File Formats
What is the difference between vector and raster?
Raster is an image comprised of pixels, where vector files are comprised of formulas and line drawings that allow you to scale it to any size without losing quality
What are common thicknesses and colors/finishes of acrylic?
1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 1/2", 1". White, clear, black, frosted
What are common materials for dimensional letters?
Aluminum, steel, acrylic, HDU, gator, PVC
What does “one-way visibility” mean?
You can see out but you cannot see in, or vice versa
What laminate do we most commonly use for wall graphics?
Matte (shows less texture, perfect for walls)
What are some examples of raster images and what CAN we use them for?
PNGs, JPEGs; if the quality is high enough, we can use a JPEG logo or a PNG file, but not for anything cut-to-shape
What are some common uses for acrylic?
Acrylic on stand offs, ADA signs, dimensional letters, backlit signs
What are different ways to mount dimensional letters? What are the pros and cons of each method?
Tape and silicon vs studmount; tape and silicon can only be used if the letters are lightweight, going on a smooth facade. When removing the letters, tape and silicon will almost always take drywall with it. Studmounting will leave holes in the wall - studs per letter can vary, so number of holes can vary. You can also add spacers so the letters float off the wall a bit.
What window perf do we stock?
Briteline 50/50
What are different textures of walls?
Knockdown, orange peel, smooth sheetrock, popcorn
What color mode do we print in?
CMYK
How many standoffs would you need for a 36” x 48” acrylic sign? What thickness of acrylic would you use?
6-8 standoffs. We say every 18”-24”, so three along the top, three along the bottom, then two additional on the sides in the middle. If you are using large standoffs, you could make it work with only the first 6. 3/16” acrylic minimum.
Name some materials ONLY for indoor use, and some durable options for outdoor use
Indoor: regular PVC, any foam-based material
Outdoor: HDU (lifespan similar to stone), Acrylic (fine for in/outdoor - cost effective, not the most durable outside), alum, steel
Would a 70/30 window perf be easier or harder to see through than a 50/50 window perf?
Harder to see through - the second number refers to hole size of the film, so 50/50 film will have bigger holes and better one-way visibility, where as 70/30 film will have smaller holes and more privacy
What is low-VOC paint?
A paint commonly used in large, high-traffic office spaces - it doesn’t off-gas as much as traditional paints. It is harder to stick vinyl to, so if they have used low VOC paints, we should use something high tac like Mactac rebel for a smooth wall or Avery 1106 for textured walls.
Can we use university logos or colors?
No - we have to be very careful, universities are very particular about who can make money off of their branding
What are multimounts? Where would you buy these (or any other similar special order mounts)?
Stand-offs with an extra piece in the middle that allows you to set up two layers for extra dimension - MBS is a good resource for standoffs / mounting hardware
What are three things to consider when pricing dimensional letters?
Shipping (are the pieces so large it will ship freight?); colors (most brands have specific PMS colors they require be used for their signage etc, PMS colors are an additional charge); pattern (needed for spacing the letters/drilling the holes during install)
Calendered - but leave it up to production's discretion whether or not we laminate. Perf is a case-by-case basis.
What's an adhesion test and how would you perform one?
Testing our different vinyls to see which one sticks the best - you put the vinyl on the wall, really rub it into the surface, leave it for 5 minutes then try to pull it off and see which one gives you the most resistance. You don’t really need to test 1106 because it sticks to practically everything and it will take the wall with it when you remove it.
BONUS: What does CMYK stand for?
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, "Key" (black)
Can you mount acrylic with an underlay using french cleats or z clips?
No - since your vinyl is on the back of your sign, your cleats would be mounting to the vinyl and not the actual acrylic. It would fail prematurely if we went this route.
On a pantone book, which colors are the paint colors? What do the other colors refer to? Are there other paint codes we can use outside of a pantone book? Can you match a metallic paint with a pantone book?
The colors on the left that end in C, the CP colors are CMYK conversions of the corresponding C color; we can also use Matthews Paint System; you cannot paint match a metallic with a pantone book. Samples are really the only thing that works with metallics.
How does light work with window perf? What are things to look for?
Light distribution is what determines whether or not perf is effective - which ever side of the glass has the most light streaming in will be the side you can see through, so if your office has more sunlight coming in than light from inside the office, perf will not accomplish a privacy effect
What are some materials we use for wall graphics? What is each used for?
Avery 1106 (super high-tac, super-cast - great for low-adhesion surfaces with texture), Mactac rebel (semi-high-tac, calendered - good for low-adhesion smooth surfaces), 40c (removable adhesive, air-release - intermediate calendered, can conform to mild curves but is not a replacement for cast vinyl), walk-n-wall & phototex (removable, temporary, good for floor or wall graphics, canvas-like finish)