The VinylXpress Industry Blog

Vinyl Xpress installs Mimaki flatbed and wide-format printers plus a RollsRoller Application table

Vinyl Xpress, a Concord-Ontario-based leader in producing signage for businesses, trade shows and retailers since 2001, has installed a Mimaki UJV-160 flatbed printer and a Mimaki JV34-260 super-wide-format printer.

The company now has the ability to print sizes up to 104 inches wide. It has also added a flatbed vinyl application and lamination table from RollsRoller sold through All Graphic Supplies.

Vinyl Xpress specializes in standard prints, large backlit posters, vinyl banners and graphics for windows, floors and vehicles, to fabric prints and decals/logos/vinyl lettering, continually providing clients with high-visibility products. It serves major Canadian and international clients such as The Hudson’s Bay Company, Sears Canada and Levi’s.

Vinyl Xpress owners Arie (left) and Tal Kasimov.

“The stunning quality and unprecedented turnaround times of these machines are just our latest efforts to better serve a growing clientele with unlimited options,” said Vinyl Xpress’s co-owner Tal Kasimov.

The Mimaki UJV-160 LED UV curing inkjet printer prints on both rigid and roll-to-roll media, making it ideal for printing onto paper, vinyl, fabric, magnets, wood, plastic, steel, carpet, leather, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), boat sails, wood, glass and other substrates. It also features zero drying time and UV inks that inhibit ink cracking. The JV34-260 super-wide-format inkjet printer features up to 1440-dpi quality and speeds up to 30 m2/h.

Vinyl Xpress’s repertoire of wide-format printers also includes the Roland SOLJET digital printer/cutter that enables printing and contour cutting on coated and uncoated materials. The use of Eco-Sol ink produces prints that are both UV-resistant and scratch-resistant.

More information: www.vinylxpress.com.

Large Format Printing is one of the best options for people to enjoy art in their homes in this day and age without having to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars purchasing art online or from local galleries.

With a large format printer, anyone can print the image from a piece of artwork on bond or glossy paper and display that image in their home for everyone to enjoy. Before re-printing artwork it’s important to gain the artists permission first.

Many More Uses for Large Format Printing

Besides being useful for printing artwork, large format printing is also useful for business advertising. Many businesses across the country use large format printers for printing up signs, banners, logo’s and slogans to draw attention to their businesses.

Large format advertising is more effective than other forms of advertising because, many more will see that form of advertising over a 30 to 90 day period compared to print, radio or television advertising that typically has a onetime run and offers a very low return on investment.

Wide format printing is also used by architects for printing up plan or blueprints and it’s also used in educational settings by teachers for printing up graphs and other instructional aids.

Should You Try Large Format Printing?

Many people might be tempted to try large format printing because, it looks easy but the reality is that this form of printing is actually harder than it looks plus, it can be expensive if you’re only going to do it one time.
To save time and money with large format printing it’s always a good idea to outsource this form of printing to a local printing company because, this will enable you to focus on other things while the printing company will complete your project in a safe and effective manner.

Billboards have been in use for over 100 years because, they are a highly effective form of advertising and promotion since nobody can’t help but notice a billboard when they are driving down the road.

Many of today’s billboards are still made the same way they were decades ago. First, an image is selected then it’s printed using a large format printer, then that image is rolled up and taken to the billboard site where it’s applied to the billboard using adhesive or some other type of substance that will help the image stick to the flat surface.

How Long Does A Billboard Image Last?

Billboard images last for 30, 60 or ninety days before they begin to fade due to sunlight or exposure to harsh weather conditions.

With the age of technology that we live in many companies who continue to use traditional billboard advertising also utilize digital billboard advertising to promote their products, services and solutions.

T.O.M.A. – Top of the Mind Awareness

One of the companies that popularized the use of billboard advertising is McDonalds. Back in the 1950’s McDonalds’s started displaying images of hamburgers and french-fries on their billboards across the country. These billboards were effective because, whenever someone was hungry while on the road their first thought was to drive to their local McDonalds to get something to eat.
Top of the Mind Awareness also was used by other companies like Coca Cola to promote their soft drinks and travel destinations like Las Vegas.

Billboards on Houses

During the economic recession more companies have turned to creating advertising slogans on barns and homes across the country. This form of non-traditional advertising has been effective at helping families that have been “strapped for cash” during the recession as well as catching the attention of drivers who might not normally consider those products or services.

