A World of Panes

Window graphics, window graphics, window graphics! I know I am repeating myself but I don't know if you realize what an amazing advertising medium this really is! This article has some fabulous 3 dimensional looks!
~Amy Donahue 
signage consultant


A World of Panes

Window graphics have emerged as a key advertising medium, particularly for retail firms. Print providers focusing on the niche know how valuable their output is for clients aiming to put promotions right in front of patrons’ eyes. “It’s a major component of the retail campaign at street level,” said Steve Kinney, vice-president of sales and marketing with Portland Color, a 30-year-wide large-format printing company in Portland, ME. “If it’s done well and done right, and I’m speaking of the creative execution, not just the materials used, you’re bringing people off the street and into the store with the message you convey.”

“It’s always a changing landscape,” he said. “We refer to it as temporary graphics. People dress their windows for a season, or for a promotion. So from a shop standpoint, it represents repeat business from the same retail base.” Kinney agrees window graphics are something many print providers’ clients must acquire on a consistent basis. “Window graphics are a key element in any brand position or new campaign,” he said. “A very large part of the campaign’s presence is having that window to attract the customer.”

Vehicle graphics, '60s style.

I LOVE classic cars... almost as much as I LOVE classic vehicle graphics :) 
~Amy Donahue 
signage consultant


Funny? You calling me funny? Do I amuse you?”
“No, but your car does. It has no doors.”
For those of you over 50 years old, you already know what a “funny car” is. For the rest of us, (ha) it’s actually a fiberglass reproduction of a real car that is raced in the quarter-mile drag strips all over the world.
The bodies are hinged at the back of a special chassis to allow the driver to get in and out, usually have enormous engines, and travel the quarter-mile strip in fewer than five seconds.
This car happens to be an “Opel Cadet”, of German decent. The real cars were imported here in the late ’60s and were very popular.
Here’s the “owner-driver” Mike backing the car into the shop. Good thing it was on Saturday. Can you say loud?

The owner, “Mike”, owns an automotive shop in Staten Island, N.Y. He and his crew did all the work on the car, from bodywork, paint, engine and chassis.
When he called me about lettering the car, he wanted to make sure that I could letter the car like the late ’60s and ’70s racers. I assured him that I was old enough to remember how they were done.
His only request was that he wanted engine turned aluminum leaf for the name, “Wild Cherry”, on the sides. The rest was pretty much up to me. He also wanted some graphics to break up the sides.
Creating the lettering was a breeze using my Flexi program. The paint mask used was R Tape; it’s the best! I used Oracal premium vinyl for the lettering that was not hand painted. The lettering and graphics were done with 1 Shot’s lettering enamel.

Article Author: Julian "Mr. J" Braet Publication Name: Sign Business Publication Date: 8/01/2008.