WALL MURALS by ICL Imaging

WALL MURALS

5 Things to Consider when Producing a Wall Mural.

Wallpaper by ICL Imaging

It comes down to 2 choices; Wallpaper or Adhesive Vinyl, but which one?  

1. Removability

How long do you plan on having the wallcovering up?  Short Term less than a year or two, or longer term up to 5 years or more.

Wallpaper can be removed fairly easily if the walls have been properly primed prior to the installation.

After the wallpaper is removed the walls can be lightly washed with soap and water to easily clean any residual adhesive remaining.

Vinyl adhesive; Depending on the type, permanent or removable, it will depend on how easy it is or not to remove.  Long term, the permanent Vinyl Adhesive, will stick better and of course will be harder to remove.  For short term applications, a removable vinyl adhesive is the way to go.

FABJET II from Quality Media and Laminating is an adhesive backed fabric that is ultra removable, excellent opacity and has a waterfast coating suitable for cleaning.  Negative concern is it is ultra removable making it not a good choice for public areas.

2. Wall Surface

The surface texture of a wall can make can or break the success of an installation.  Rough textures do not hold the adhesives well.

Glossy painted walls are difficult to adhere to. Vinyl adhesives won't adhere very well to matte wall surfaces.  

Eggshell paint is a terrible surface to bond to except for the FABJET II!
Wall surfaces should be both clean and smooth
For Wallpaper, use a Shieldz brand primer product such as Clear for solid painted walls and White for new walls
For Adhesive Vinyl, it's best to use a latex semi-gloss paint and allow to dry and cure for at least 2 weeks.

3. Finished Look of Wall Mural

Adhesive Vinyl for Tufts

Vinyl adhesive material requires overlapping seams due to the natural shrinkage of the material that will occur early on after installation. These small seams, depending on your image, can be noticeable. A vinyl material for long term will need an overlam applied to it.  Surface choices can be matte, lustre or gloss.

Wall-paper material can be overlapped then double cut creating very tight seams with no overlap showing. Wallpaper materials come in a variety of surface textures however colors can appear a little flatter / less saturated than on adhesive vinyl

4.  Wall Variations 

Windows and door frames can cause installation problems if the correct material is not used.  If you want to cover your walls, door and window casings with a wall graphic, wallpaper is probably not going to work for you.  Vinyl adhesive will conform better to the corners and angles of the casings and will adhere better with its' more aggressive adhesive.

Nature Conservancy Wallpaper

5. Installation

The Wall; Before the installation takes place the walls should be spackled and sanded wherever necessary and then wiped clean. 

Wallpaper; Before hanging, the wall has to be primed with a white primer. Priming promotes adhesion. Kilz brand primers have show excellent results and reduce staining and bleed through problems.  Allow at least 5 full days of drying before applying graphics. Do not use latex W as the wallpaper paste can soften the latex making the paper become part of the wall.

Adhesive Vinyl; It's best to use a latex semi-gloss paint and allow to dry and cure for at least 2 weeks to eliminate the outgassing that would create bubbles under the wall mural material.

So what material should I use?  ICL Imaging's sales reps will be glad to answer that question for you - just shoot us an email, info@icl-imaging.com, and we'll be glad to review your wallcovering project and offer you the best product solution.

Adhesive Vinyl for Maine State Lottery

For more information about ICL Imaging, its' products and services, please contact us at

Tel: 508 872 3280

Email: info@icl-imaging.com

or check us out at

icl-imaging.com

Color Management at ICL IMAGING

ICL Imaging's Color Management is one of the top reasons clients do business with us.

Color Management:

ICL Imaging PMS Color Matching

The Pantone Color Matching System is our standard color reference. To ensure that we produce your image correctly, use and reference the Pantone Color Matching System #’s when specifying colors.

ICL Imaging recommends the North American Prepress 2 color setting that consists of an Adobe RGB (1998) icc color profile for all RGB images and the U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 icc color profile for all CMYK elements.

Images should be converted to these icc color profiles and saved with embedded profiles.

Make sure that the color type is set to Spot Color and not Process Color.

NOTE:  In order for you to achieve predictable color from your monitor to print, it is very important to have it properly calibrated.

It is also very important to establish the identical color settings for all applications used in the workflow.

Exact color matching of products can only be achieved by supplying samples of them to us.  We routinely match to clothing, shoes, hand-bags and art work provided.

Our standard viewing for all reflective color is our 5000K view booth.  For back-lit transparencies we use an industry standard light box with a cool white fluorescent light source.

All of our proofs are printed on the actual material using the output device that will produce your final graphics.

Color effects beyond our control are the actual lighting conditions found in the final viewing environment.  If you know what that light source is, let us know and we will do our best to factor it in to our color correcting.

