Epic Signs & Graphics Blog

Large format digital printing has revolutionized the sign industry. With this type of printing, sign companies can include great detail in all types of signs printed on many different materials. The wide format printers and equipment at Epic Signs & Graphics are designed to handle rigid, flexible, and many other materials to produce signs that look exactly the way you want them to look. In this entry, we will explore how versatile wide format printing can be for supporting the sign industry.

Digital Printing on Rigid Materials

On pieces up to eight feet square and three inches thick, Epic Signs & Graphics is able to print directly on rigid materials. We can cut the material into any shape imaginable to really bring it to life. Plus, the signs will have magnificent quality and color. Some of the materials we regularly print on are:

• PVC – Heavy duty and medium weight, this is simple to transport and install.
• Corrugated cardboard and card stock – Great for making boxes, posters for indoor use, and point of purchase displays.
• Foam board – Weight bearing, flat, very rigid, and durable. Great for indoor use, such as trade shows.
• Corrugated plastic – This material is a substrate great for indoor and outdoor use when you need something that is affordable, robust, and light.
• Aluminum – Primarily used for outdoor use, aluminum is quite lightweight.
• Composite materials and wood – Ideal for outdoor uses thanks to their versatility and ruggedness.
• Acrylic – A plastic substrate that is ideal for achieving a high tech, sophisticated look.
• Styrene – Heavy duty, lightweight material great for indoor use or short term outdoor use.

Digital Printing on Flexible Materials

Up to sixteen feet wide, we can print on any flexible and seamless material imaginable. We are also able to add a clear coat to the sign to provide extra abrasion protection, longer life, and more vibrancy to the color. The following materials are particularly popular around our shop:

• Double-sided – A black opaque material is sandwiched between two printable surfaces. This makes it so you do not see the printing of one side on the other.
• Backlit prints – These use materials that are strong enough for permanent outdoor use while still allowing light through.
• Banners – Typically made from twelve ounce material, these can be used indoors using matte or outdoors on gloss.
• Magnets – Once the magnets have been printed on directly in full color, we can cut them into any shape for you.
• Pressure sensitive vinyl – Ideal for when you need to adhere your graphics to a surface, such as a sign, window, vehicle, menu, wall, or floor.
• Mesh – Reduces the weight of large banners while also reducing wind resistance.

As you can see, there are a vast array of large format printing applications. These are just some of the solutions we can provide for your business. To learn more, you can contact us for a free consultation. We can help your business get seen and help build your brand awareness with vibrant, eye catching signs in every shape and color.

Canvases are not the only place where you will find masterpieces these days. On the exterior of RV's and buses, graphic design companies are creating works of art every day. And, not just buses are transformed into mobile advertisements and graphics on wheels with vehicle wraps. Trucks, vans, cars, and other modes of transportation are getting involved.

Whether you have leased advertising space with a transit organization or you want to wrap your own vehicle, buses are a great opportunity for you to increase your brand awareness. And with our large format printers, we digitally print your Cleveland bus wraps including graphics that stand out and get noticed!

Designs That Help You Advertise 24/7

The graphic designers at Epic Signs & Graphics are always itching for new vehicles to exhibit their creative abilities. Best of all, they are skilled at increasing the brand visibility and revenue for our clients, especially because bus wraps have the capability to be seen by up to 70,000 people on a daily basis. Designed to command attention, our bus wraps are hard to miss.

There are endless possibilities for vehicle wrap designs. Using the proper space, contrasting colors, typography, and images are imperative for getting your message across. Done by hand in the past, applying the lettering and graphics used to be a painstaking task. Now, full or partial bus wraps are much easier to make thanks to high quality vinyl and advances in digital printing technology.

What Our Team Takes into Consideration During the Design Process

We sit down with all of our clients and through that consultation, we take a number of factors into consideration for every Cleveland bus wrap we create.

