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Beginners Guide To Glow In The Dark Graphics

by cole

When it comes to graphics in the dark you have 3 options to choose from, glow in the dark (phosphorescent) printing, fluorescent printing, and reflective printing.

All three of these have their benefits and drawbacks, so the choice ultimately comes down to your environment and specific needs. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at glow in the dark ink and substrates, fluorescent ink and substrates, and reflective printing to help you determine which type is better for your needs.

Glow in the Dark Printing

Phosphorescent, also referred to as Glow in the Dark or Luminescent Powders are pigments that absorb light and slowly emit a glow over time. The glow is best seen in darkness or under black-light conditions. Depending on the pigment and pigment load in the ink, the glow may last a few minutes or several hours. This comes in UV-curable and solvent-based ink series.

There are also glow in the dark substrates that can be overprinted with regular (the glow in the dark property would be reversed out print).

Advantages of Glow In The Dark Printing:

  • Ease Of Application: This does not require blacklight to be seen in the dark.
  • Substrate Employment: This can be used on most substrates.

Disadvantages of Glow in The Dark Printing:

  • Versatility: Has a slight green or blue tint to the areas of the design when the ink is inactive (in the light). 
  • Duration: Powder glow color & duration are not indefinite.

Fluorescent Printing

Fluorescent or neon-printed inks contain pigments that absorb ultraviolet light which then reflects back out. We use these inks heavily for daytime applications and even formulate our own colors to extend the color gamut. They also happen to light up in the dark under black light. If the desired result is for these colors to light up even more in the dark we add an optical brightener to the color process.

You can also overprint on a fluorescent material instead of utilizing fluorescent inks.

Advantages of Fluorescent Ink:

  • Substrate Employment: This can be used on most substrates.
  • Versatility: Holds the same color when inactive (in the light) and active (dark).

Disadvantages of Fluorescent Ink:

  • Ease of Application: Relies on blacklight to activate the color.

Reflective Printing

Reflective printing enhances visibility by reflecting light, making the printed design appear brighter and more noticeable when illuminated by headlights, flashlights, or other light sources. This type of printing is commonly used for safety applications, such as signage, vehicle markings, and equipment that needs to be visible in situations where lighting might be limited. Learn more about substrate options here.

Advantages of Reflective Printing:

  • Ease of Application: Highly visible, tested, trusted, and proven by governments, military, and corporations seeking to improve safety.
  • Substrate Employment: Can be ink or base substrate.
  • Color Versatility: Custom colors

Disadvantages of Reflective Printing:

  • Versatility: Requires light pointing at it.
  • Application Usage: Mostly used for safety applications.

Final Thoughts

All these methods for lighting up graphics in the dark have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If there is no way to add blacklight to your environment and color variations in the light are not a concern, glow in the dark printing may be the best option. If you need your colors to look the same in the dark and light, fluorescent printing just may be the ticket. If you’re looking to increase safety, reflective printing may best illuminate warnings and hazards. Ultimately, these approaches all offer an effective solution for providing eye-catching visibility of your graphics in the dark.

Grow your company’s revenue while personally enhancing your career! Glow in the dark graphics are awesome, but they take more than good artwork or a well-structured design to entice a consumer to buy a product. It’s a balanced recipe of great design, affordable manufacturing cost, clever placement, and judicious use of resources. Stay tuned for next month’s knowledge drop to learn more!

On the other hand, if you can’t wait or want to cure your glow in the dark graphic issues RIGHT NOW – click here, and we’ll talk today!

6 Ways to Attract Last Minute Purchases at the Register

by cole

Attracting last minute purchases is one step forward in achieving growth. The product we offer is very simple, we create communication tools that grow your revenue! When attracting last minute purchases, there are A LOT of factors and methods that go into a successful visual aid. We admit that it can be daunting taking on this by yourself and that is why we are here to help. We will focus specifically at tools to that help grow sales at the register. Let’s take a look!