Large format printing is becoming more affordable these days for businesses and individuals to print large projects like 20X20 or bigger on a regular basis. The great thing about printing wide format projects in this day and age is that large format printing no longer has to be left to printing companies any longer because, companies are now producing large format printers that can easily be used in any home or office.

Just Like A Regular Printer Right?

Many people make the mistake of purchasing a large format printer and think that it will be just like their small printer only a little bit bigger. Even though large format printers sometimes resemble smaller, commercial printers they are not the same and they require a little extra care and maintenance plus work when it comes to setting up drivers, insuring that you’ve selected the right image size and verifying that all cords are connected.

Paper & Page Size

Wide Format Printers are also different than traditional home printers in that they handle a printing project’s paper or page size very differently than a traditional printer especially when it comes to printing projects without margins.
When someone is using a large format printer, it will typically use two different sets of drivers for borderless printing which will help them to produce expanded prints and expanded pages. When someone is using the expanded page option, that driver will increase the size of their page so that it will appear bigger than the actual size of their paper.

Outsource It or Not?

Large Format Printing can take up a lot of time, effort and energy but the end result is worth it. For those people who print large items like banners, posters, signs or blueprints on a regular basis, they should consider outsourcing their printing needs to a company that specializes in wide format printing so they can save time and money.

Large format printing has been is use for years by businesses across the country to print signs, banners, posters and other larger marketing items to draw attention to their businesses.
Besides its use in business, this form of printing has also been in use for decades by architects to print up plans and blue prints plus educators have used it for printing up visual aids and other educational materials.

Best Paper for Large Format Printing?

Wide format paper typically comes in rolls and these rolls typically cost up to $100 dollars depending on the type of paper you need for the project that you’re working on.

Before choosing paper for your project it’s important to know how and where that project will be used because, there are many types of wide format paper that are excellent for outdoor or indoor use and you will need to choose paper bond paper that either has a matt or photo gloss finish.

Large Format Printing Problems

Image Type – One of the biggest problems that people have with large format printing is choosing the wrong image type for the project that they are working on. It’s always a smart idea to stick with an internationally accepted image type like Tiff or .JPG plus use widely recognized graphic design programs to create your image instead of graphic design programs that nobody has heard of.

Loading – Always take your time to load the wide format paper because, this will save you a lot of trouble the hassle of having to stop your project because, and your paper was loaded wrong or miss-fed into the machine.
Hard Drive Space – Large format images can take up to 5 GB of space on any computer’s hard drive so it’s always best to keep plenty of space available where your printer’s driver is spooling data.

During the economic recession marketing has become more important for businesses than ever before because, with profits at record lows, more and more businesses are searching for ways to increase sales and stay alive.

Effective Marketing

If a business owner has a physical storefront one of the best forms of best forms of marketing that they can utilize is large format marketing by printing signs, banners, arrows and anything else that will attract attention to their business.
For large format printing a large format printer will need to be used because, smaller home and commercial printers will be unable to handle bigger projects.

Any business owner can purchase a wide format printer for about $3,000 dollars if they intend to print banners, posters or other larger marketing items themselves on a regular basis but, for those business owners who intend on printing big marketing items only once or twice a year, it’s always a good idea to outsource their printing needs and save money.

Is Online Marketing Effective?

Besides taking a more proactive approach to local marketing for their physical place of businesses, every business owner should renew their focus to promoting their business online.

In today’s world almost every mobile phone owner uses their phone to search for products, services and solutions online first before they make local buying decisions. If a business can’t be found online, that consumer will only spend their money with a business’s competitor.

Every business in this day and age should have a website or blog to promote their business online plus they should be promoting their business on social media websites and blogs as well.

By investing one hour per day into online marketing any business owner will be able to generate more sales leads for their business and have a consistent flow of new sales coming in even during difficult seasons.

Thinking about creating a banner, mural or poster? If so, you need a large format printer. These printers are excellent for printing projects that smaller scale printers wouldn’t be able to handle.

Many large format printers can handle printing projects that are over 100” inches or more and they are typically used by businesses across the country for printing marketing materials and they are also used by artists for printing lithographs and screen-prints of their artwork.

Although it’s more affordable to outsource your large format printing needs you can purchase a printer for large format work. They typically cost between $1,200 and $3,000 dollars but the investment is worth it if you intend to do this type of printing regularly.