• Typography – While the vehicle is stationary or in motion, your message must be legible. We keep the size normal and choose a simple font. The right spacing is also necessary. To make sure the message is readable in rear view mirrors, we can reverse the text on the front of the bus.
• Colors – By using contrasting colors, you can accentuate the important parts of your message. The message will stand out with a good color scheme.
• Tools – To create designs we can scale without losing clarity, we use vector graphics editors like Adobe Illustrator.
• White space – It may seem counterintuitive, but white space is incredibly helpful for accentuating the design. White space allows pedestrians and drivers to zero in on your message, including your company’s number, address, and name, after the graphics grab their initial attention.
• Images – When we work with larger vehicles, like trucks, vans, and buses, we generally avoid the temptation to turn the wrap into a collage. This is because we do not want the images to take over the overall wrap. We want it to complement it.
• Message – Last but definitely not least is the message. You want to keep it simple, since the bus wrap is a moving sign. If you list all of your services, benefits, and products, many people will not bother to read any of your information, and those who do will likely skip your pertinent contact information.

Check out what Epic Signs & Graphics can do for you if you are thinking of wrapping a bus in the Cleveland area. Click below for a free quote!

Do you own or manage an airport courtesy shuttle business? If so, that doesn't mean your vehicles need to be all one color or void of advertising messages. Why not promote your business and reach consumers with well-designed airport courtesy shuttle vehicle wraps and graphics? Cleveland and Northeast, Ohio shuttle service companies will benefit from full body wraps and graphics, partial wraps or vehicle vinyl lettering. Epic Signs & Graphics can help you stand out each time you drive to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

It is all too common to see shuttles of all types at the Cleveland airport. To deliver simple-to-remember messages about your company, you really need vehicle vinyl lettering and decals that fit the contours of your shuttle, whether it is a sedan, van, or other mode of transportation. We have worked with a number of companies interested in standing out from the competition to produce vinyl wrapping products that really catch your attention.

With our vehicle wraps, we provide vibrant backgrounds that contrast well with company information, such as your company’s logo, phone number, address, and website. Our graphic designers have decades of experience in the industry and can work with you to make sure your shuttle provides consistent branding.

New Customers Will Be Able to Reach You Easily

Though we generally recommend keeping it simple and crisp, we can embed information about your business. Two popular features many of our customers like to add are their company slogan and a QR code. QR stands for "quick response" codes. These are black and white pixelated squares that can be scanned from a distance with a smartphone taking passersby directly to your website. Other must-have elements include your telephone number and website address and of course graphics of your mascot or logo.

The vehicle wrap industry has really come a long way in the last decade. Even just five years ago, the materials and designs were drastically inferior. 3M, Avery Dennison and Oracal vinyl films are used for today’s wraps and created using heavy-duty, high-quality wide format printers. Without peeling or fading, the vinyl will last up to five years thanks to the material strength and coloration properties.

Why Your Courtesy Shuttle Needs a Wrap

There are many different reasons why you might get decals, vinyl lettering, or full vehicle wraps and graphics for your courtesy car or van. Some of these include:

• Reach the precise people you want to market to – The fact that you provide a courtesy shuttle to the airport in the first place suggests that you are looking to advertise to those who travel a fair amount. Where do you find people who travel? The airport! Advertising using conventional means will never be as effective in reaching your target audience as having a full vehicle wrap advertisement.
• Reinforce brand recognition – The more people see your branding, the likelier they are to remember you. And, when they remember you, they will call you when they need the services you provide.
• Inexpensive advertising – One of the greatest benefits of turning your vehicle into a billboard on wheels is that you can advertise your business 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact Epic Signs & Graphics today to find out what solutions we can provide for you. We design, print and install coutesy shuttle wraps in our Cleveland facility. Make your vans, cars or sedans shine and get noticed!

Custom metal plaques for Cleveland Ohio have become the signage of choice due to their lifetime durability. In your area, you have probably noticed the growing popularity of metal signage, whether it is for retailers or service providers. Epic Signs & Graphics is here to help when you decide it is time for your company to utilize this information display option.

