Outdoor Color Provided by Nature

And by SpeedPro Denver’s Great. Big. Graphics.

Have you gotten comments about how easy it is to find your business? If not, it’s time for an update along with the spring cleaning. We want to share some well-researched tips on how to visualize and design the right signage for your business.

Make it Noticeable

Three out of four shoppers will visit a new store for the first time based on its signage, while many shoppers say a store’s signage is a direct reflection on its product and service quality. Numerous studies from both industry institutions to public research universities drive this point home--your organization’s outdoor signs have the power to increase store traffic.

The International Sign Association states that a successful outdoor sign holds four qualities:

1. Detectable
2. Conspicuous
3. Legible
4. Comprehensible

With these four key traits in mind, start visualizing your new signage.

Pick an Emotionally Relevant Color Scheme

Decades of research have gone into understanding color psychology; the science of how certain colors elicit specific reactions within viewers. Businesses harness color psychology to pick branded color schemes, selecting colors and shades that trigger a set of emotions they want to be instantaneously and even subconsciously associated with. From playful to authoritative, contemporary to classic, youthful to mature, luxe to price-conscious, colors help convey your company’s “personality.”

Signs that are designed using one of three established color-theory methodologies can boost professionalism, legibility and their overall appearance:

·       Biadic or triadic color schemes:  Biadic or triadic color schemes pair colors based on their position on the color wheel. As the root of their names suggest, biadic schemes use two opposing colors, such as yellow and purple, whereas triadic colors use three colors equally spaced on the color wheel, such as light orange, purple and green. The results are high-intensity imagery with natural light and dark components.

·         Gradient schemes:  Also called monochrome schemes, gradient schemes select one dominant color, then accent it with various shades of that same color. Signs with gradient schemes may lack the high-contrast intensity of biadic or triadic color schemes, but they can appear more polished and luxe.

·         Split complementary schemes:  Split complementary schemes pair one dominant color with two other colors that sit to either side of the dominant color’s direct opposite. For example, if the dominant color is red, the split-complement colors are light green and teal since those are the colors on either side of the red’s direct opposite, green. Split complementary schemes lend signs a brighter and more complex color palette while maintaining high levels of contrast but can take extra work to balance attractively.

Prioritize Readability

Is your font easy to read and are you thinking big enough? A good industry rule of thumb is the 10-by-1 rule, which states one inch of letter height can generally be read at a maximum of ten feet away.

Consider Using Texture or Depth

Texture provides contrast for outdoor signage, which increases both its readability and general appearance. Signs that include these visual elements also have an easier time distinguishing themselves from the crowd, their detailing allowing them to pop on the street.

·         Shading:  Shading increases letter readability. Signs can incorporate shading into the design itself through fonts and prints or by placing lights around the sign to cast strategic shadows.

·     Tone and hue contrast:  Contrasting colors give letters and graphics a natural pop. Signs with contrasting colors using the methodologies described earlier will naturally increase depth and textures.

·     Pop-out material or textiles: Signs are often tied to the appearance of the 2D materials they are fashioned from. While this most often includes base substrates like vinyl and canvas, it can also incorporate elements that look more 3D, such as contour-cut signage.

Go Digital

Digital signage shakes up the conventional, static signs spotted along the street. Since these signs use screens instead of printed substrates, they are innately brighter and flashier, plus are more readily customizable. Businesses can easily swap and replace the text and images on its digital signs without having to install something new every time branding efforts change.

Digital signs are especially beneficial if your operation changes its products and services frequently. For example, an ice cream parlor could advertise its flavor of the day, a restaurant its weekly menu and a gas station its daily fuel prices and snack specials.

Light It Up

Adding a light source to your signs will turn your outdoor signage into a 24/7, weatherproof advertising canvas.

The most common backlit signs use LED lights and frames surrounded by a fabric overlay that serves as your sign’s front face. When switched on, your sign illuminates text and graphics from the inside out. The results are enhanced sign aesthetics, clarity and readability, plus one of the easiest ways to stand out from other signs on the street.

Include a Graphic

More than half of consumers prefer signs containing both text and graphics, as opposed to only eight percent who prefer text-only signage. With over 85 percent of consumers saying they glean a company’s character or personality based on its outdoor signs, including graphics becomes that much more important.

Researchers believe this success comes down to heuristic cues. Signs with graphics can relay additional branded information about a business or service. Compared to text-only signs, graphics are language-less and have the potential to be instantly recognizable.

Outdoor signage represents your business. It conveys a tone and a personality, as well as what customers can expect when they step foot inside your space.

With these tips in mind, contact SpeedPro Denver

today and we’ll get started on your new outdoor signage!

denver@speedpro.com 303.426.4199 www.speedpro.com/denver

Do Large-Scale Graphics Really Boost Sales?

