A New Flatbed Printer!

Santa came early to the Charlotte office of American Image Graphics! We just received our new wide format flatbed digital printer. We’re in the process of wiring and setting it up but it will be ready soon.

We will be able to print direct to materials like foamboard, Sintra and styrene in addition to the roll materials like decal vinyl. In addition to printing four color process we can print an opaque white.

Now we have digital flatbed printers at PA and NC Plants. Look for more information soon as we print samples and use it to be more efficient on production.

Here’s a manufacturers video showing printing of roll material.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Our customer First Restoration DKI has frequently donated their time and effort to help in the Extreme Makeover Home Edition projects.

They came to us before the recently filmed show in the Charlotte area. We had already marked their trucks with reflective graphics but they wanted to identify other equipment that would be seen at the project. We made reflective magnetic signs that can be switched from one piece of equipment to another.

Nichols Foodservice came to us to update their image for their vehicle graphics. Being a food distributor it was especially important to keep the design simple and clean to represent the care they take with the products carried. They also wanted to stress that they are an employee owned company and they consider their relationship with customers a partnership.

Mystery Brewing textured wall graphics

Recently we were contacted by one of our customers and asked to help with signs for their customer Mystery Brewing. Mystery Brewing is a craft beer manufacturer that’s growing and moving into a larger facility.

Working together we all developed a plan for signs and identification that fit the style of this 130 year old historic building.

One solution for interior graphics was 3M’s 8624 textured wall graphics vinyl. Since the material conforms to the shape and texture of the brick it resembles the old hand painted signs.

Follow me on Twitter! @rjarrettgraphic

Bus Graphics

The City of Asheville has added hybrid buses to their fleet. We just completed manufacturing and installing graphics on five new hybrid buses. The blue in the upper portion is paint color with cut lettering and the lower portion was printed and handled as a partial wrap.

Convenience at the lake

We recently completed graphics for a convenience store near Lake Murry (SC). Lake Murray has a series of water intake towers right beside the dam. It’s a landmark for everyone in the area. The drink fountain was enclosed and we wrapped the structure with graphics to simulate a boathouse with the towers as the focal point.

Art On The Move Video

In April I posted a few photos from the Raleigh Art On The Move bus graphics. We always enjoy working with the Arts Commission and share their energy and excitement on the project. Here’s a video they have posted with interviews of the artists. I always enjoy learning how they turn their ideas into the final art.  Thanks to everyone at the Arts Commission and CATS! Enjoy the video.

Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh

The Contemporary Art Museum is about to open on W. Martin St. in downtown Raleigh. We worked with them to raise interest in the museum.

Four different designs of sidewalk graphics were placed on over a mile of sidewalks to direct you and let you know the opening date of the museum. You can read an article at the News & Observer http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/24/1147920/cam.html

All graphics installers are not the same

All graphics installers are not the same. As with any other product or service you have many who do the job correctly and some who either take shortcuts or don’t understand the process.

All of our installers are seasoned veterans of the industry. The following example shows the steps we take to have a successful installation and a happy customer!

As an example, the attached video shows us installing Di-Noc on convenience store cabinets with doors. There are many steps for a successful install. First clean the cabinets thoroughly. It is better for the installer to clean the cabinets since few end customers realize how squeeky clean you need to get them before install. All doors are removed from the hinges and wrapped individually. Every edge and sharp turn of the material needs to have 3M Primer 94 applied. Primer 94 accelerates the adhesive bond and prevents decal failure. As a finishing touch, all exposed hinges or hardware are hand painted with a color matching the Di-Noc.

Art On The Move 2011

We again have the honor of working with the Raleigh Arts Commission for their Art On The Move progarm. Twelve transit buses are a showcase of local art talent. Local artists have submitted their designs to the Arts Commission and judges the submissions and selects the winners.