Thursday 30 January 2014

How to Design a Car Window Graphic

Full-sized window car decals are one of the best ways to advertise as they offer complete marketing exposure at fraction of a cost. These see-through, perforated graphics are extremely easy to install but may get a little challenging to create and design. Here are a few tips that might help prevent any issues and help an owner order the right rear window graphic for a particular vehicle.

Taking proper measurement- This perhaps is one of the most important parts of ordering a car window decal, and is normally overlooked. Every rear window is different, so there is no one size fits all graphic, unless the owner is looking for a small piece to stick in the middle of the window. The best way to go about it is to measure the outer and inner height of the window and the bottom and top width to give to the sign company. If there are any accessories on the window, like a handle or windshield wiper, then they must also be measured so that the decal can be designed around them. Such measurements assist in ensuring that 1) the decal is printed on a big piece of material to fit the window, and 2) once it’s trimmed, it will fit the real shape of the window.

Designing accordingly-Once the measurements are in place, one must begin to create a design, keeping in mind the shape of the window. Most graphics are trapezoid-shaped, i.e. the top is thinner than the bottom. As a rule, in general, never put images or text at the design’s edge as it may get trimmed off at the time of installation.

Use an editing eye- It is easy to "overdesign" car decals as they offer large space for advertising. When designing a piece, one must think of removing a percentage of it, as it is normally not required. Passing motorists will not have time to view a decal, especially the one that offers overwhelming information. Unless it's completely necessary and relevant, it should not be included in the design.

Never putting the text close to the edge- Even if the window has been measured perfectly there is always a likelihood that some of the graphic may get clipped off during installation. It is okay if it is only a small piece of background color, but incase it’s a phone number then the whole idea of getting a graphic is lost. Apart from this, it is also important to get the logo at the center so that no important information is clipped off.

Installation:

One must clean the window properly and tape the graphic to the window top with masking tape. The next steps involve, removing half of the protective backing and using a squeegee to put on the decal, removing other half of the protective backing and applying the other side.  Then using a razor blade, one must trim down the edges to get rid of excess material to leave a personalized look.

A lot of owners forget measuring their motor vehicles properly when designing their graphic. This can turn out to be a costly mistake, as not all car sign companies review the measurements to ensure they'll fit the particular automobile’s window. Rather than preparing the design in a rush and then getting a graphic that can't be used, it’s good to spend more time with measurements. It is also a good idea to get in touch with a reputed sign making company to get the best results. Reputed providers offer all the help and advice to their customers to make the whole process easy for them. Some even take out measurements themselves.

Saturday 18 January 2014

How to find a good sign making company?

A business sign says a lot to customers about your company, your values, and the reputation you hold. Your customers will assume, unfairly or fairly, the kind of status you retain in the society and whether your company is worth doing business with. Because of this, it’s extremely important to hire a good banner and sign maker to handle your requirements.

Finding a good sign making company

The role of a sign making company is very important as it acts as a mediator between a business and its potential clients. There is a matchmaking to be found. The customer needs the provider as much as the provider needs the customer; it is only a matter of logistics before one finds another for a mutually satisfactory business relationship.

Search at the right places:

Start the process by researching online. Most sign makers have websites these days. Log onto their sites and look for their capacity and rates. Ask for samples and get testimonials. This will help in ensuring that high quality materials are used. In case the provider is local, visiting the sign shop to see how they operate is a good idea. While there, look at the sample books and signs to find what’s appealing. There are all kinds of sign companies some that deal in specific signs such as wood crafted, molded, plastic, vinyl, bronze, or iron, while others can be fully fledged and equipped to make all kinds of signs.  Depending on your requirements, you can narrow down to a provider.

If you like the work of a particular company, speak to business owners who have already used the company and ask them how their experiences were. Also, inquire about the changes they felt in their business that could be linked to the signs. If they have seen a positive change in customer traffic then it is likely that their sign has gotten them more business.

Sign makers make life easy:

If you own a business or are a marketing director of a company, a good sign company can certainly make life easier for you. There is absolutely no question that you may require a lot of other things. But an important part is to choose a good sign maker. In general, customers tend to make a visual differentiation between which sign is more attractive and then end up making their choices on the basis of first impression. What comes after, are your selling skills that you must take responsibility for. However, getting a customer inside the shop is mainly the responsibility of the sign making company and the organization that took the job from you. A graphics and sign company can make or break your business by its ability to convey the message accurately. Without an easily visible, attractive sign, your customers will not be able to find you. Without any customers, your business will not be able to survive.

In case your business is a bit slower than last year, there is a good chance that your potential clients do not even know about you. You may have the best services or products but the ones you are trying to target aren’t being able to find your business. Apart from this, a lot of times, customers may not realize they require something till they are reminded of it. Signs are basically used to jog the memory of customers who have forgotten that they needed to make a purchase even if they forgot about writing it down. Working upon the observation of these impulsive purchases is part of advertising, and banners and signs play their part in this strategy.