The Many Uses for Metal Plaques

There are a vast array of uses for metal plaques. The need for wayfinding signs is a great example of this. You can add an extra level of sophistication to the mix with the use of metal, as compared to acrylics. Also, with metal, you are able to keep your displays and signage looking identical outside and in if your visitors will be traversing the exterior of your venue as well as the interior.

Metal never disappoints when it comes to renovating historic buildings. Acrylics do not work in this circumstance because the signage material needs to be as time honored as the building. Metal plaques even work well for less glamorous tasks, such as directory information located opposite elevators. You can project longevity, class, and durability and add immediate character to a building that is otherwise rather plain.

For your Northeast Ohio office building or store, metal ADA plaques are also a superb choice. You can highlight the locations of stairways, restrooms, and other necessary amenities since we are able to include colorful designs on your metal plaque, allowing you to display high contract graphics with these heavy duty materials. It is also very easy to make the signs ADA compliant by adding Braille writing to the plaques.

We Offer Etched and Cast Models

A picture of the item you have in mind is where a cast plaque begins. You may, for example, want to bring to us a picture of your company founder if you are thinking of creating a cast plaque with him as the focus. For your approval, we will then make a mold. Once we have received your approval, we will use the mold to create the plaque you desire. Our seasoned metal artisans have the expertise and creativity to perform this highly artistic process.

Chemicals are used instead of mold in the etched signs. When you have an intricate collection or shape of dark and light areas that need to be presented in a crisp manner, etching is the superior process. This process can be used for drawings, photo etchings, and recessed or raised graphics. There is little artistic interpretation of the material needed for etching, and the results are stunning.

Caring for Metal Signage

Our signs use bronze, brass, or aluminum alloy metals. In the care and cleaning of these materials, there are many different commercial cleaning products made especially for this. There are also numerous homemade cleaning solutions if you are a do it yourselfer. These typically call for anything from lemon juice to baking soda.

With their many uses and extreme durability, it's easy to get a quote from Epic Signs & Graphics; simply click on the button below.

At trade shows, there are two types of exhibits. There are those that really grab the crowd’s attention and that demand that visitors come to the booth. And then, there are those booths that are passed and ignored by people on the way to these eye catching booths. You typically have to fork over a hefty chunk of change to get your trade show booth. So, which type of exhibit would you like to be? Which type will maximize your earnings and sales conversions? Epic Signs & Graphics has suspended signs and tower displays that will serve as a crowd magnet.

Location, Location, Location

First off, let us talk a little about booth placement. This is a key consideration since the trade show attendees immediately take notice of the first few rows and aisles upon entering the hall or convention center. If at all possible, pay an extra few bucks or schmooze the event organizers to try and get the prime real estate.

But, what if you are new to the event? Or, what if you missed a few years and do not have the long history of attendance needed to garner the best spots? There is no need to worry. Good trade show signs and graphics can easily make up for any poor booth placement. Two of our most successful displays are the tower display and suspended signs.

Direct People to Your Booth with Suspended Signs

Depending on the venue and event regulations and restrictions, you can use suspended signs to immediately grab the attention of attendees as they arrive. Typically, suspended signs are sixteen to twenty feet in the air and suspended from the ceiling of the venue. The effectiveness of these signs lies in the fact that they are not that common.

You do not see many suspended signs at events because they typically take a little bit of planning and coordination with event organizers. Most events have riggers who will help you hang your suspended sign and subsequently take it down, usually using a scissor lift. This is too much of a hassle for your competitors, thus it works to your advantage when you get all the attention.

Tower Displays: Cost Effective and Highly Visible

Another crowd attracting option is the tower display. Compared to a suspended sign, a tower display differs in that it stands on its own on the floor. So, you do not have to worry about coordinating with event organizers to put up your display. A tower display gives your business visibility in all directions, 360 degrees, and it only takes a few minutes to set up.