1. Sneeze Guard Graphics

We have talked about how many are overlooking a huge opportunity to grow their brand when they just buy plain sneeze guards. The customer literally has to look at this product. Print a graphic on them! That opportunity of communication/advertising is priceless and would normally cost a company millions of dollars to get that level of awareness. Put a QR code or the latest marketing campaign or a new program. If you have already implemented sneeze guards into your environments. No worries, we have awesome aftermarket solutions. Ask us about it!

2. Counter Displays

Do you ever wish that you could just have someone stand at the register and hand them a product? Counter displays are as close as you can get without paying someone to do that. Except a customer’s guard goes up immediately when someone pitches them a product. These are dramatic yet subtle. The common subliminal message in these displays says, “It’s easy, just utilize me, I am right here!” But counter displays are a broad term. The message can be changed and improved. What message do you want to say to your customer? Do you want them to purchase an item right now or do you want them to grow trust in your brand? Don’t put a box around yourself when picking a counter display. We help customize the display based on what you want the message to display.

3. Point of Sale Kiosk/Terminal Graphics

At this point in the customer process, the consumer is already checking out. Their card is literally in their hand. You can’t get a customer more prepared to make a purchase than right now. This makes the ease of buying a product at its peak because a customer is already expecting to purchase something. Attaching it to a trusted financial tool like a payment kiosk builds consumer trust as well. You can communicate with a simple decal or attach a a reusable holder if you want to switch out graphics. Are you getting the pattern? The possibilities are endless. We can help you narrow down your most effective options, but the point is, communicating a last minute message at this time is extremely effective.

4. Countertop Graphics

A countertop is a very effective place to advertise because it is a direct and natural sightline as a customer waits at checkout. There are so many ways countertop graphics can be designed to drive sales that it would take forever to explain them all. You could utilize a clear, antimicrobial film as a substrate and then print subtle graphics onto it. Maybe you want a larger profile, stain resistant counter mat, that provides more information. The possibilities are literally endless.

5. Shelf Fillers

The intended purpose of these products were to retain sales even if a product was out of stock in the store. Shameless plug, we have a whole case study on why you should use shelf fillers, check it out. Back to the blog, we have also found these parts are also great at last minute purchases! Specifically, the ease of purchasing through a QR code gives very little barrier to entry. Additionally, the increase in perceived value when an item is sold out is highly compelling. In order to achieve this, your copy has to convey that you are giving an edge to the consumer viewing the display. It’s at this goldilocks moment that you have achieved a great shelf filler that can serve two purposes.

6. Wildcard: Cashierless Purchase Displays

We are calling this our wildcard pick as technically a customer doesn’t have to go to register to purchase an item, which is the reason why it’s so effective. We also chose this as a wildcard because this is fairly proprietary and is still in its youth stages. Checkout-free shopping is growing more popular by the day with the intended purpose to allow customers to buy items from shelves and walk out without interacting with a cashier. It can eliminate costs associated with checkout, long lines and wait times, and potential unsafe contact points with COVID. However, we have found that it has helped attract last-minute purchases. The ease of buying a product and having it immediately is what makes this such an effective tool for impulse purchases.

Grow your company’s revenue while personally enhancing your career! Merchandising graphis are awesome, but it takes more than good artwork or a well-structured design to entice a consumer to buy a product. It’s a balanced recipe of great design, affordable manufacturing cost, clever placement, and judicious use of resources. Stay tuned for next month’s knowledge drop to learn more!

On the other hand, if you can’t wait or want to cure your merchandising graphic issues RIGHT NOW – click here, and we’ll talk today!

Which Is Better: Static Clings vs Light Adhesive Clings?

by cole

When it comes to decorating windows and other surfaces with a cling there are two main options to choose from, adhesive clings and static clings.

A “cling” refers to (typically a temporary, vinyl) decal material that adheres to a surface using alternative methods of attraction.

Both types of clings have their benefits and drawbacks, so the choice ultimately comes down to your environment and specific needs. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at adhesive clings and static clings to help you determine which type is better for your needs.

Static Clings

Static clings are a highly plasticized (typically vinyl) soft pliable film that attracts to a surface using cohesive force. Unlike the name suggests, static clings don’t actually use static electricity. They are ideal for temporary solutions and are easy to remove, leaving no residue or damage to the surface. Static clings are also very affordable, making them a popular choice for temporary promotions, sales, or events.

