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/

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

Have a Banner Day!

In our studio, every day is a banner day! The familiar term "banner day" refers to a day being noteworthy or of hanging a banner of announcement, usually of good news.*

This is Part 3 of 3 on substrates:  Context is Everything 

We print banners for a range of settings including trade shows, to direct school traffic, announce auto sales, tout a blue-ribbon award, herald a Bronco’s win, for concerts and fairs, to hang in bars and on light poles and sign posts, and to publicly thank sponsors or participants. Again, it’s all about context. Do you want to hang a banner outdoors that will weather the elements for a year or even longer? Is there a one-time conference that commands custom pieces? We’ve got your solution!

The wide range of substrate options for banners includes:

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 design is what gives it strength and durability. Its smooth, flat finish makes this surface ideal for large-format inkjet printing.

SoFlat®:   Described as scrim-less since this PVC substrate doesn’t have a scrim/base fabric. It is a non-curl substrate with a smooth, flat finish. It is typically used indoors because it is not scratch- or water-resistant. Commonly used for trade show, event and conference displays, it rolls up well. You see it use for many retractable banners.

Mesh:  Designed to let air blow through instead of flapping in the wind or tearing, this synthetic substrate can also be hemmed for a clean look and pierced to hold grommets. You see these on construction fences and at parks touting sporting and other events.

Canvas:  With a texture similar to a painting canvas, this substrates has a softer feel and is “natural” on the non-print side and painted white on the print side. While not as glossy as some other options, canvas is a common choice for setting that demand a more classic look; your bank or inside hotels.

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 frames to announce the current sale or holiday specials.

Smooth:   Designed for indoor use, smooth banners are defined by their levelness that allows for pressure consistency in printing. That leads to crisp images—even when viewed very close up. Available in a matte finish and can be printed on both sides.

SpeedPro Denver designed, printed and installed this special recognition banner and building wrap at St. Mary's Academy in Littleton

SpeedPro Denver printed 400 banners for Coors!

We hope you have enjoyed our substrates series

Topic suggestions are always welcome!

303.426.4199

denver@speedprodenver.com

www.speedprodenver.net

*source: answers.com

SoFlat is a registered trademark of Soyang

Affordable, Easy Transformations

It’s nearly spring! For some, it’s time to start planning spring gardens and freshening up interiors with lighter, brighter colors. Along those same lines, it might be the right time to start thinking about visual transformations you can make at your workplace. Investments in colorful graphics can pay premiums in increasing brand awareness, reinforcing a brand, or a thoughtful way to introduce a new brand within an existing product or service “family.” You already know that color matters, so do a quick audit of your surroundings to make sure you are using it to your competitive advantage.

Create Drama Using Color!

Using the tried-and-true color wheel to plan your own color scheme is the right place to start any design project. After you decide on your primary color, the additions to your palette will show themselves. Are you promoting chocolate brown coffee? A saturated green is a great complement (sound familiar coffee lovers?). If your setting has a natural wood texture, only saturated colors will do! If your setting is clear, for example, a lobby door, you can add color and even keep it transparent.

If your logo is driving all designs and is a comfortable, familiar blue, consider adding warm colors like red, yellow, orange and beige to supporting graphics. Besides complementing your blue, those color choices will make it pop even more. If your logo is already in the warm color family, then add a splash of a cold color; green, blue or gray.

Pastels work great on eye-level store-front windows or on posters and handouts but when designing for large format print, think saturation. A bright cobalt blue instead a soft light blue makes a significant visual difference—especially on a large scale.

Try reversing out your logo to white or black and put it against a bold, bright background to keep your look fresh.

SpeedPro Imaging of Denver specializes in transformations and would like the opportunity to bid on yours. We turn cars into baseballs, brick walls into announcements to show off blue ribbon awards, and non-descript escalator rides into colorful trips down Bourbon Street.

We’ve worked with hospitals, corporations, golf courses, advertising agencies, telecomm companies, casinos, schools, hotels, real estate agencies, sports teams, lawyers, and shopping centers to visually add interest to retail windows, business lobbies, conference rooms, hallways, elevators (doors and interiors) and escalators, and all types of windows (inside and out).

Then, our clients come back to us to provide great big graphics for internal and external special events and to wrap their fleets! 

Check out our impressive and extensive portfolio then contact us at 303.426.4199, denver@speedprodenver.com or www.speedprodenver.net

Use Walls and Windows to Maximize Your Brand Messages

Add vivid color, bright visuals and key messages to your business, school or entertainment venue with window graphics and wall murals. Affordable, easy to install and easy to change, you can order custom graphics for timely events, seasonal messaging, or for long-time placements. 

Transformations Made Easy

• See any blank spaces in restaurants, hospitals, schools and school auditoriums, casinos, concert halls, business lobbies, movie theatres or offices?
• Currently walking down long, beige hallways with small framed photos?
• Trying to keep your customers visually engaged as they roam around your venue without interfering with your primary branding?

