources to make your sign a cost-effective attention-getter.

Ask yourself these questions:

Where is the sign going to be placed?
What elements are going to affect the sign?
How is the sign going to be installed or hung?

Available Vinyls - All perfect for interior or outdoor vinyl banners:
Cast Vinyl Interior/Exterior
Calendered Vinyl Interior/Short Term Exterior
Translucent Interior/Exterior
Reflective Interior/Exterior
Metallic Interior/Short Term Exterior

Other Possible Substrates
Aluminum Interior/Exterior
Banners Interior/Exterior
Sho-card Interior
Coroplast Interior/Exterior
Magnetics Interior/Exterior
M.D.O. (Medium Density Overlay Plywood) Interior/Exterior
Acrylic Interior/Exterior
Polystyrene Interior
PVC (Sintra/Trovicel) Interior/Exterior

Such a wide selection of substrates and printing materials makes it possible to fulfill your every custom order for vinyl banners.

Sales Brochures: A Brief How-to for the Uninitiated

2008-09-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

An effective brochure is one that gets read. A brochure that gets read is one that is planned for and has a clear focus. Brochures can be used to

• Keep your product or service at the top of customers’ minds.
• Differentiate you from your competition.
• Reinforce your marketing message and your brand image.
• Present new info or update info about your company to your customers and prospects.

Brochures have a lot of capabilities, if you design them right. If you haven’t created a brochure, or want to improve your current brochures, read on for some tips to add creativity to the brochure printing process.

1. Decide on your brochure’s purpose. Do you want to let people know about your new product line? Do you want to inform customers of your new location and all the amenities there? Create one brochure for one purpose. If you mishmash a lot of information just to fill up the brochure of if you think you’ll save money by combining all your brochure purposes into one brochure, you’re brochure will not get read. Too much clutter turns people off and they won’t even look past the cover of your brochure.

2. Choose your target audience. The potential buyers for your product or service should have some characteristics that identify them as prospective customers. Don’t just send your brochures out to everyone in the phone book. That’s a waste of money. Carefully target your audience so that you can craft your message for that audience. Brochure copy that is targeted toward a Baby Boomer audience should differ from copy that is target to teens. You need to appeal to each group individually since they won’t both respond to the same motivations.

3. Next, create a plan. Bad or decent brochures can be written and designed in a few hours. Awesome brochures that have higher readership take weeks or even a couple of months to create. Some development timeline rules of thumb: Give the writer 3 to 7 business days. The designer gets 7 to 14 business days. Add the printer’s timeline of 2 to 14 business days and you’ve got about a month before your brochures can get to your customers.

If you’re planning a brochure for your store’s grand opening or a new product launch, give yourself at least a month to prepare the brochures and then another week or so for mailing, if necessary.

4. Implement your plan. Hire a writer and designer if necessary. Compare different brochure printing companies and don’t forget about online printing companies. They can often beat out your local printer with sales and specials.

Of course, this is a simplified step. There’s many more details to implementing your plan, but I just wanted to give newbies the gist of what takes place when creating sales brochures.

Xerox Says Net Falls 19% But Confirms Outlook

2008-08-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

Xerox Corp.'s second-quarter profit slid 19% on a restructuring charge and lower margins, but the copy-machine and printer company maintained its 2008 profit outlook despite concerns about the weak U.S. economy.

Xerox, based in Norwalk, Conn., reported net income of $215 million, or 24 cents a share, down from $266 million, or 28 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. The latest quarter's net was diminished by five cents a share in restructuring charges. Revenue climbed 8% to $4.53 billion, helped by a 19% gain in developing markets. Gains from currency conversion contributed four percentage points of the revenue growth.

The latest quarter was boosted by the acquisition of Global Imaging Systems, an office-equipment chain that sells to small businesses, during the second quarter of 2007. If Global Imaging had been part of Xerox for the full quarter in 2007, revenue would have risen 5% from the year-earlier period.

"It was a pretty solid quarter," said Shannon Cross of Cross Research. She said many commercial printers held back on buying digital presses because they wanted to compare offerings at the Drupa trade show in Germany in June. Xerox's sales of production equipment were down 7% world-wide.