Survey says YES. We don’t even have to imagine the value, researchers have done the hard work. According to a 2012 study published by the Sign Research Foundation, sign changes generally had significant, positive impacts on sales, number of transactions and profits. Roughly 60 percent of businesses across industries surveyed reported sales increases averaging about 10 percent.

Let SpeedPro Denver create colorful, bold large-scale wall signs for your lobby, factory, hallway, retail outlet, windowless conference room, lunch room, casino, or movie theater. Anywhere there’s a blank wall there’s opportunities to reinforce your brand and key messages.

And, no expensive framed artwork is needed in our fast-changing world. Custom large scale wall signs, canvas prints and floor graphics are all affordable and can serve as part of any cohesive interior design. Research conducted as recently as June 2018 indicates a positive correlation between employee satisfaction and their work engagement. Take it a step further and include employees in the plans and decisions around wall murals in their workspace.

SpeedPro Denver has lots of vivid portfolio examples of great big wall graphics we've handled to give you some ideas for your location. We’ve worked with hospitals, schools, corporations, advertising agencies, casinos, real estate companies, lawyers, and shopping centers among many others to visually add interest to lobbies, conference rooms, retail outlets, hallways and cafeterias.

Contact Us for a Free Quote

We're happy to check out any site and give recommendations!

303.426.4199 denver@speedpro.com www.speedpro.com/denver

To Vent or Not Vent Your Outdoor Banners, That is the Question

And the Answer is: Do Not Vent

The working theory for many years was that wind vents would reduce the wind load on any given banner. In other words, wind would blow threw instead of pulling on and possibly tearing the banner. This theory was so widely accepted that some governments made vents mandatory for banners installed in certain locations. Springville, Utah went as far as to regulate that at least 20% of the area of a banner must be made up of holes.

But, wind tunnel tests conducted by aerodynamic specialists not only disproved the theory that slits, flaps or holes will reduce wind resistance but have scientifically proven they can be a detriment due to vibration and fabric stress within the banner. They tended to increase the wind load rather than reduce it. "The holes allow the fabric to ripple and catch more wind increasing the drag factor.” [i]

The aerodynamic specialists concluded (somewhat tongue in cheek) that “if you have a banner tied in such a way that it will remain flat in the wind, then it seems that the benefits of adding vents are minimal unless you want to make your banner into Swiss cheese.”

Here in the city and county of Denver, while permits are required for some outdoor signage, the city doesn’t dictate vents or no vents. That stated, to recommend the best substrate we always ask our clients about the install location of the banner and how long it will be up. Based on the research and our professional experience, SpeedPro Denver suggests a few materials that work with the wind without marring your design with holes. Here are a few examples:

Scrim:  Commonly used for outdoor signage since it is scratch- and water-resistant but can be penetrated for grommets for easy hanging. Scrim banners are made of vinyl and reinforced with polyester cording. The material construction is what gives it strength and durability. Its smooth, flat finish makes this surface ideal for large-format inkjet printing.

Heavy duty:  Ideal for fluttering flags that will go with the wind instead of fighting it, this vinyl substrate has high tear resistance due to the multi-layer design. Typically hemmed and with grommets, it is also ideal for prints that will be inserted into re-usable stands to announce the current sale or holiday specials.

To read more about the research referenced in this story, click the link below.

For a quote or to talk about your job, give us a call at 303.426.4199, email denver@speedprodenver.com or visit www.SpeedProDenver.net

To see and read about more banner jobs we’ve done,

check out our Studio News and view our extensive portfolio!

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[i] “Do wind vent holes in banners make a difference? We used a wind tunnel to find out” article published by Novella April 2016, Matthew Mason, The University of Queensland and Jonathan Roberts, Queensland University of Technology https://blogs.qut.edu.au/science-engineering-education-research/2016/04/25/do-wind-vent-holes-in-banners-make-a-difference-we-used-a-wind-tunnel-to-find-out/

Calling All Marketers & Print Buyers

Large format printers produce a lot more than trade show properties!

SpeedPro Denver prints GREAT. BIG. GRAPHICS. for all departments

SpeedPro Denver can support your marketing including all events—internal, external and sponsorships. And, we can support your facilities, HR, sales, and operations teams with signage of all types and sizes. With our specialized equipment we regularly produce:

Banners for the sponsorships, trade shows, industry events, and the company picnic—hanging and re-usable retractables. Scrim banners are commonly used for outdoor signage while smooth banners present crisp images--even up close. Let us know the setting, and we’ll recommend the right material.

Canvas prints–line the hallways with artwork, no framing necessary! An affordable option for even the smallest business, canvas prints have a soft feel and look.