These are prime spaces for wall murals! Murals are typically printed on a laminate that is well-designed to stick to a vertical surface and stay in place, but is also formulated to be easily removed.

Golden Mardi Gras Casino called on SpeedPro Denver to print and install four very colorful and engaging 37 x 11 foot wall murals for escalator riders to enjoy. Our own experienced team of two completed the job in a mere 12 hours in Blackhawk. 

Kaiser Permanente regularly has SpeedPro Denver print and install barrier panels at Cherry Creek Mall. We’ve worked with them for years on this and many other large format graphic projects.

Cost-Efficient and Flexible

• See lots of boring, generic “we sell stuff” messages?
• See any store fronts that haven’t changed in years?
• See any windows that should be providing a level of privacy to the inhabitants that aren’t?

These are prime spaces for window graphics! Transform a plain storefront into a powerful marketing tool with custom, colorful and engaging graphics. Choose from frosted or clear-back image window graphics, window perfs, and window clings that are single (First Surface outside looking in) or double (the Second Surface inside looking out). We use a new, reusable window film called Glass Adhere. This product uses a technology different than traditional “static” clings. It has micro-suction cups on one side, and can be used over and over--allowing you to rotate images regularly. If it ever becomes dirty, simply wash off it off and reapply.

We’ll talk about your objectives for freshening your window graphics and then suggest solutions for one window or for all of them! All our work is custom and your job can be printed and installed in a matter of days. Benefit from our extensive experience, contact us today for your free consultation. 

A sophisticated but modern look using affordable, impactful frosted window graphics conveys to visitors that details matter to you. Global fleet managers ARI chose to use its globe logo and added the bold arrows to project their positioning as forward-thinking professionals.

Want to make a memorable impression without overwhelming your audience with your logo? Cavender’s chose this photo of horses which beautifully expresses their Wild West offerings!

SpeedPro Imaging of Denver has worked with hospitals, schools, corporations, advertising agencies, casinos, real estate companies, lawyers, and shopping centers to visually add interest to lobbies, conference rooms, hallways, elevators (doors and interiors), windows (inside and out), and cafeterias. Then, our clients come back to us to provide great big graphics for internal and external special events and to wrap their fleets! Check out our impressive and extensive portfolio then contact us at 303.426.4199, denver@denverspeedpro.com or www.speedprodenver.net

Businesses Should Set New Year’s Resolutions Too!

Compared to challenging personal resolutions we often make like quitting smoking or losing weight, here are three easily obtainable New Year’s Resolutions for your business:

1.    Save your company money:  Invest the time to listen to new vendor’s pitches—they will most likely cut you great deals to win your business. Then, negotiate prices for the biggest buying picture for the year, the quarter, whatever time frame makes sense. Changing suppliers can be stressful and risky so check websites for testimonials and, of course, Google and Yelp for more first-hand feedback on your prospective partner. Then, build those relationships throughout the year by sending the new vendor the business!

2.    Clean out unused office equipment and supplies (you will never ever need those countless hanging folders again, really):  Give and get by donating those valuable items then promote your goodwill internally and through local media outlets. Or, sell off the items and donate the proceeds to a local school, food bank or other organization that fits with your company culture. Maybe use the funds to support an in-house celebration in a now-spacious lunchroom or supply room?!

3.    Freshen up the visual appeal of your business:  By thoughtfully placing affordable wall murals, canvas prints and floor graphics with attractive, relevant signage, you can effectively use your wall and floor space to reinforce your branding with the key messages you want to convey to your employees and visitors. Check out How the Color of Your Office Impacts ProductivityHow the Color of Your Office Impacts Productivity published by Entrepreneur Magazine for more information on color theory.

These resolutions are a piece of cake compared to dieting! (Did someone just say cake?!)

SpeedPro Imaging of Denver has worked with hospitals, schools, corporations, advertising agencies, casinos, real estate companies, lawyers, and shopping centers to visually add interest to lobbies, conference rooms, hallways, elevators (doors and interiors), windows (inside and out), and cafeterias. 

Then our clients come back to us to provide great big graphics for internal and external special events and to wrap their fleets! 

Check out our impressive and extensive portfolio then contact us at 303.426.4199, denver@denverspeedpro.com or www.speedprodenver.net

Question: How to Confidently Manage Your Event Planning Long-Distance?

Answer: Hire a local company that’s been there and done that countless times!

You’re an event planner and you love it. As the conductor waving your wand over suppliers, you thrive on the pressure of managing your event that’s going to take place in Denver from your East Coast location. So on the checklist with all your large format printing needs listed, choose a locally based, proven printer, and keep your focus on putting bodies in the seats.