Xerox unveiled six new printing systems at the show, and said it received 33% more orders than it anticipated. "Drupa was a huge success for us," the company's chief executive, Anne Mulcahy, said in a conference call with analysts. However, she said that many orders were for products that won't be available until the end of the third quarter.

Xerox's gross margin decreased 1.1 percentage points to 39.2%, and it said it expects margins to be between 39% and 40% for the full year. It blamed revenue weakness in the U.S., especially in sales of black ink. The U.S. sales weakness was offset by strong revenue growth from services and developing markets.

Xerox also reiterated its full-year earnings forecast of $1.26 to $1.30 a share. Ms. Mulcahy said Xerox doesn't anticipate a strong rebound in machine sales in the U.S., but was looking for solid revenue from service contracts, sales of ink and lease payments. She called these follow-on sales an "annuity-based business" that "is our driver of profitable growth."

In 4 p.m. composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Xerox shares fell 76 cents, or 5.4%, to $13.27.

By: William Bulkely
Wall Street Journal; July 25, 2008

Why Label Printers Are Good For Retail Businesses

2008-07-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Label printers are very useful for people who own their own shop or retail unit. When designing your own labels through an external agency, this can cost more than what you had originally intended to bargain for. This is why it is easier to design the labels yourself and invest in a label printer. These can help to transport the data onto a special machine, which prints the data onto self-adhesive paper that you can then use to label products and packages.

Label printers work very differently from normal printers, as these require a specific type of paper, which is self-adhesive, and they have a special feed mechanism to withstand large rolls of paper. They use two different types of technology, one of them is a direct thermal printing that is used in fax machines. These use heat sensitive paper, however, like some fax machines these can last from 6 months to a year. Once the labels have been printed, if exposed to direct sunlight they can fade away and have a shorter life. These are only useful for shipping operations and short term application.

Thermal transfer is another type of label printing which works by using ink from a ribbon to print onto the label for a permanent print. This can also be used on direct thermal printing. These are better for long-term usage. The different types of label printers available are desktop printers, commercial printers and industrial printers. The desktop printers use four-inch wide rolls, are relatively cheap and is used for light usage.

Commercial printers are used for medium volume usage and can hold up to eight-inches of roll. These are good to keep on sight for use on larger brands and products. Industrial printers are the most expensive of all label printers, as it holds much bigger rolls and are used for heavy-duty label making. These can be programmed to accommodate for printing on data that use different languages, roll size, permanent printing and in wide format.

Having your own label printer means, you can have it ready to use as and when you need it. When changing logos and designs often it can take up a lot of time to find a good place to have them printed. This will add to the cost of producing the labels, whereas, the only added cost of owning a label printer is maintenance or replacement. This does depend on the kind of printer you buy, which should always have a manufacturers guarantee.

In short these little boxes are good for staying on top of all of your marketing needs, no matter how big or small your company may be. These will also save businesses money so there would be no need to go to external agencies for their services.

Inkjet Printers Get Set to Turn the Page

2008-06-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

New Technology Battle Xerox In Commercial Jobs

Inkjet-printing technology that dominates inexpensive desktop printers is about to enter the world of commercial print shops. If the new technology succeeds, it could spell trouble for Xerox Corp. and lead to expanded business for Eastman Kodak Co., Hewlett-Packard Co., Ricoh Co. and other inkjet makers.

The world's printing industry gather Thursday at the Drupa trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany, where a host of companies are showing new inkjet presses touted as the wave of the future. Giant offset presses, which cost several million dollars apiece, dominate the $400 billion-a-year printing business. But inkjet and laser technologies are nibbling at market. The new presses challenge Xerox, which laser-technology iGen3 and Docutech presses account for more than half of all digitally produced pages world-wide.

These inkjet presses, costing as much as $2.5 million apiece, are more expensive than the $500,000 Xerox machines but cost less per page to operate. Inkjet machines produce a page for a penny, versus about four cents for the laser technology used by Xerox. As with desktop printers, the digital-printer makers expect to earn the bulk of their profits by selling ink.

Inkjet makers said their technology makes digital printing competitive in price and quality with offset printing, which produces 95% of all printed pages world-wide. Digital presses account for only 2% of offset pages, or $8 billion annually. That share is expected to triple in the next three to four years as quality and speed improve. With digital printing, every page can be different. That can mean customized textbooks for each professor's class, beautiful brochure printing national magazines with local restaurant ads or glossy calendar printing with color pictures and elaborate catalog printing with detailed photographs of your business' products.