How Do Large Format Printers Work?

Large format printers typically use a roll of paper or printing materials rather than individual sheets of paper like traditional printers do, these printers are also equipped with dryers that shoot out hot air which helps the image that’s printed to dry faster and keep the ink on the image from bleeding or running.

The key to success with large format printing is choosing the right kind of paper. For traditional signs or marketing materials it’s best to use bond paper because, it’s durable and can be used for any type of project.
If you’re going to have artwork reproduced on a large format printer you should use lithography paper because, this paper can withstand high moisture content and it will dry quickly.

Where Can You Find A Large Format Printer?

To find a large format printer in your area, search online, or in your phone book. Before hiring a company to do your large format printing, make sure that they are a credited member of the Better Business Bureau and they have good customer feedback online because, happy customers mean they will do your job right the first time and provide you with a good return on your investment.

When the time to sell your house arrives, it can be a very tiring and trying time. Getting the most for your home can be very difficult, especially since the real estate market is so challenging. However, if you do a few key things to help your house sell at a fair market value, you will be on the right track.

Making Sure Potential Buyers Know Your Home Is For Sale

A giant sign with large format printing is going to be an amazing way to advertize your house. Those potential buyers that drive by will see the large print and know your home is on the market. It is a great way to get the word out. Another very smart way to get the word out about your house is putting ads in the real estate section. Not only listing your ad in the paper, but making sure your home is listed on the Internet will help increase the chances of a buyer sweeping in and buying your home.

Making Sure Your Home Is Show Ready

Of course, keeping your home clean during this time is a must. You want anyone coming to view your home to know you have taken pride in your home, and have kept it well maintained. The better your home looks, the more a buyer will respect that asking price. There isn’t any buyer that is going to give you fair market value if the house is trashed, so be sure everything from the inside to the outside is in order.

In no time you should be able to sell your house. If you do the right advertising and keep your place in showroom condition, getting the asking price should not be a problem. Always be sure you call back anyone that inquires about your home.

Have you ever thought about what it takes to get your attention when you are driving down the road? Is it a normal sign or is it a sign with large format printing that catches your attention? Advertising and marketing are some very important things when it comes to fast food places trying to gain new business.

Thinking About Starting A Fast Food Restaurant

A majority of people in the world will actually attempt to start a restaurant whether it be a dine in experience, or a fast food restaurant. If this is something you are thinking about doing, then you need to decide what type of food you are going to serve, and the message you are thinking about sending when people come in your establishment. Fast food means the food is prepared very fast, and the wait time is less than 5 minutes. That also means your menu needs to match those requirements. You need to figure out if the food is going to be pre-prepared or if you can make it super fast. These are very important factors when it comes to starting a fast food place. Speed and quality is everything.

Marketing And Advertising

Another thing you must do is be sure that the word is out you have opened a fast food place. One of the best things you can do is be sure you have a large sign in front of your building. The print must be large, bold, and easy on the eyes. You don’t want anything harsh, but you don’t want a basic simple sign either. Take the time to get the sign made by a professional if you don’t have the best creative skills.

Owning a restaurant is a great deal of work, but if you have managed all the duties the right way, you will enjoy a great deal of success and money.

If you are an amateur director, and you are trying to make your movie stand out from the rest, there are a few things you can do to make sure this happens. The very first thing you should do is figure out what the demographics of your audience is going to be. Will you attract a younger crowd, or an older crowd?

Simple Things To Remember

Once you have determined who your general audience will be, it is time to create something that will catch their eye. You need to be sure anything you print is in large format printing. The bigger the better. Go for a very bold title that will have a bang with it. As your movie starts to do the introduction is the best time for your large print to appear with the title. Timing is everything when it comes to the movies, so you must pay attention to what you are doing. Another thing to remember is sound. You want the sound to roll in just as the title starts to appear. Remember, you are trying to capture your audience’s attention.

Finalizing Your Movie

This part is actually really fun. Once you have completed your film, it is time to sit down and watch the masterpiece you have created. If you see something that needs editing, it is a good idea to write down notes, so you know what and where the altering needs to be done at. After you have fixed any glitches, it is time for another viewing. When you feel as though your film is 100%, it is time for a viewing party. Having friends and family screen your film is great, because you get to hear feedback.

This process takes some time, but is well worth it in the end. Just be sure you do your best.