Advantages of Static Clings:

  1. Installation Ease: Unlike other types of window graphics, static clings do not require any special tools or skills to apply. They are attached to a clean, dry glass surface by simply peeling them off the backing paper and pressing into place, or using a wet spray or application fluid to provide a clear, no-bubble installation.  These are generally twice as thick as low-tack adhesive clings, which provide a durable and clean look.
  2. Reusability: Static clings can be removed, stored, and re-used multiple times (if cleaned and maintained properly). This not only alleviates the cost and purchasing task of reorders, but reduces unnecessary waste in our landfills.
  3. Affordability: Static clings are the budget-friendly choice for programs with frequent graphic changes as no professional installation is required, and they are less expensive than low-tack adhesive products.

Disadvantages of Static Clings:

  1. Limited Durability: Debris may build up on the static cling or on the surface it is being applied to, which can affect its ability to adhere.
  2. Not Ideal for Extreme Climates: Static clings may droop or fail in colder temperatures (under 32°F) and in high-humidity environments.
  3. Lifespan: The clinging ability may decrease over time, particularly if the static cling is not used for a long period. The plasticizers can migrate causing the material to lose its stickiness.
  4. Ink Variability: The type of ink used when printing will impact the sticking ability, so it’s important to consider this when choosing graphics. Techniques to avoid problems include: choking in the art to leave a (no ink) border for optimum attraction to glass, reverse printing, or using an alternate static cling material.
  5. Surface Variability: Static clings can only bond to surface types with a similarly bonded attraction, this is typically only glass.

Low Tack Adhesive Clings

Low-tack adhesive clings are a type of window cling that uses a light adhesive to attach to a surface. The adhesive is designed to be non-permanent, making it easy to remove and reposition the cling without leaving any residue or damage to the surface. Low tack clings offer a semi-permanent solution, as they will stay in place but can be easily removed when desired.

Advantages of Low Tack Adhesive Clings:

  1. Durability: Low-tack adhesives have a better bond than a static cling to all smooth surfaces it can be applied to.
  2. Ideal for Extreme Climates: Can withstand more variable environmental conditions based on adhesive specifications.
  3. Print Variability: These are much easier to finish, print, and die-cut. This provides a wider range of production processes available for printing and die-cutting, expanding opportunities for cost efficiencies.
  4. Surface Variability: Low Tack Adhesive clings are more versatile when adhering to various surfaces.

Disadvantages of Low Tack Adhesive Clings:

  1. Reusability: Low Tack adhesives generally cannot be reused once removed.
  2. Installation Ease: More difficult to handle due to typically thinner gauge material, which can lead to the cling sticking to itself if an edge flops over while installing.

Advantages of Low Tack and Static Clings:

  1. Temporary Solution: Low Tack and Static clings are designed for temporary use, making them ideal for short-term promotions, sales, or events. They can be easily removed and do not leave any residue or damage to the surface, which makes them a great choice for temporary window graphics.
  2. No Professional Install Needed: Unlike other types of window graphics, clings do not require any special tools or skills to apply.
  3. Versatile: Modernistic offers screen or digital print, roll-fed or sheet-feed static clings of any size or shape.
  4. Affordable: Window clings are a cost-effective option as they do not require professional installation and are generally less expensive than low-tack adhesives. This also makes them a budget-friendly choice when needing frequent graphic changes.
  5. Safe for Glass: Static clings are safe for glass surfaces, as they do not leave any residue or damage to the surface.
  6. Energy Efficient: Depending on the size, window clings can help improve the energy efficiency of your store by blocking out harmful UV rays and reducing heat loss. This can result in lower energy bills and a more comfortable indoor environment.

