Translucent Creations Allow Customers to “See You”!

Utilizing Shapes Relevant to Your Brand!

Cutting, for an additional cost, can be a unique way of imprinting your brand. Layering your branding is crucial tothe overall design and using shapes can accommodate this depth.

Interactivity with 3-D Business Cards!

Let your customers have fun when you put your image or logo in their hands. Use 3-D designs that provide interactivity and reflect your business motif. Ideas like pop-up books and raised lettering can add a nice touch.

Alternative Mediums Accent the Tactile and Sensory Reactions of Clients!

Being creative means stepping out of the box. It can also mean literally using a BOX! With the popularity of printing on alternative media on the rise you should consider utilizing materials like wood, rubber, and cloth to print on.

Letting Your Interactions Interact with Customers!

In addition to printing on other mediums you can make your cards into products that people use on a daily basis. The most typical thing to do here is make refrigerator magnets. Use your creativity to set yourself apart. We have seen packets of seeds, clothespins, key chains, and even jewelry!

Have you come up with any creative business card designs? If so, SEND US YOUR IMAGE and we will feature your business on our Twitter and Facebook pages for all of our clients to see! Share your stories or ideas below by commenting!

Banners are easy to design and can be done with a hired creative team or individually in programs like Adobe Illustrator and then brought to a printer for production. A good rule of thumb when designing a banner is the KISS method: “Keep It Simple, Stupid!” You need to decide which information you want to include in your banner design and effectively communicate it so it can be processed by potential clients quickly and powerfully. Good vinyl banners include a good image, a tagline, a company logo and contact details. All of this should be arranged and incorporate elements of your company or organization’s branding.  Banners are not limited to outdoor use. Classrooms, arenas/stadiums, stores, churches, restaurants/bars, and music venues. You can also create banners for personal purposes as well, such as birthday and anniversary parties, festivals and holidays etc.

BASIC TIPS FOR IMAGINEERING THE PERFECT VINYL BANNER:

** Let your message be the focus of the banner and don’t cover it up with a lot of fluff. The text color should work against the selected background color and not conflict. Use a font that is clearly legible from a distance to effectively reach a wider audience.

** Eye popping images can be a huge benefit to your banners! Again, the image you use should reflect the branding of your business or the mood you are trying to elicit from your audience. Ask one of our experts to check the layout and image resolution that would be best for your banner to ensure it doesn’t show up with extreme graininess or blur.

** This may sound like common sense, but decide where you are going to mount it and how you’re going to accomplish it! There’s nothing worse than paying for a highly attractive banner that cannot be used as envisioned. Don’t end up having to hang your banner “wherever it fits” because that is simply unacceptable. Planning for the display of your banner is crucial!

** As a rule, the colors of blue, yellow and green have high visibility on vinyl. Let’s face it…black & white banners are just boring and outdated.
Remember the KISS method. Simple banners are more effective than wordy banners. Place a short mission statement or catchy tagline in your banner to maximize effectiveness. Don’t let people ignore your banner…it’s there begging for attention so design it and conceive it as if that is the job it is intended to do!

Do you have any creative tips you would like to share?

What techniques have you or your design team used in the past that have worked effectively.

Feel free to comment!

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A STEAL: During the month of May in 2012 you can get a 3×8 banner for $99 (normally $168) this month from Elite Signs & Graphics in Winter Park, FL! We will ship anywhere so if a banner is what you need we’ll help you succeed! Feel free to contact our sales team at (407) 898.0111 or visit our website for a quote and further guidance on creating a banner that accomplishes your goals!

1.) WHAT IS THE SIGN BEING USED FOR?

This question deals mainly with the “appearance” of the sign. The look of the sign should accomplish the mission of your business. That may include the color scheme, fonts to be used, sign shape, overall design and appeal, and content. Good signs begin with good design. Good design means that your message and intent is clear, concise, and clearly visible to your target audience. Do not be discouraged if you are not blessed with natural, artistic talent! The staff here at Elite Signs and Graphics is here to ensure that your vision is best revealed with the signage we produce!

2.) HOW LONG WILL THE SIGN BE USED?

The material that you use for your signs or banners is crucial. The location of your signs will determine the material you want to use. Outdoor and indoor signs are composed of different materials and the life your sign will “live” depends on a careful selection of material. Common materials for indoor signs include paper (gloss or matte), banner vinyl, window cling (which can be perforated), PVC plastic,  and various types of stickers. Outdoor signs may utilize foam PVC, high density urethane foam, acrylic, polycarbonate, chloroplast, various metals or wood. It is critical that you inform your printer or designer of your intended location for your sign so the best material can be used to lengthen it’s life and make it worth your investment.

3.) WHAT IMAGE IS THE SIGN TO PROJECT?

