An example from my personal life has nothing to do with graphics; it’s about shoes. Whenever I’ve needed a new pair of running shoes, I’ve tended to look for the model that gives the best performance and then look for the best price. First I would look for the best fit, support, comfort, traction, durability, etc. Then, and only then, was it time to look for the best price for that specific model.  Sure, I end up paying more for top-quality shoes. But in the long run, I know they’ll perform really well, they won’t cause me some weird pain or injury, and they’ll last longer than “El Cheapos”.

A recent example from my large-format print shop comes to mind. An amateur artist wanted to know what it would cost to get prints of her paintings.  (Ah, see? The first question was “how much?”  My Spidey senses started tingling).  I explained that the first step was to scan her art at a high resolution and then retouch it in Photoshop so that my proofs would match her original. My charge for this is $225. She indicated that she would shop around for a ‘reasonable price’ and then have me produce her prints using the digital file she would supply. (“Hmmm…. I guess that makes me UNreasonable” I thought to myself.)  I diplomatically explained that slapping her work down onto the glass of a scanner at the library was NOT going to produce a scan anywhere close to acceptable.  Also, any scan would STILL require retouching in order for the prints on my combination of printer, media, ink, & other settings to match her original. For her sake, I hope she doesn’t waste her time & money going the “el cheapo” route.

Think of value as performance divided by price.  Now compare the value of the high-end running shoes to the low-end El Cheapos.  Even though the cost of the high-end shoes was higher, what I got for that price was much higher, so more value.  If I had spent less for the El Cheapos and gotten big blisters (or worse), you can bet my first thought would NOT be the money I had saved.

Sometimes I’ll be asked why I’ve spent so much on something.  My standard reply is that I always try to get the best quality I can afford, take good care of it, and make it last…. that goes for shoes, cars, and wives!  So far, my strategy has worked out really, really well.

Lone Eagle has the Roland 545ex printer/cutter which is used to make all of the vibrant & durable graphics mentioned above.  In this post, I’ll show you how the same equipment can be used to produce hundreds of custom printed & cut decals quickly.  A recent client ordered 1600 wine labels printed onto adhesive-backed vinyl & contour cut around the perimeter.  The machine deftly does a “kiss cut” around each printed label that cuts only the adhesive-backed vinyl but not the underlying release liner.  The client then only needs to peel them off of the backing and apply them to the bottles and/or boxes.

In this example, simple rectangles were cut around the printed labels.  But any intricate 2D shape can also be produced with this printer/cutter.  The applications include things like window & wall decals used for interior design, retail/POP graphics, vehicle graphics, etc.  The trick is to use Adobe Illustrator to include cut lines in your graphic design.  These cut lines are non-printing lines that are recognized by the printer.

This video shows you what I mean.  After about 100 labels were printed, the machine pulls the media back into the printer and starts to cut around each label.  Check it out:

But wait!  There’s more!  It’s even possible to print your design, remove the print from the printer, zip it thru the laminator to add a clear protective laminate, and then re-insert the media into the machine for contour cutting.  This is a great way to produce durable contour-cut graphics for vehicle wraps.  I like to use reflective vinyl for the cut lettering that goes over a wrap.  It really adds an awesome effect.

“Good afternoon, Lone Eagle.”

“Hi Rick, it’s Eric Olsen…..got a minute?”

“Hey Eric, how’s it goin’?”

“I know it’s late notice, and I understand if you’re not able to do it, but I’m announcing my candidacy next Wednesday and I was wondering if you could make me a big banner.”

A big grin slowly came across my face. First of all, I love it when clients call with tight deadlines & they’re not sure if I can deliver.  I’ve never missed a deadline…. never…. not once….. no matter how tight. Second, Eric is a friend of mine and the thought of helping him by doing what I do best made me very happy.

He emailed me some thoughts on what he wanted his graphics to look like and I got to work right away.  About 90 minutes later, I emailed him a low-resolution version for his approval.  (Would have been sooner but, hey, it was dinner time….. a guy’s gotta eat).  He approved it Saturday morning and I started printing.  About 30 minutes later I was busy punching grommets into his beautiful glossy campaign banner.  It helps to have awesome ICC profiles ready to go for a huge range of media.  It’s one of the things that allows Lone Eagle to fly thru jobs with both high quality and speed.  My local FedEx shop had it by lunchtime and Eric had it in his Fredericksburg, VA home by Monday afternoon (two days before the event).

Here’s a photo that Eric emailed me after his event.  That’s Eric on the right:

Put yourself in Eric’s shoes for a minute and imagine how he felt.  I’m sure he was relieved to find the package on his doorstep Monday afternoon….two days before his event.  Later, he told me how “awesome” his graphics were and how happy he was.  A great big smile came across my face.  That’s how we roll at Lone Eagle.  Now what can we do for YOU?

