Environmental Graphics: The Hot Product of ISA

International Sign Expo 2012

In March, members of the Signs By Tomorrow staff took a field trip to Orlando FL to attend the annual ISA (International Sign Association) International Sign Expo.  While many manufacturers were showcasing production and graphics printing equipment, environmental and vehicle graphics materials stole the show.

By utilizing cleanly removable adhesives (think of a heavy duty Post-It note) nearly any surface can be used to display your brand’s message, or add a touch of artistic class to an otherwise drab surface.  The beauty of this type of adhesive is that custom graphics can be displayed for a few days or even a year and then be easily removed without causing damage to the surface.

Commissioning an artist to paint a custom wall mural can not only be expensive but can take weeks or months to complete the project.  Now, full color graphics can be printed on vinyl or fabric and applied directly to interior and exterior surfaces.

Wall graphics are an affordable and efficient way to transform reception areas, conference rooms, restaurants, and even homes into stimulating environments.  Even if you have textured or brick walls within your facility, graphics manufacturers have created vinyl materials that allow us to apply a custom graphic directly to a brick wall giving the appearance that the image has been painted on the building.

From elevator doors and escalator walls, to stall doors in the restrooms, nearly every surface imaginable at ISA had some sort of graphic application. Vinyl graphics were even applied to carpets and the hardwood flooring.

Escalator Wall Mural

Custom graphics weren’t just limited to walls and floors.  There were also many examples of window graphics.  Most notable was a printable frosted crystal material that gives the appearance of frosted glass when applied.  This allows you to gain privacy with the frosted effect, yet still have an exciting graphic that could be seen from both sides.

Custom Vehicle Graphics

Although environmental graphics were the star of the show, there were also many new materials on display for vehicles.  Most people today are familiar with custom vehicle wraps; however, now we are seeing solid color wrapping films that allow you to change the color of your car or add distinctive striping to your vehicle.  The wrapping film is available in matte and carbon fiber finishes, which give an entirely different look than a typical gloss paint job.  There were even custom boat and vehicle graphics materials that resembled leather and ostrich textures.  These films are being used for entire vehicles, or even just to accent the factory paint by wrapping individual panels or the hood.

As your visual communications and graphics consultants, Signs By Tomorrow is dedicated to staying abreast of the latest signage and graphic materials and technologies to assist our clients in reaching their marketing goals.  Stay tuned for more news and exciting signs and graphics products from various expos across the country.