Matthew Troy, a Citigroup Inc. analyst, cautions digital printing won't supplant offset as fast as digital photography replaced film. But he said the move to digital printing provides a significant growth opportunity, especially for Kodak, of Rochester, N.Y.

Kodak has been building a printing-equipment business for the past four years by buying smaller companies. At Drupa, it will demonstrate its Stream inkjet technology, which will be available as a fully functioning press in 2010. Kodak said Stream can print at a speed of 500 feet a minute, about half the speed of traditional offset. Analysts who have been given advance looks at Stream's output said its quality fits glossy clothing catalogs, opening a potential new market for custom catalogs. Kevin Joyce, chief marketing officer for Kodak's graphiccommunications group, said Stream will produce "offsetclass output" in terms of price, reliability and appearance.

H-P, of Palo Alto, Calif., will show its Injet Color Web Press, which prints at 400 feet a minute and will be available for sale next year. Analysts sais the $2.5 million price tag is lower than they expected for its speed. H-P's laser-driven Indigo press already is used by printers for specialty jobs, and a new version will nearly match the speed of Xerox's iGen3.

Japan's Ricoh moved into the production arena last year when it reached a deal to buy the InfoPrint unit of International Business machine Corp. InfoPrint's $2 million inkjet printer went on the market in February.

Xerox President Ursula Burn s dismisses inkjet technology as suited "for relatively low-quality, high-throughout documents." Ms. Burns said she is confident commercial printers will keep buying Xerox's iGen laser presses for prducts like personal photo books and directmail adverstisements. She said Xerox, of Stamford, Conn., is unveiling a new iGen4 printer that will increase quality and productivity for commercial printers.

By: William M. Bulkeley
Wall Street Journal

Fujifilm: The Inkjet Company

2008-05-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Fujifilm Japan has announced a breakthrough technology digital sheet fed inkjet printing press aimed at the commercial printing market. This press that is currently called the JetPress 720 images at 1,200 dpi with 4 gray levels on a sheet up to 720 x 520 mm (28.35 x 20.47 ins) in size. This is twice the size of any other sheetfed digital color press allowing up to four A4 pages in one pass in four colours. Fujifilm claim that the 1,200 dpi with 4 gray levels will give offset quality of printing. This is a higher resolution than all the new inkjet continuous feed presses being launched at drupa. The speed of the press is stated to be 2,700 B2 format sheets per hour. This works out at 180 A4 sheets/minute. The new inkjet printhead technology was developed by FUJIFILM Dimatix (FDMX) a leading company for industrial inkjet printheads, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujifilm. The wide printhead with a print width of 720mm was newly developed incorporating high density, long-life piezoelectric element arrays with high precision and can print high resolution images using single-pass inkjet technology at the high speed of approx. 180 sheets (A4 size equivalent) per minute.’

I see this as a very important announcement as it shows that Fujifilm is really moving its business into inkjet based digital printing. As a company it has invested heavily in the acquisition of inkjet technologies and companies including Sericol and Dimatix, but up to now has not manufactured any inkjet printing equipment. As a company it is already a major player in digital printing with its 75% ownership of Fuji Xerox. It is interesting to note that Fuji Xerox was involved in the development of this press. The press fits into a unique space in the market where there are no equivalent presses. This is as a sheet fed digital press of B2 format. Up to now the largest format sheet fed digital press has been the Xerox iGen3 with a maximum sheet size of 14.33 x 20.5 inches. It has always surprised me that no supplier has introduced a wider format digital press. I have predicted that perhaps Kodak Nexpress, Océ or Xeikon with their experience in building LED imaging arrays would produce a 20 inch wide sheet fed press, but nothing every happened. Assuming the quality of output and the pricing are acceptable I think that there will be a major opportunity for the new Fujifilm press.