Disadvantages of Low Tack and Static Clings:

  1. Life Span: Window clings are intended as a short-term solution for window graphics. If you require a more permanent solution, it may be best to consider alternatives to clings.
  2. Durability: Window clings use temporary adhesive, which makes them less durable compared to permanent window graphics, as they are meant for short-term use and can be easily removed.
  3. Accuracy: Window clings are not necessarily meant to be installed professionally, which can result in a more variable outcome as the final appearance may depend on an individual’s installation skills and techniques.
*These window graphics were professionally installed due to the need for accuracy and durability

Final Thoughts

Both static clings and low-tack adhesive clings have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between the two will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you need a temporary solution that is easy to apply and remove, static clings may be the best option. If you need a semi-permanent solution that is also easy to remove and reposition, low-tack adhesive clings may be the best option. Ultimately, both types of clings offer affordable and effective solutions for your window graphics needs.

Grow your company’s revenue while personally enhancing your career! Window clings are awesome, but they take more than good artwork or a well-structured design to entice a consumer to buy a product. It’s a balanced recipe of great design, affordable manufacturing cost, clever placement, and judicious use of resources. Stay tuned for next month’s knowledge drop to learn more!

On the other hand, if you can’t wait or want to cure your window cling issues RIGHT NOW – click here, and we’ll talk today!

10 Tips To Save Money When Buying Fleet Graphics

by cole

Fleet graphics are inherently one of the most cost-effective forms of advertising, passively driving your message home to millions while you transfer goods.

64% of US drivers notice vehicle graphics
– Nielsen Out of Home Advertising Study 2019
One Truck With Fleet Graphics generates an average of 30,000-70,000 impressions per day (10-14 million per year)
– “Measuring the Value of Vehicle Wraps” by ARD Ventures
Vehicle marketing results in a 97% message recall, compared to a 19% retention for stationary signage
– RYP & Becker Group
Out-of-home advertising generates nearly 4x more online activations per ad dollar than TV, radio, and print
– Nielsen March 2017 OOH Online Activation Survey

Memorable fleet graphics have great potential to increase engagement and revenues. Modernistic can provide cost-effective solutions for your next project – further increasing ROI to your bottom line. With fifty years’ experience printing, cutting, and installing major brand vehicle wraps, we’ve developed the following 10 tips to save money on mobile media programs.

1. Online Ordering

Ordering your fleet graphics from an online portal saves you time and keeps the buying process simple and organized. You can track orders and even let franchisees purchase the fleet graphics they need. Check out our easy-to-use online print ordering system here.

2. Know Your Fleet Graphic Coverage Options!

There are a lot of different graphic coverage options available to fit your budget and advertising goals. With the right graphic, it’s possible to achieve high-quality results that meet your unique business needs. Below is a quick guide.

Spot Graphics / Decals

Spot graphics includes simple logos and/or cut lettering to help customers recognize your business.

Partial Wraps

A partial wrap typically covers at least 1/3 of your vehicle makes your company stand out and enhances brand awareness.

Full Wrap

Full wraps allow you to create bold new looks to communicate your brand’s story and capture the attention of your potential customers.

Reflective Accents

Reflective accents are strategically placed to highlight parts of your vehicle visible both day and night.

Full Reflective Wrap

A full reflective wrap provides a dramatic appearance and better visibility no matter what time of day.

3. Utilize The OEM Vehicle Color

Expenses can be minimized by ordering vehicles in the color you plan to use for your fleet graphics and then adding eye-catching graphics! Dialog between fleet graphics managers and vehicle purchasers often miss this no-brainer idea.

4. Make Your ROI Count By Standing Out

Sometimes you gotta go big or go home! A unique fleet graphic will promote more brand awareness than a simple one. A slight upgrade to design and coverage may dramatically enhance that eye-popping effect. Take time to determine how the desired outcome will best be achieved within the scope of your budget.

5. Die-Cut Only

A common misconception in fleet graphics is that they must be printed products. This is not the only option! If the material comes in the desired color, we can simply die-cut it to your desired shape. Another great way to save money is to utilize laminates. For example, we applied anti-graffiti laminate on city buses that were constantly being tagged [spray paint]. Once installed, graffitied buses simply go through the bus washing station for removal – saving thousands in repainting costs.

6. Choose The Right Fleet Graphic Material

There are thousands of fleet graphic materials, film types that you can get lost in. We examine the application and the expected service life of your graphics to properly determine what substrate and process should be utilized. The risk of selecting the wrong material is not only a loss of time and money but could damage your brand’s reputation. When you’re talking about the essence of a company’s brand, the performance of a material is of the utmost importance.

