Design

Best Signshop Vehicles of 2015

These shops have mastered self-promotion

Published

9 years ago

October 23, 2015

Steve Aust Signs of the Times November 2015 Issue

FIRST PLACE
Fabricator/Designer/Installer
South Georgia (SOGA) Graphics
Adel, GA
(229) 896-3535
www.sogagraphics.com

Given Adel’s proximity to two large Air Force bases, Robins and Moody, the region appreciates military-aviation history. Also, fighter-plane “shark” nose art and pinup-girl graphics have translated well into wrap graphics. SOGA Graphics produced the wrap on its Mutoh ValueJet 1624 solvent-ink printer using Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions’ MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply RS air-release film. Installer Brian Harrell applied Avery’s DOL 1380 matte-finish overlaminate using a Seal 54 laminator, and applied the graphics with Avery Red squeegees and a heat gun. He said, “We wanted a unique shop wrap that showed wraps’ limitless possibilities, and that showed our support for our local military bases.”

SECOND PLACE
Fabricator/Designer/Installer
SignZoo
Sarasota, FL
(800) 239-3815
www.signzoo.com

You’ve already seen SignZoo’s handiwork in its collaboration with Graphic D-Signs on an award-winning service truck. SignZoo’s Jaclyn Rebel said, “This design concept is consistent across our sales- and service-vehicle fleet, though it varies in color from vehicle to vehicle, and is widely recognized throughout our area.”
Using a design generated via Adobe® Photoshop® software, SignZoo produced the wrap with 3M™ Controltac™ with Comply air-release media imprinted upon by an OKI Data Infotech ColorPainter H2-74S solvent-ink printer. A protective layer of Scotchcal 8519 luster-finish overlaminate was added. The overlaid-vinyl layers were printed with 3M’s Sctochlite 680 reflective material on an HP L26500 latex-ink printer.
Rebel noted that some material was printed on black material to show that black reflective media actually reflects white, but, when printed upon, appears black. The shop subsequently cut the overlay on a Summa S160 machine, and coated it with the 8519 topcoat. All materials were applied with Geek Wraps felt squeegees.

THIRD PLACE
Fabricator/Designer/Installer
Midway Signs/Martha’s Vineyard Screenprinting
Vineyard Haven, MA
(508) 693-9592
www.mvscreenprint.com

Like the first-place winner, here’s another strong example of the link between military aircraft and vehicle wraps. Although this one emphasizes cheesecake over snarling nose art (certainly nothing wrong with cheesecake), a ferociously anthropomorphic bomb – retooled using Adobe Photoshop software for a cartoonish look, Midway’s Richard Mello says — is present on the hood, and simulated bullet holes provide a battle-worn look. Over a backdrop purchased from Aurora Graphics, the shop used Adobe Photoshop to create a rusty, distressed look. Midway printed the graphics in-house on a Mutoh ValueJet 1324 solvent-ink printer with 3M Controltac with Comply air-release media, which is protected with Scotchcal 8518 glossy overlaminate applied using a Seal 54 EL laminator. Mello and Chris Maciel installed the wrap using Lidco felt-edged squeegees, a BernzOMatic propane torch, an Ace Hardware heat gun and an X-Acto® knife.

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