The fact that Fuji Xerox has developed this press poses some interesting questions about how this product will go to market. Will it be sold through the Fuji Xerox channels alongside the Xerox iGen3 and Docucolor products or will it be sold through Fujifilm’s graphic arts channels, many of which already sell Xerox products. There is also the question of how this affects Xerox and whether they will handle the product. Xerox has stated that it will be outlining some of its developments in inkjet printing at drupa, but I know that this is not one of them.

The move by Fujifilm into manufacturing its own inkjet equipment as well as supplying consumables such as ink and print heads to other developers confirms the company’s move to be a major force in the future of inkjet printing. The other major film companies have already moved into this area. Agfa has been working with inkjet technology for many years and is now supplying ink as well as printers. Kodak has been a key player for a long time with its Versamark high-speed transactional printers and to a lesser extent with its Encad wide format products. It is now moving ahead with the development of its next generation STREAM continuous inkjet technology and this will be demonstrated in the STREAM Concept press at drupa.

Fujifilm already sells a number of wide format and UV flatbed printers through its Sericol operation. This operation has the exclusive distribution of the Dainippon Screen owned Inca flatbed printers. Fujifilm has very close working arrangements with Dainippon Screen in distribution of its thermal CtP engines. Dainippon Screen however is also establishing itself as a major player in the inkjet business with both high-speed and wide format printers. On must wonder if there is the possibility of further consolidation between these two companies in the inkjet area.

I will certainly be looking at the new Fujifilm sheet fed inkjet press at drupa. I first heard rumors of an inkjet press development within Fujifilm more than two years ago before the company had acquired Sericol or Dimatix. The company appears to have identified a unique market slot with a B2 format press and I predict this will be one of the hottest new products at drupa. I also predict that Fujifilm will be seen in future as one of the key players in the inkjet printing business alongside HP and Kodak.

By: Andy Tribute
whattheythink.com; May 27th, 2008

HP rolls out largest printing products offerings

2008-04-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

Shanghai, Apr 22 Hewlett-Packard, the largest technology and solutions provider across the globe, has rolled out 25 new-generation printing products and solutions; the company’s largest single offering to date. Comprising of printers, software, and web-based resources, these offerings are aimed at small and medium businesses (SMB’s). The new offerings were announced recently in Shanghai, China, at an event titled, “Business Go Print 2.0,” organized by the company for media persons from the Asia-Pacific region and Japan. The new offerings include two HP LaserJet multifunction printers (MFP’s), an enterprise class scanner for document capture and 3 specialized industry solutions.

Herbert Koeck, H-P vice-president (commercial printing), Asia-Pacific told FE, “These products will enable our SMB customers to have a level playing field against larger-sized competitors by improving their marketing effectiveness, increase productivity, and reduce costs involved in their printing needs.” The roll-out includes first time offerings like Colorsphere, the company’s patented ‘chemically grown’ toner technology that was hitherto found only in H-P’s higher-end printers, across all their color laser printers, including the entry-level ones.

For an SMB customer, this provides access to professional quality prints at a much lower cost. HP has also come out with its first LED (light emitting diodes)-based scanner, moving away from the traditional halogen bulb. LED technology uses much less power and are ever-ready for use, eliminating the waiting time that the halogen bulb-based scanners need. The SMB printing space (including hardware, supplies, and services) has tremendous opportunity for HP’s imaging and printing group valued at $103 billion globally by 2010

Bruce Dahlgren, senior vice president, global enterprise business, imaging and printing group, HP said, “ With all the economic challenges in the world today, customers are looking at printing no longer as an afterthought, but as a strategic opportunity to cut costs. Meanwhile, they recognize that this economic challenge won’t last forever, so the focus is also on how they can optimize and leverage their infrastructure.”

Shaheen Mansuri
Financial Express.com; Posted online: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Personalized Printing Advice and Takeaways

2008-04-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Personalized printing with variable data and personal URLs is getting more and more popular, especially since the prices are coming down and the quality is going up.

As a result, we thought it would make for a good post today to recap an article that was in the DM News not too long ago called “Get Personal With Print Marketing”.

Four experts were asked for their advice on how to take advantage of personalized print marketing. What follows is a quick summary of all four.

1. John Foley’s Takeaway

Maintain a customized print conversation with your customers. Mr. Foley talks about integrated marketing and how effective it can be to set up a campaign that includes a personalized mailer, personal URLs and then a follow up mailer based on how they answered certain questions on the PURL.

