Signs of the Times - January 2014 - (Page 14)

T e c h nology Upd at e The "Feed Your Wild Side" super truck. Outcast Kustoms gained additional jobs by correctly matching Jack Link's truck graphic colors to its brand colors. is Outcast's most powerful Roland printer to date. It both prints and contour cuts graphics and applies Roland's new, durable, Eco-Sol MAX® 2 inks. To April, ease of operation and print speed is important, but she brags of gaining more than one customer by accurately producing the correct brand colors with her Design Strategies for Large-Format Graphics By Dan Wilson Dan Wilson, Roland DGA's associate creative director, has worked in the design field for 14 years and, for the past seven years, for Roland DGA (Irvine, CA), where he progressed from senior graphic designer to art director and, in 2012, to his present position. Dan contributes to Roland's marketing plans and oversees creative execution through all media. He holds a BA in Art from Azusa Pacific University. Contact Dan at dwilson@rolanddga.com. W hen designing for large-format graphics, such questions often arise as "What's the best color profile to select for the design work?" or "What's the correct resolution for a large photograph that will be viewed from a distance of 30 ft.?" While such technical considerations are important, they only take your graphic work so far. The most important factor for any successful graphic is the design itself. When designing for large-format, consider these key points: Define the graphic's purpose Differences in the purpose of your graphic will significantly affect the design. For example, a graphic that attracts tradeshow attendees to visit a booth requires a different design approach than one that conveys a product's function. Further, if a graphic is to stand outside a tradeshow's main hall, and deliver a message that's heavy with text and images, it may 14 SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 2014 Roland printers. She also emphasized that trucks often travel in extreme weather conditions and over long periods. "Even so, my Roland inks hold up," she said. n not grab the attention of attendees. You'll make better design decisions when you first define the graphic's purpose. Present the message clearly A large-format graphic's message should be instantly readable. To accomplish this, define what the viewer must understand first, second and third. Avoid trying to deliver each message with equal emphasis because such layouts result in competing visual elements and appear busy or confusing. Target your audience This often comes naturally, but it's important to ask the question formally. Clearly defining the audience often leads to more creative and effective solutions. Ensure all design decisions - from the graphic's overall personality to font choices, colors and imagery - have the audience in mind, while representing the brand for which you're designing. Include a call to action If the purpose is to get viewers to act - stop, go, read, call or whatever - does the design state the action clearly? Is it readable? Does it visually or verbally suggest a viewer incentive? If your design can inspire even a few viewers to take a single action, it is successful, so be careful of asking viewers to do too much. Combine a thoughtful approach to design with quality technical production to create more compelling and valuable images for your clients and their marketplace. By addressing the above design considerations, you can elevate your messaging - and your graphics - to a higher level.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - January 2014

Signs of the Times - January 2014
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Large-Format Design Strategies
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review - Agfa’s Jeti Titan X
Technology Review - Polytype’s NQ32 UV hybrid printer
Design Matters
New Products
Industry News
GableSigns’ Casino Signs
Dynamic Digital Signage Made Simple
Building Street Cred
Modern Sign Engineering
Advertising index
Editorially speaking

Signs of the Times - January 2014