Tower displays are also incredibly versatile, since they can be set up anywhere around your booth. We have several different types of towers, including prism, cube, tri-tower, and backlit towers. They also come in a vast array of heights between three and six feet tall. One great aspect of tower displays is that they also work great outside of trade shows in the lobby of your business.

Ready to make your next trade show a profitable experience?

It can be difficult for contractors to figure out which decals and vinyl graphics to use that will advertise 24 hours per day and seven days a week on their work vehicles. Whether it is vinyl lettering, full body or partial vehicle wraps or graphics, advertising on your work trucks is the best way to brand your business from contractor vehicle fleets to sole proprietors. Wolf Plumbing & Construction’s success with their vehicle cut vinyl lettering and decals are a perfect example of this.

Most contractors have an idea of what they want. Others are brand new to their sector and do not have a specific logo or branding materials. We have graphic designers in-house who are skilled in helping customers that need help in creating a brand and subsequently, advertising that brand 24/7 with vehicle decals.

Graphic Design Is a Science and an Art

Our graphic designers do not just use a computer program to create your designs. In addition, they need to be able to figure out the best positioning for vinyl on a truck. Their work is a science and an art. They gather all the information they can on a contractor and the company’s vision, goals, and mission by engaging the customer in a consultation.

Using industry leading software, the designer takes the specific client’s information and combines it with the science and art of vehicle graphics creation to produce the perfect vinyl and decals for the vehicle. The goal is to create an eye catching advertisement for your company that garners the attention you want, even when the vehicle is just parked outside of your business or at the job site.

What Is Best for Your Vehicle?

Both the commitment of our graphic designers and their creativity are exceptional on every project they work on. There are a few factors that will determine what the best graphics are for your work vehicle. One of the big ones is your company logo. If you are part of a nationally recognized franchise or have a logo you are comfortable with, we can match the colors and designs exactly to create decals and graphics for Cleveland contractors.

If you do not have a logo, we can work with you to help you create one for your contracting business. It is important to have a logo for branding purposes. You want to have an image that potential customers can see and subsequently connect with you. We will meet with you to create a logo you are excited about that showcases the aspects of your company that you want to highlight.

In addition to having a recognizable logo, to build a brand, it is important to have consistent colors in any materials that are advertising or marketing your company. Our designers deal with a full color palette. They will be able to match the colors you use for your marketing materials and enhance contractor branding with cut vinyl and vehicle decals.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into producing successful cut vinyl lettering and decals like Wolf Plumbing & Construction utilizes for business branding and marketing. As your first course of action, we recommend consulting with us to figure out which graphics are best for your truck. Epic Signs & Graphics can help you today. Click below for a free quote!

Cleveland business investing is going strong and it is evident with all the construction work and businesses opening around town. If you are in the planning stages of a business move or a new start up, give us a call about business signs. You need to ask yourself, how can you garner the attention you want with so many other businesses vying for the same customers you are? With building signs, lobby signs, window decals, banners, and even office signs, you can differentiate yourself and stand out in the crowd with all these types of signs.

Why Update Your Business Signs?

The obvious reason to have a good sign program is so that potential customers can see where you are and what you are about. A sign tells a lot about a company in various ways. An old sign that has not been updated for a couple decades and with lights not working, it will indicate a tired old organization unable to keep up.  A new monument sign with updated LED bright lights and fresh new full color graphics or dimensional lettering will convey an energized company that is ready to do business.

Some of our more popular sign projects around Cleveland recently include:

• Interior office and lobby signs – Upon entry of your business, customers will be wowed with a classy lobby sign that reflects your culture and style. Brushed aluminum letters or a panel with letters applied provides a memorable sign. The office signs can then be tied in with the same style to carry the theme through the offices.

• Exterior business signs – There are lots of options to accmplish a look that fits your budget. Signs mounted flat on the building against a wall are known as one sided cabinet signs, They can be illuminated and is generally the lowest cost option. Channel  letters are the individual letters mounted to the building. If the logo design lends itself, those can also be fabricated into a channel type cabinet as well. Finally, monument signs are the ones that are out front as stand alone signs made with metal or stone or both.