7. Efficient Design

As is true in any marketing program, efficient foundational design can reduce the total cost of a project. In the example below, partial graphics are utilized on a white trailer, however, it gives the appearance of a full wrap. This not only reduced costs for the client but by utilizing creative art, their brand awareness intensified and resulted in improved ROI.

8. Think Outside The Box

Let’s face it; this is an overused business cliché. But the principles it stands for – approaching problems in innovative ways, conceptualizing problems differently, and understanding your position in relation to any particular situation – is our goal with every project.

Don’t overlook approaching a fleet graphics project with a unique idea. Below is an example of a creative solution, printing on banner material for a large scale, durable portable storage container fleet graphic campaign.

9. Design With Safety In Mind!

50% of traffic deaths happen at night – National Safety Council
Visibility decreases by 95% at night – U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Creating a culture of safety with your fleet graphics is more than reducing hazards; doing so can also increase morale and productivity, and decrease insurance premiums for your business. We have helped hundreds of fleets implement this by manufacturing and installing reflective graphics, keeping drivers safe and their brand at the top of mind, no matter the hour. For reflective best practices, we highly recommend reading the U.S. Department of Justice’s Study on Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity.

10. Curveball! Custom Paint Masking

There are times when a printed/cut fleet graphic isn’t the most practical solution. Custom paint masking can improve your bottom line if you have a paint process, need extreme durability, deploy a high quantity of vehicles, or utilize a complex painting assembly. Here’s a great example of how we helped save a motorcyle brand millions of dollars through our custom paint masking.

Grow your company’s revenue while personally enhancing your career! Fleet Graphics are awesome, but they take more than good artwork or a well-structured design to entice a consumer to buy a product. It’s a balanced recipe of great design, affordable manufacturing cost, clever placement, and judicious use of resources. Stay tuned for next month’s knowledge drop to learn more!

On the other hand, if you can’t wait or want to cure your fleet graphics issues RIGHT NOW – click here, and we’ll talk today!

What is Die Cutting?

by shawn

Cutting techniques can make or break a project budget. That is why it is important to learn when to use the right machine for the job. Otherwise, you could be losing unnecessary money. We will look at what die cutting is and when you should use it!

Simple Answer:

In its simplest form, die cutting is essentially just a large cookie cutter for your design. It’s meant to pump out parts fast and precisely. Similar to screen printing, the setup for die-cutting takes longer but is faster on the production end. Its sweet spot is large quantities with substrates less than .5” thick. If you have a thicker substrate or smaller quantities that’s okay! There are plenty of other cutting options and we have even die-cut foam up to 3” thick! That is why it’s important to have a printer with the knowledge and alternate cutting capabilities in-house.

A die-cutting project has 3 elements.

1. The Die Line

The die line is essentially the guide for us to make the cuts or creases. These die lines can be very tricky to read, but it is imperative that they are correct.

2. The Cutting Die / The Die

A die can either be curved or flat. We typically used a curved die (aka a rotary die) when the parts are small and there is a dramatically higher volume (think sticker size). Every cutting die has a base with blades sticking out of it. Some of those blades are sharper to cut straight through and some are duller to score the material in case you need it to fold or bend. The rubber pieces are to help the blades cut evenly.

3. Die-Cutting Machine

There are 3 major die-cutting machines: roll fed die-cutting, sheet fed die-cutting, and rotary die-cutting. Typically, a die-cutting machine is 4 feet wide so you would want the dimensions of the die-cut part to be less than 22” x 32”. We don’t believe in being held back and that is why we have some of the largest format die-cutting machines in the US.

The more you are under budget, the more revenue you produce. It is important that you are using the most efficient method based on your project specs and not constrained by machine capabilities. Otherwise, it can limit your budget and weigh down your bottom line. Shameless plug: If you want to know if your project is as efficient as it could be, we would be happy to give you a 2nd opinion! Our scope of equipment ensures that you are using the best method for your project.