Door signage–quick identification for the conference rooms, access restricted, supplies, you name it. Choose a substrate that will stay up for years or one that can be easily removed.

Easel prints–for the lobby to welcome guests. Customized messages printed quickly and inexpensively add sophistication to welcome VIPs.

Elevator wraps–entertain and inform employees and visitors. Still a novelty, use this space to reinforce your brand and key messages.

Employee of the Month or Reserved parking space signs that hold up in the elements–visually reward your best employees. Printed on substrates such as Max-metal, signs will stay up weather the elements for years.

Exterior signage of your logo in full color—be easy to find and memorable. Options range from single block lettering to wall murals to 3D treatments.

Lobby, interior and conference room windows with your logo full color or frosted—reinforce your brand. Window film such as Glass Adhere is removable and reusable but can also stay in place for years.

Seasonal graphics for the lobby and lunchroom—bring color to a typically sterile setting. Thin poster boards that can easily be hung and removed from most surfaces are affordable and fun.

Visuals for the big sales meeting–podium signs and posters in any size. Your speakers will appreciate the chance to customize messages and your audiences have come to expect it.

Tents and flags–create shade to show you care about your employees. Fluttering flags are fun and eye-catching. Tents for outdoor events can be nearly any size; cover your trade show table or a crowd of hundreds.

Vehicle wraps or decals–for your sedans and vans. Simple decals can be designed and strategically placed to make an impact while telling the world you a small business but ambitious! Full wraps are custom to show off your brand and convey your market position.

Wall murals–reinforce key messages and add visual interest to a space. For longer-term placements, wall murals can be any customized graphic, familiar scenery or as simple as big arrows pointing the way.

Window graphics–add color, fun and deflect birds. Pull in traffic with the latest specials or shield your interior space with engaging visuals while letting in light. 

Give us a call at 303.426.4199

email denver@speedprodenver.com or 

visit speedprodenver.net

to talk about your large format print jobs. 

We provide free estimate and will come to you.

To see and read about more print jobs we’ve done, check out the 

News & Awards on our website and view our extensive portfolio!

Why follow the yellow brick road? Because it visually pulls you in!

Create your own yellow brick road to . . .  

. . . get booth traffic at a trade show

. . . pull in retail customers

. . . direct traffic in a movie theater
. . . welcome guests to your lobby

. . . route marathon traffic with colorful mile markers

. . . steer your event traffic to the right hotel meeting room

. . . entertain hockey and basketball fans

. . . designate safe zones in a manufacturing plant, print shop or any industrial setting

. . . differentiate your booth at a street festival

. . . brand the schools' gymnasium with the mascot to promote team spirit

. . . create visual interest at the local recreation center

Floor and street graphics are engaging, fun and can be used for the long term or for that one day event. SpeedPro Denver can design, print and install your custom job. We can also remove your graphics--fast and affordably. Here are just few examples of floor/street printing we've handled:

Give us a call at 303.426.4199 or write denver@speedprodenver.com

 to talk about your large format print jobs. We provide free estimates and will come to you!

Studio Stories from SpeedPro Denver

We've had an excellent year and want to share just a few 

Studio Stories about some of the many, many projects we proudly handled

Client: Senior Living Facilities
Vivage Senior Living first commissioned us to handle a fleet branding in 2012. Since then, we have completed more than 20 jobs including the printing and installation of graphics for vans, sedans and mini-buses, indoor and outdoor signage, directional signage, indoor and outdoor banners, and door and window signage. We have worked on-site at nearly 20 Vivage facilities throughout the state helping them with branding and re-branding newly acquired facilities.

Client: Event Planner for a Hotel Conference
Event Printing Handled by SpeedPro from Start to Finish: ExamSoft, a Dallas-based educational software company, held its third annual user Assessment Conference mid-June in the heart of downtown Denver over three days at the Marriott City Center. Attendees were welcomed to their conference by a colorful 20' banner and a large 8' x 3' retractable banner guiding them to their event. Held on two floors of the hotel, directional signage was used to steer traffic to the variety of workshops attendees could join. Other large 8' x 3' signs, were used to welcome them to Denver and to identify help desk locations. Table tents, networking breakfast table cards and a series of 13 different social/ice-breaker 11” x 17” signs were strategically placed around the two floors. Several 10' x 28" directional signs for the on-site café, certification, and registration desks were part of the package. Podium signs, the special conference logo printed oversized and custom-cut completed the 360 view of the nearly 75 pieces SpeedPro Denver printed, delivered, installed and took down.

Client: Park & Rec Center
Zamboni’s, cars, trucks, trailers and boats--you name it, SpeedPro Denver can wrap it! In October we wrapped a Zamboni for Apex Park & Rec’s sponsor Great Clips. We also print ice-worthy dasher images for Apex including our own proud sponsor sign! 