• Interior wall murals and decals – We produce wall murals of all sizes. We can print any image with our wide format printer and apply to full size walls. We also have various material options available. We cam also create wall decals that can be shaped to fit the contour of product shapes or even people. We can also apply vinyl lettering to walls that say interesting quotes. The options are limitless!

Do not delay as sign projects do take some time to develop. The process usually takes time for getting a consencus from a company committee, city approval if an exterior sign, creating design samples, estimating, fabrication, and finally installation. So don't delay, give us a call early in the process.

When you are gearing up for trade show season, Epic Signs & Graphics is your one-stop sign company offering all the tools you need for your booth to make an impact. The difference between going unnoticed and really attracting a crowd lies in having a great mix of displays. Whether it is special events, invitational fairs, holiday shows, or industry events, we offer the best quality range of Cleveland trade show displays to service providers, commercial building owners, and retailers.

Who Needs Trade Show Displays?

By displaying your services or products with eye catching displays, you can boost business no matter what sector or industry you are in. By displaying new product options, highlighting available services, and showcasing your expertise, skilled tradesmen, including electricians, contractors, and plumbers, can benefit tremendously from any of our popular display options.

Launch new items or promote the popular products your retail store offers by choosing vibrant trade show banners for Cleveland expos and events. Or, school can boost enrollment by marketing to older siblings and parents at trade shows. For example, if your school gives children a competitive edge with your science or English programs, you may choose to showcase that aspect to attract attention.

Any profession can boost their notability by adding the appropriate flair to trade show graphics. To demonstrate why your services are indispensable in the modern business world, professional service providers, such as accountants, notaries, and attorneys, need to use text and imagery to promote the benefits of your services.

How to Get the Crowd’s Attention

To really educate trade show attendees, there are a wide variety of display options that show marked benefits when used in tandem. Pop-ups are one of the most popular displays at today’s trade shows. These work well as full pop-up tents with side or front walls or as a backgrounds for display tables. You can draw attendees to your booth with properly spaced banner stands. They draw attention to the services and products you have to offer.

For your demonstration areas and display tables, a standalone panel system may be the simple solution to your backdrop needs. Include your branding coloring scheme and your company logo on a table cover. We can help make sure that your branding remains consistent with our wide selection of colors and fonts. Set the stage for brand reinforcement with floor graphics welcoming trade show attendees. This will also help you utilize your limited space to the fullest.

When only perfection will do, you need to contact Epic Signs & Graphics as you prepare for your trade show. We can make adjustments to the sizes of your various displays to make the best use of your space, offer you advice on what the best display ensembles are for your particular event, and we can help you figure out the logistics of how to erect your booth.  

Give us a call today to find out more about what we can do for you; or click below for a free quote!

The JV Soltis Group is a one-of-a-kind business resource for entrepreneurs in Ohio and across the country. Founded in 2001 by Jim Soltis, the company puts a twist on helping the small business owner. With over 25,000 companies aided to date, the JV Soltis Group finds solutions for entrepreneurs who may not otherwise have access to them. Partnering with expert vendors, they are able to offer everything from credit card processing to payroll to business administration tools to aid companies that helped make America what it is today.

Vision, Mission, Partners and Vendors

The vision and mission behind this organization are strong. Their vision was to revolutionize how small businesses can be managed and operated at optimal levels. They are seeing that vision come to fruition via their mission; to provide small to medium size business with affordable and high-value solutions to help them:

• Increase revenue
• Brand within their target market
• Decrease costs
• Reduce risk
• Improve customer satisfaction

All of these are possible through their connected partners and vendors that offer the most cost-effective and sound business tools to help entrepreneurs grow their companies, not lose them to ineffective management, tools, poor risk management skills and unwise marketing efforts.