I was recently contacted by a local architectural firm to produce a wall mural.  Over the years, I would occasionally stop in to this firm’s office to give them various print samples used for window graphics, non-slip floor graphics, wall murals, etc.  So one day, when one of their clients asked about getting a big wall mural, they thought of Lone Eagle.  Nice!  So the local architects were my first partner.

Typically, a new mural job involves working with the client to determine what kind of image they have in mind for their space.  Then it’s time to hunt down the right stock photography, or hire a photographer, or design the proper vector graphics, or some combination of those.  In this case, the client had already picked out the image they wanted from the stock of a local photographer.  Luckily, he had shot it using 6×7 medium format film.  Whew!  So, now I had identified my second partner in this job.

The next step was to get the photographer’s med-format film into the hands of a high-end professional with a drum scanner.  In this case, the film was scanned at 11,000 ppi, using the proper bit depth and color mode which then gave me a beautiful digital file to work with.  So now my third partner successfully completed his portion of this job.

Now it was my turn.  The 10’ x 25’ wall mural was printed in seven ten-foot long strips at 720dpi, 16-pass using a Roland 545ex eco-SOL printer.  The media used was Dreamscape’s vinyl wall mural media.  The client picked out the “Mystical” texture – good choice.  After printing & drying overnight, each panel received two coats of Dreamscape’s Protex3 satin-finish liquid laminate.  This gives the prints a beautiful surface finish as well as protection from water, dirt, pollution, smudging, fade, etc.  So I guess you could say that my media supplier was my fourth partner since I’ve asked them lots of questions over the years and buy lots of my supplies from them.

My fifth and final partner in this job was the installer.  It’s easy to image everything going well up to this point but then turning out terrible if the installation wasn’t right.  My partner here was a local wallpaper hanger and he did an outstanding job.  Man, this guy knows his stuff.  I inspected the mural when he was done & I was impressed that the seams were so smooth and the image lined up so well.  Partner #5 rocks!

Here’s a photo of the end result.  When the client gets some time, they’ll build a hardwood border around the perimeter to frame it in.  When I get some time, I’ll forward the link to this blog post to all of my partners and say “thanks” for a job well done – by ALL of us.

After he left, I thought to myself “LUCKY?! Hmmmmm….maybe I WAS lucky.”

• ‘lucky’ that I had purchased a $30k, state-of-the-art mild-solvent inkjet printer.

• ‘lucky’ that I had made a beautiful ICC profile for the media he wanted.

• ‘lucky’ that I had enough ink & media on hand to complete his entire job quickly.

• ‘lucky’ enough to know to print at 720dpi, 16-pass (i.e., high-quality mode) in order to get the high print quality necessary for display at a tradeshow.

• ‘lucky’ enough to have on my website a method for him to conveniently upload his eight 380MB files to my shop overnight (www.YouSendIt.com).

Well, as you may have guessed by now, none of this is luck at all. All of the capabilities listed above were the result of careful forethought and preparation. The other shop didn’t have a decent ICC profile (they didn’t even know what an ICC profile IS!!). And they printed in “production mode”, i.e., low resolution & low number of passes in order to just crank the job out fast. As a result, there was absolutely NO control over color, ink limits, linearization, etc…. a sure recipe for terrible print quality.

The title of this blog entry is a quote from Samuel Goldwyn, the filmmaker. I’m not sure exactly what he was referring to at the time, but I’m willing to bet it was in response to someone accusing him of being ‘lucky’ upon seeing his success.

Home:

Children’s Rooms—Watch your kids beam with delight when they enter their special room for the first time, and every time after that. Enchant your daughter with a wall of horses grazing in a meadow, or inspire your sporty son with a wall of his favorite baseball players in action. Kids’ rooms can be transformed into a tropical jungle or an underwater paradise, all with the use of vibrant and durable wall murals.

Scenery—Looking to add some urban edge to your abode? Perhaps a black and white image of your favorite city skyline will offer that punch you’ve been looking for. Interested in bringing serenity into your home? A sweeping Tuscan vista could be the perfect fit. Wall murals can turn plain hallways into lush forests, mountain ranges, or soothing tropical beaches. Scenic wall murals don’t just add beauty to a room; they’re also wonderful conversation pieces.

Personal Photographs—You’ve always thought that stunning sunset photo you took on vacation would look amazing as a mural. Make it happen! Turn your digital images into art and your walls into representations of the people and places you love. For example, a mundane laundry room would be much more pleasant space when its walls showcase a larger-than-life tribute to, say, the family pet or last summer’s trip to the lake.

Art/Design—Abstract designs and artistic images are just as good at conveying mood and atmosphere as photographs. Incorporate your favorite colors and motifs into your home with an artistic mural suited to your personality. Decorate your bedroom with a whimsical mural of parrots in flight. Impress guests with a cubist painting filling up a space in your entryway. And why not make your breakfast nook ceiling look like a calming summer sky? The sky really is the limit when it comes to wall designs, so let your imagination run wild.