2. Chris Ryan’s Takeaway

The right trigger techniques make for highly effective personalization programs. Mr. Ryan talks about using time-sensitive “trigger” mailings that coincide with specific periods in a person’s life. For example, sending home-related coupons to new homeowners, or sending an investment-related mailer to a newly retired couple.

3. John Berger’s Takeaway

Successful personalization relies on information used responsibly by marketers. Mr. Berger stresses the importance of marketers protecting the privacy of their customers. He says you want to use the information you collect on them to personalize your offers, but not so much so that the customer feels their privacy has been violated.

4. Anna Chagnon’s Takeaway

More marketers are integrating software with production work flow systems. Ms. Chagnon points out how variable data software makes personalization easier. You create one template if you wish for your mailers and all your campaigns are fueled by this one shell. She also mentions the growing popularity of Web-to-print storefronts.

5. Ballantine’s Takeaway

We think certain industries are prime candidates for personalized variable data printing and should definitely consider creating a test campaign if budgets allow. These industries - to name a few - include retail, hospitality and auto.

These types of industries generally collect a great deal of information about their customers and can thus personalize their mailings with pinpoint accuracy. And they also thrive on customer relationship-building…which relevant offers help cultivate.

We have one retail client that holds regular events with various “themes”. We send out weekly variable data self-mailers for them and the images on the mail piece correspond with the event that the customer attended.

The mailings are wildly successful for them.

*As published on The Ballantine Blog on April 17th, 2008

Wasteful printing starts at work

2008-04-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

I admit it. I'm guilty of one of the most common office crimes out there -- hitting the print button more times than necessary.

And although I may be easing some of my guilt by throwing the paper in the recycle bin, I still have visions of chainsaws cutting down trees in some beautiful remote forest flashing through my head each time I toss a sheet away.

There is just something so comforting about having a document in physical paper form as opposed to just floating around in your e-mail inbox. Perhaps I am old-fashioned, but it gives me a sense of organization having everything printed and placed in folders where I can see them.

And then there's that sense of control. You can't file a computerized document or flip through it or highlight and write notes on it. And what if your computer crashes and you lose everything? You always have that dependable stack of paper neatly organized in a folder waiting for you to peruse.

I have learned I am not alone in my obsession with paper. In fact, some are worse than me.

Canadians are printing out 30 pages of documents a day and then promptly discarding nearly four out of 10 of those pages, according to a survey released last week by Leger Marketing and recently covered in the National Post.

This habit of waste and needless consumption seems to only apply to the workplace with 40 per cent reporting they were more environmentally conscious of recycling at home than at work. I can understand that. I don't even remember the last time I used the printer at home.

At the very least, these printer-happy people are experiencing the same sense of guilt as I am over their behavior. The survey found that this habit induced feelings of guilt in almost a third of respondents and more than three-quarters said they're concerned about the impact their paper-printing ways are having on the environment.

So why can't we stop?

It's because right now it's still socially acceptable. We can freely print off copy after copy with only our inner guilt to absorb. There needs to be more public pressure.

I remember in elementary school we were told to turn the tap off when we weren't using it and that wasting water was wrong. Today, letting the tap run while you brush your teeth is considered a sin.

The same type of public campaign has also pegged people who leave unnecessary lights on as wasteful. You wouldn't dare leave all the lights on in your home if you weren't there. What would the neighbors think? And companies know leaving the lights on in their office buildings overnight will almost guarantee public complaints. Being careless when it comes to conserving energy is officially frowned upon.

The same type of widespread disapproval needs to be applied to unnecessary printing of paper.

It has started to happen.

Some people now attach a signature at the bottom of their e-mails that reads "please don't print this e-mail unless it is absolutely necessary" accompanied by an image of a tree. Although that does get to me, it's obviously not enough, since I sometimes just swallow the guilt and print those e-mails, too.

We need to take it a step further. Every time you make a trip to the printer to pick up a 30-page document, you should expect to possibly endure dirty looks from your co-workers. The idea of printing excess paper should become so objectionable that you feel immediate shame and embarrassment if someone were to see the piles of it sitting on your desk.