Client: Government Agency
SpeedPro Denver has started delivering fun, colorfully wrapped 40 foot buses to Boulder County! We will be printing and installing full wraps for 20 buses with four different designs.

Client: Beverage Manufacturer
Coors Beer Promotes the Rockies on SpeedPro-Printed Banners: Tasked with printing hundreds of large format banners for Coors is business-as-usual for the Denver studio! We printed 400 banners; some 10 feet x 3 feet and some 6 feet x 3 feet long promoting the Rockies 2017 season at Coors Field.

Client: Museum
National Ballpark Museum added to our client roster: The "Best Kept Secret in Baseball," the prestigious National Ballpark Museum in LoDo commissioned us to cleverly transform this VW Beetle into a baseball! Located a short half-block from Coors Field, "If you are a baseball fan in general or are devoted to ballparks in particular, you owe it to yourself to visit this nationally recognized public museum," said Joe Mock from Baseballparks.com.

To see and read about more print jobs we’ve done,

check out the News & Awards page on our website

and view our extensive portfolio!

SpeedPro Denver 303-426.4199 

denver@speedprodenver.com  www.speedprodenver.net

Happy Everything! 

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Holidays and New Year’s!

Get the feeling the universe wants us to be happy this time of year? 

Why else would “happy” be so prevalent in so many greetings?

Do you decorate the business and home for the holidays? We mean all the holidays coming right up! Four happy holidays in four months is a lot. Did you know you can do them all justice with re-useable materials and affordable graphics?

To celebrate Halloween, do you have a spooky bold window cling on the office door welcoming visitors and on the conference room windows to add a festive flair to the space? How about chilling floor graphics leading up to your office door guiding visitors to enter and meet their doom? At home you can soften the tone and hang a door banner on the big night drawing the little ones in without scaring them. How about vivid window clings that you can use year after year? Or even more unexpected, a series of spooky street graphics drawing trick-or-treater's to your door. 

For Thanksgiving, the lobby could be decorated with the calm, welcoming hues of the season with something as simple as a burnt-orange desk throw with a greeting and the company logo. A big poster in the lunch room announcing this years’ annual potluck date would be a great visual reminder to participate! At home, instead of the typical door wreath, how about a door banner with a big turkey on it or a banner hanging from your front bushes to welcome family and guests? Custom table throws for your out-of-town visitors are bound to impress!

We tend to go all-out at Christmas, decorating our workspace and homes interior and exterior. Your front desk could transform into a winter scene by simply putting a holiday-themed table throw over it! Add a skinny Santa in front of a "tree" made of foamcore to any smaller space to get in the spirit of the season. How about a faux fireplace to gather around and warm up the mood of the office? Re-useable window clings work for both home and office on glass and mirrors and make their own statement.

New Year’s is the easiest, shiniest holiday of all! Hang an over-sized banner decorated with images of party hats, champagne glasses and lots of confetti heralding at the office and then take it home! How about a printed oversize photo collage of your favorite 2017 selfies doing fun stuff to show off to your party guests? 

Here’s a short list of affordable printed items that can be re-used year after year 

(with proper care of course):

Glass Adhere™ Window Clings:  Choose outside looking in and/or inside looking out for glass surfaces or basic? You can put clings onto mirrors too!

Fabric Table/Desk Throws:  A colorful throw will transform your front desk and show visitors you have the holiday spirit and perk up your employees.

Poster Boards:  Seasonal messages such Spooky Lunchroom Potluck Today, Join Our Feast on Wednesday, and Save the Date December x for the Christmas Party are easy to store.

Hanging Banners:  Indoor or outdoor that can be cleaned, rolled up and stored until next year.

Retractable Banners:  In a stand so you can change out the message anytime--they roll up and store beautifully and can be easily moved about the lobby or the porch.

Magnets:  Oversized to freshen up the look of your fleet or personal auto, they are easy to remove and store.

Custom Foamcore Cut-Outs: Your logo sitting riding on a witches broom, your logo in a range of sizes filling a cornucopia, jiggling on Santa’s big belly full of jelly, screened behind “the” countdown clock. 

Here are more high-impact, low-cost ideas for printed promotional pieces:

Floor/street graphics with images of skeleton feet, a running turkey, sled marks, reindeer feet, stumbling revelers, the could go on and on!

Custom event graphics such as posters, banners and custom-cut foamcore images like your logo or a Christmas tree to stick against a wall—no messy needles to deal with!

Decals (that can be removed cleanly) added to your existing wall murals to celebrate the change of holiday.

Call us anytime for ideas!

303.426.4199 denver@speedprodenver.com www.speedprodenver.net

Glass Adhere is a trademark of Pro-Graphics Network LLC