Helping Ohio Business Owners

Although the JV Soltis Group has helped companies all over the U.S., they are headquartered in Ohio. Many of their ideals were initially set by the CEO’s great grandparents who were Slovakian immigrants. It is these immigrants who built America and is part of what makes the JV Soltis Group so attractive to both successful and struggling companies.

No longer do business owners have to worry about the corporate giants because the Soltis extended family of partners and vendors offer each client the feeling they have an entire Fortune 500 company behind them.

This organization also believes business branding is a must-do essential. Hence, they contacted Epic Signs & Graphics to help them create a new sandstone monument sign for their headquarters with graphics that are consistent with all of their other branding materials.

A Sign That Brands

When the company moved to their current location 11925 Avon-Beldon Rd., the property had an existing sandstone monument sign from the prior owner. Epic Signs & Graphics was able to use the elements of the existing sign and turn it into a high-impact visual.

The corporate logo and company name was embedded on the printed vinyl and then mounted on the bimetal substrate. Stud mounts were used to install the sign and cover the old images of the existing sign. And, because branding with monument signs was the goal, the process was done on both sides of the sandstone monument sign.  The result is now a stand-out noticeable marker and the owner was especially happy the sign was complete in just two weeks and within budget.

Do you have an organization that would benefit from a monument sign? A building complex? A neighborhood community? A strip mall or shopping center? We make it easy to get a quote; simply click on the button below.

Now let's take a look at the creation and installation of this monument sign for the JV Soltis Group...

The wide format printing process

The original monument sign

The completed sandstone monument sign

Have you noticed the increasing popularity of wall murals in businesses around Cleveland? Companies around town are recognizing the utility of these wall decorations as great for creating a relaxing or professional atmosphere and improved branding. In this entry, we will cover just some of the ways your restaurant can advertise, market, and brand using digitally printed wallpaper.

If you own a popular restaurant, it is likely you have had to deal with individuals upset with long wait times. You can help assuage any mounting frustration for waiting parties by providing them with an idyllic lake, Italian farmhouse and garden, or a tropical beach to look at rather than a blank wall. The stress and waning patience caused by waiting can be neutralized with calming murals skillfully placed in your waiting areas.

Match Your Restaurant’s Theme

Use a kind of wall mural that ties in the theme of your business. For example, if your restaurant specializes in the cuisine for a specific country, you can create the prefect atmosphere with wall graphics displaying scenes from that country. Perhaps, the canals of Venice can spruce up your Italian restaurant. Or, a Japanese pagoda will set the scene for your sushi bar.

Does your restaurant cater more to families? Do you try to attract birthday parties and youngsters? Kids may not appreciate the pagoda and canals mentioned above, but wall murals with cartoon characters, trains, cuddly baby animals, or dinosaurs will hold their attention. Screaming children can ruin the dining experience for other patrons: engaging digitally printed wallpaper will help distract these youngsters.

Aid with Brand Recognition

Using custom wall graphics for Cleveland restaurant owners can create a strong dining and branding association. You can soothe and entice customers and brand and promote by installing graphics in your restaurant. When it comes to taking your marketing ideas and plugging them into aesthetically and visually stunning mural displays, Epic Signs & Graphics offers you unlimited options.

Is there a particular dish that your restaurant is known for? You can have it transformed into a mural from a photograph. Customers new to your restaurant can immediately see what you have to offer and mouths will start watering. This is particularly effective for dishes you would like to promote for the long term.

You can demonstrate your restaurant’s commitment to excellence by using digitally printed wallpaper with images of your chefs and servers at work, fresh ingredients, and customers enjoying their experience. These images will subconsciously set the atmosphere for your diners to have a great time.

Wall graphics can bring unlimited added functionality and enjoyment to your restaurant. You can use them for advertising, relaxation, and marketing. You will be amazed by the compliments you receive when you set the tone for your restaurant’s atmosphere. Contact us if you are ready to transform the dining experience at your business for the better--or click the button below for a free quote.