In the early stages of your event planning, taking a virtual walk-through of any venue without flying out is a great option to increase your comfort level. Plan and address those details of the visual path your attendees will take using a variety of apps like Google Duo, Tango and ooVoo Video Call. These walk-throughs from your out-of-state location are a breeze with a local printer! And, a local printer will know the venues rule and regs for hanging signs, options for wayfinding signs, podium signage, oversized agendas, oversized speaker promo boards and trade show booths. 

Hiring local also gives you the benefit their familiarity with the in’s and out’s of delivering to all the big venues and hotels around the metro area. For example, at the Colorado Convention Center, deliveries for trade show booths without being an attendee must go to a specific security gate to ensure the delivery gets to the booth in very short order. Conversely, at The Denver Mart, print vendors can hand-carry deliveries right to your meeting room or booth.

Choose SpeedPro Imaging of Denver and you’ll experience the same high-level of service as our two clients’ quoted on this blog!  Reach us at 303.426.4199, denver@denverspeedpro.com or www.speedprodenver.net

Consider the workhorse banner.

You see them everywhere in your personal life from your local watering hole promoting happy hour specials, strewn across downtown streets announcing a Bronco’s playoff win, at fairs and festivals year-round, and when you’re crossing a finish line or watching someone else cross one.

The common banner is still an affordable and valuable attention-getting tool because its size with an interesting message and visuals can tell a quick story:  “Stop here for cheap booze!” “Don’t miss us, we’re amazing!” “Join the celebration now!” For business-to-consumer audiences, banners can be basic because the shelf life may be relatively short but they will look professional and are generally effective.

In your professional life, for business-to-business uses, banners can be designed with more longevity in mind. So, for example, when your marketing plan has your company exhibiting at three major industry trade shows a year, it’s worth considering the banner placement options:

·         Where is your booth location -- corner versus mid-row?

·         What size is the booth and many staffers will be working it at one time?

·         Will the banners be hand-carried or shipped directly to the booth?

·         Can banners be placed to be viewed from both sides?

·         Will there be room for floor banner stands and a back wall banner or would floor banners that extend to seven feet both provide impact and be chosen for the ease of handling?

Consider the shipping and handling of a six or seven foot back wall banner versus stand-alone banners designed with attention-getting messages at the top. Then, consider vertical banners that can be designed to retract cleanly—eliminating those worries about creasing your investment when packing up; just retract and go with the two or three foot case. There are even tabletop retractable banners that can extend to 24” 32” or 40” high—perfect for a smaller booth!

Great. Big. Graphics. It’s what we do. Contact SpeedPro Imaging of Denver to learn about the wide range of banner options available, tell us your situation, and we’ll suggest the best banner for your setting. 303.426.4199. www.speedprodenver.net denver@speedprodenver.com

How to Get Your Staff Excited About Working Trade Shows

Present the most eye-catching, stop-in-your-tracks booth graphics!

Before the doors open and all those wonderful potential customers flood into the event hall, a lot of the hard work is done. The planning, “should we invest in a full booth or create a booth-in-box?” and most importantly what to “say” with booth graphics will be decided along with considerations such as should an event within the event be sponsored? Who will work the booth? Who will handle the set up and tear down?

Trade shows are hard work but with the right messages presented in an interesting way, you can have booth graphics that stop prospects in their tracks or at least slow them down. Then, booth staff can feel more comfortable approaching prospects who have already engaged with your business even at a minimal level and they’re more likely to listen to the 15-20 second pitch your staffer has on the tip of their tongue.

Let’s say you are a company that is going to do numerous regional shows. A booth-in-box; a back wall banner, a table skirt and throw with a couple of pop-up banners may offer enough flexibility in booth size and placement to be an affordable, luggable option for a start-up. If you are more established, it might be time to invest in bigger, more complex booth properties. 

Choose Your Vendor from Design through Delivery

Since your booth properties are an investment, it will be worth-while to spend some time choosing your printer/producer. Longer-term relationships such as these are valuable and will save you time and ultimately money. You want a vendor that understands the context the properties will show in and that they are producing investment properties that will be used over and over. So not only do they have to be visually a stand-out, they need to pack and travel well too.

Plan and produce every over-sized print piece together. For example, if you’re sponsoring a happy hour, you’ve purchased a signage opportunity so a simple but interesting banner with your logo on it, of course, with a drinks on us sentiment hanging overhead can make enough of a statement. Having one printer produce all the items for an event will ensure continuity in the look and feel of the pieces--not to mention perfect color matches.

Make your staff feel proud and excited to represent your company confidently by choosing well-designed, colorful, show properties and it will pay off in goodwill and in leads!

Great. Big. Graphics. It’s what we do. 

Contact SpeedPro Imaging of Denver for a quote on your new trade show properties. 

We’ve delivered to all the big venues and hotels in the metro Denver area for years. 

303.426.4199 www.speedprodenver.net denver@speedprodenver.com