This coming Earth Day, I plan to make a resolution to fight the urge to print and only succumb when truly necessary. If you are like me, I would encourage you to do the same. If you aren't like me, then I suggest you do your part by shunning your paper-wasting co-workers.

Or if you find that to be a little harsh perhaps just kindly mention they should think twice before hitting the print button.

Deirdre Healey is a local writer and communications specialist. Her column appears every other Thursday.

Originally published at http://news.guelphmercury.com by Deirdre Healey; April 17, 2008

Your Business Card is a Powerful Marketing Tool

2008-04-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

WESTFIELD, N.J., -- A few years back, the standard business card had basic contact information printed in one color, usually black, on one side of plain vanilla paper stock, sometimes with two-color printing to kick it up a bit. Today you can easily print on both
sides of a BC in four-color process with a laminated, glossy finish. In regard to cost, it's about fifty dollars for 500 cards. This is a fraction of what it cost a few years ago. Now that's a bargain.

"BCs are becoming mini-brochures that can make a colorful impression. The second side can be just the logo if you are after an "I am very cool" effect, or you could print a mission statement if you want people to know what you stand for, and, at the very least, a short list of special things your company does. Whatever way you chose, you can captivate interest and provoke discussion. This is a great little marketing tool," according to John Howlett President of AvizaGroup an ROI consulting business specializing in advertising and marketing.

After you have grabbed their attention and jump started a conversation, you can deliver your elevator pitch, which is a salespersons dream. In the most optimistic view it might even circumvent the dreaded statement that ever business salesperson fears: "I didn't know your company does that".

The BC may appear to be a rather insignificant item. It is not. Especially if you believe first impressions are lasting impressions. Some people reading this article might say "give me a break, a business card as a marketing tool?" Think about how many times you found a BC, a month or more later, and had absolutely no recollection of who they are and what they do. How unfortunate for the person who handed you their card. They
missed the opportunity to leave a memorable message in a potential prospect's hand and mind.

Millions of dollars are spent every day to establish brand recognition in advertising, in pursuit of building a positive, memorable recall about your company, product or service. Want to improve your ROI in advertising? Take a good look at your not-so-silly little business card. You can start by re-thinking about it as a powerful marketing tool.

PRNewswire; April 17

Printing Brochures and Postcards

2008-04-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for an extremely powerful marketing tool look no further because brochures and postcards are considered the best way to maximize the impact of your messages. Brochures and postcards are used most frequently as a form of print communications medium.

When advertising with a full color information booklet you require a big budget. Not so with printing brochures and postcards. They have the same advertising affect but at a much lower cost. There are certain features you should be aware of for brochure and postcard printing before making your final decision.

There is a lot of versatility with brochures and postcards in both content and use. By changing the format they can be used as a booklet or a poster. Always remember that it is vital to make a powerful and lasting first impression.

Preparing the design is the first step in the printing process. The purpose of the brochure or postcard is to define why your product is better than others and by using this printing method you can accomplish that goal without lengthy, monotonous texts. Put emphasis on the unique and significant features of your product with crisp dialogue and captivating language.

Be sure to choose fonts and colors that look attractive and professional. What looks great on your monitor or the proof could be totally different from the completed printed copy due to the inherent limitations of the commercial printing processes. Your printer is a professional in this field with usually many years of experience. Be sure to have a consultation before finalizing the color scheme.

Of late, digital printing has solved many such problems associated with brochure and postcard printing. Now, you almost get the color you see on the monitor with much more versatile options. Another great advantage of digital printing is you can customize your brochures and postcards according to your needs.

The paper and any other material you select will depend on your requirements. If you are sending brochures and postcards by post the weight of the paper should not be too heavy. When speaking with your sales representative, always ask about the paper quality for your brochure or postcard. Using a thick, coated paper that is great for personalized business presentations can produce a more vibrant look and feel, for your brochure and postcard.

Using commercial printing processes like offset lithography will enable the printer to deliver a quality product when printing the brochure and postcard. Ask to see samples from the printer and check their references too. Post-finishing operations like varnishing or lamination would be an important process for adding the finishing touches to the printing of brochures and postcards.

Owing to the tough competition, the cost of printing is getting lower everyday. Find the right combination of design and print that fit your budget and can give you the best value for your money.

Originally published by: Jacques Di Salvia