Logos and branding are a very important element to all signs. Customers want to know the intentions of signage and banners and including artwork that is relative to your business is key. The situation that most businesses struggle with is how to provide art to your printer or designer. Preferred file formats are suggested because they save the designer time…and ultimately YOU MONEY. The preferred file formats at Elite Signs and Graphics are: high-resolution .AI, .EPS, .TIF, or .JPG. It is nice to have all files in .EPS format with all fonts converted to lines or curves so resizing of the artwork is smooth and flawless. Any colors used in the image must be specified as either spot (Pantone/PMS) or by a CMYK breakdown, based on the job requirements. Any image scanned into an image-editing application (i.e. Adobe Photoshop) must have a minimum resolution of 600 dpi at 100% of the requested size. Files supplied for four color process reproduction (CMYK) must be a minimum resolution of 300 dpi at 100% of the requested size and must be submitted in a CMYK format. We make these recommendations so your company’s artwork displays clear and crisp, free of “pixelization” and other negative effects that may make your signs look cheap. If you struggle with these art requirements feel free to contact Elite Signs & Graphics to discuss your options as our design team is spectacular.

4.) WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Defining a specific target audience allows a business to make the most of the money they spend on signage. Effective targeting paired with the right message can help small businesses compete with even the largest companies. General messages to the general public can often be overlooked because they have no specific goal. To define your audience, spend time studying your current customer base and researching your competition. Discover what strategies have worked for businesses in a similar vein. Speak to your audience by clearly stating why that particular target group would love your product or service. Engaging and appealing messages are key and should be considered when deciding how to get your message across with the use of banners or signs.

5.) WHAT IS THE VIEWING DISTANCE OF MY SIGN?

The amount of information you can successfully use on a sign depends on the distance of the viewer and whether the viewer is moving or standing still. You must determine from how far you want your viewers to clearly see your sign. It’s important to remember that unless your brand is fully established and recognizable, for the most part PEOPLE DON’T READ SIGNS! They read the lettering that composes the message on the sign. Lettering size and distance are important considerations. Several cities and townships have ordinances that limit the size of outdoor signs and removal of signs can be costly, so look into that before you decide what size to use. Also, be sure to acquire all necessary permits for outdoor signs from your local government entity.

6.) WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?

Decide in conjunction with the team at Elite Signs & Graphics what budget you are working with early enough to make important decisions regarding your signs. Budgeting effects the material and complexity of your sign, the time dedicated to design and appearance, and more. It is important, especially for start-ups, to consider the cost of signage into their initial business plans. While avoiding the inexpensive look, Elite Signs and Graphics will work with your business to find a budget-conscious, affordable solution to suit your advertising or branding needs.

7.) ARE THERE ADDITIONAL SIGN NEEDS?

Sometimes one sign just won’t cut it. You may need additional opportunities for potential customers to locate your facility or company, stay notified of specials or discounts, or even something as simple as letting the locals know you are hiring! Your company may need temporary signage while construction is underway. Look at your business from all angles and determine the number of signs you need to effectively engage with the public. Additional elements can be added to your sign later as well. Lighting, finish, and weatherproofing can be added to sustain the life of your signs or illuminate them during night hours. READ OUR BLOG POST ON LIGHTING BY CLICKING HERE! Bring your business layout to Elite Signs and Graphics and let our talented team help you decide how to maximize your company’s marketing potential.

8.) WHO ELSE NEEDS GOOD SIGNAGE?

Referrals are the key to great business. If you are happy with the job that Elite Signs & Graphics has done for you then we want you to recommend us. Doing so will lead to bigger savings for you! Stay interactive and be sure to recommend your sign design team on social sites like Facebook and Twitter. Writing reviews on Google or Yelp! are excellent ways to let your clients and business partners know what has worked for you and leads to a positive interaction within the community! Be sure to ask the staff at Elite Signs how you can help them as well when you become one of our hundreds of satisfied customers!

There are several ways to illuminate signage. Illumination can be provided by lamps mounted outside it and oriented to shine on the sign’s face. Another way is by internally lighting the sign so that they shine your logo and business name to all passerby. Elements such as exposed bulbs, LEDs, or neon-style tubing are also used commonly to bring attention to sign content. Rapidly developing technology is creating a virtually unlimited variety of possibilities, many of which are very economical to install and maintain, as well as being energy-efficient.

When you select the color scheme for your business, you should consider your sign’s illumination options at the same time, because the illumination you choose can have an effect on the sign’s appearance. Your business’s colors are important. That consistency of your brand is necessary. You should be careful to choose an illumination source with a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) rating. Many businesses want their sign’s colors to match their print and other media advertising exactly. Some forms of illumination are much better than others at accurately displaying color and it is an important consideration.

A properly lighted sign should be bright enough that it can compete with other signs in the area without being annoying. Many cities are beginning to impose limits on brightness, so before designing a sign you should check to see what those limits might be to determine whether your sign will be visible at night.

For consultation or pricing quotes on design, installation, and illumination of your signs please contact Elite Signs & Graphics at 407-898-0111.

Custom designed vehicle Graphics for Physicians United Plan.