Business:

Promotional—Do you want to get the word out about your company’s tech expertise? Are you proud of your company’s history or your new logo? The walls of your business can easily be transformed into a captivating, promotional medium that will show your customers or clients exactly what you do best. You can convey a message and visually delight visitors at the same time.

Ambiance—How do you want people to feel when they visit your business? If you’re a dentist and want to instill a sense of calm, you could turn a wall in the lobby into a serene, bubbling brook. If you own a restaurant, you might add atmosphere with a wall showing a scene from your cuisine’s heritage. When you’re hosting customers, you’re in the marketing business. Give people a reason to drop in—with bright, beautifully printed wall graphics that people will remember.

Don’t want to cover an entire wall? You can still add small, contour-cut accent pieces to spruce up what’s there now. Beautiful fall leaves, whimsical snowflakes, or bold, flowing abstract designs are just a few of the possibilities. Because they’re so versatile, wall murals and contour-cut wall graphics provide an effective and visually exciting solution to any interior design challenges you might have. Think of them as a unique way to add character and atmosphere to any room. From serious and subtle to playful and bold, wall murals are the new secret weapon in interior design.

Imagine being a vendor at the World Travel Market in London. It’s the world’s biggest tradeshow for the travel industry and features over 5,000 international companies displaying exhibits for over 45,000 discerning participants. How do any of them hope to stand out? A great-looking booth is the first step.

Whether you’re in advertising, retail, interior design, or any other industry that uses tradeshows to spread the word about your company’s innovative products, you’ll need to distinguish yourself from the crowd to be successful. Carefully crafted, superior quality visual displays are a great way to give your company the edge. If you have excellent graphics to add impact to your message, people will be more likely to notice your exhibit at the show and, more importantly, remember it later. It’s vital to choose the right combination of media and printing technology to deliver colors that pop and crisp visuals that capture every detail. Here are a few options that will make your next trade show display attention-grabbing and unforgettable:

Retractable banner stands

Seeking a solution with maximum vibrancy and durability at low cost? Try graphics printed on polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) banner material. They’re made from recycled bottles and printed with water-based inks. And lamination will add protection as well as a variety of finishes including glossy, luster, or semi-matte. Try positioning three or four of these low-cost banner stands together to build one big, knockout image that won’t break your budget.

Graphics mounted to display boards

Keep your graphics looking fresh by mounting them onto sturdy, light-weight display boards. A variety of materials are available. Choose light-weight Gatorboard for ease of transport. Or Sintra for maximum durability. Or try Eco-Board; a strong corrugated display board made from 94% recycled cardboard. Pair that with graphics printed with water-based inks onto our FSC-certified coated paper and you’ll be the greenest exhibitor at the show.

Fabric table drapes

Every aspect of your tradeshow booth should highlight what’s great about your products. Fabric table drapes offer a unique way to give your display a high-end finishing touch. A number of fabrics are available for large-format inkjet printing of your logo and branding message. Egyptian Sailcloth and Venetian Heavy Canvas are two popular polyester fabrics that have the look and feel of canvas.

Non-slip floor graphics

Want to take advantage of a high-traffic yet under-utilized space for getting your message across? Just look down. Use your floor space to your advantage and give passersby something interesting to look at in an unexpected spot! And don’t worry; they’re non-slip and won’t damage the floor when removed.

Backlit displays

You’ve seen these lighted displays at the airport and the mall. They’re a great way to add that extra ‘punch’ to your message. Backlit display boxes for tradeshows are lightweight and allow for easy changing of the graphics. So now you can keep your message fresh from season to season, show to show, or even hour to hour.

Your business is to wow the crowd.

Our business at Lone Eagle Digital Imaging is to help you to do it with flair.

Some new materials from 3M allow digitally-printed graphics to be applied to cinder block walls, concrete walls, stone work, even brick walls; places ordinary adhesive-backed vinyl would no doubt fail. 3M has developed their rough surface wall wrap materials that are “sticky” enough to adhere to these irregular surfaces and “soft” enough so that when applied, they conform to all the little nooks & crannies. The end result is that the graphics look like they were painted onto these surfaces. The trick is in the installation process. A heat gun and a soft, heat-resistant roller are used to “push” the graphics into the surface features. These materials are being used now in sports stadiums, schools, public buildings, fountains, monuments, restaurants….. anyplace where a rough, hum-drum surface needs some sprucing up.

I recently installed a 6′ x 5′ school mascot logo in the gym of The Toppenish High School, a beautiful new high school in WA state. The vector graphics were printed on 3M’s 8524 media and then laminated with 8624 clear, glossy laminate. These were then contour cut around the perimeter of the logo to give the look we wanted. The following photos show the finished graphic installed on a painted cement wall and the happy school administrators.

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