In extreme cases we have actually gone on site with a ring around of color tests and made corrections in that environment.  This can be costly however and is used only in certain situations.

NOTE:  Different output printing devices and materials, such as vinyl, paper and fabric can produce the same image differently.  Our experienced staff will work with you to pick the right combination of print media and machine to meet your large format printing expectations.

Finally, we always welcome clients who would like to visit ICL Imaging and review color directly with our color technician.  Please contact us for an appointment before hand.

ICL Imaging - 51 Mellen St - Framingham, MA - 01702 - 508 872 3280

WALL MURALS

By ICL Imaging

It comes down to 2 choices - Wallpaper or Adhesive Vinyl, 

But Which One?  

~ 5 Things to Consider when Producing a Wall Mural ~

1. Removability

How long do you plan on having the wall covering up? Short Term, less than a year or two - or longer term, up to 5 years or more.

Wallpaper can be removed fairly easily if the walls have been properly primed prior to the installation.  After the wallpaper is removed the walls can be lightly washed with soap and water to easily clean any residual adhesive remaining.

Adhesive Vinyl: depending on the type, permanent or removable, depends on how easily it will remove.  Over the long-term, permanent adhesive vinyl will perform better than wallpaper but will be harder to remove.  For short-term applications, a removable vinyl adhesive is the choice.

FABJET II from Quality Media and Laminating is an adhesive backed fabric that is ultra removable, excellent opacity and has water fast coating suitable for cleaning.

2. Wall Surface

The surface texture of a wall can make or break the success of an installation for both adhesive vinyl and wallpaper.  Rough textures do not hold the adhesives well and will show through both materials.

Glossy painted walls are difficult to adhere to. Adhesive Vinyls won't adhere very well to matte wall surfaces.  

Eggshell paint is a terrible surface to bond to except for the FABJET II!

3. Finished Look of Wall Mural

Adhesive Vinyl material requires overlapping seams due to the natural shrinkage of the material that will occur early on after installation. These small seams, depending on your image, can be noticeable. A vinyl adhesive material for long term will need an overlam applied to it.  Surface choices can be matte, lustre or gloss.

Wallpaper material can be overlapped, then double cut creating very tight seams with no overlap. Wallpaper materials come in a variety of surface textures however colors can appear a little flatter / less saturated than on adhesive vinyl.  Wallpaper can allow for changes to be made after the installation because of the removability.  In most cases pieces of the mural can be changed with the replacement pieces added without notice, i.e.; dates, names, additions to time lines, etc.

 

4.  Wall Variations 

Windows and doorframes can cause installation problems if the correct material is not used.  If you want to cover your walls, door and window casings with a wall graphic, wallpaper is probably not going to work for you.  Adhesive Vinyl will conform better to the corners and angles of the casings and will adhere better with its' more aggressive adhesive.

5. Installation

The Wall: before the installation takes place the walls should be spackled and sanded wherever necessary and then wiped clean. 

Before hanging, determine if the wall should be primed with a white primer to lessen any possible color bleed-through. Priming promotes adhesion and less damaging removal.

Wallpaper: Shieldz brand primer products, Clear – for solid painted walls and White – for new walls, need 2 days for drying before applying a mural.

Do not use latex paint as the wallpaper paste can soften the latex making the paper become part of the wall.

Adhesive Vinyl; It's best to use a latex semi-gloss paint and allow to dry and cure for at least 2 weeks to eliminate the out gassing that will create bubbles under the wall mural material.  You can also use Kilz brand primers. They have shown excellent results and reduce staining and bleed-through problems.  Allow at least 5 full days of drying for Kilz.

So what material should I use?  ICL Imaging's experienced account representatives will be able to answer that question for you.   Email us at info@icl-imaging.com, and we'll be glad to review your wall-covering project and offer you the best solution to your wall mural challenge.

For more information about ICL Imaging, its' products and services, please contact us at

Tel: 508 872 3280

Email: info@icl-imaging.com

or check us out at

icl-imaging.com

Contributing writer was Larry Johnson at AJ Robbins

www.ajrobbinscorp.com

ICL LARGE FORMAT PRINTING SALES AWARDS


ICL Imaging, Framingham MA is please to announce the 2012 members of the "Large Format Printing Millionaire Sales Club."    Congratulations to Chad Joiner, Mark Thompson and Becky Gardner for their outstanding sales performance selling Large Format Printing for the year 2012.

About ICL Imaging

ICL Imaging is a full-service large format printer. Since 1956, we’ve been helping companies like yours promote their products and services with digitally printed Visual Marketing Solutions, like Trade Show Graphics, Fabric Banners and Vehicle Wraps. We have the widest selection of inventory and the largest selection of printing options in New England and print everything from Vinyl Banners, Floor Graphics and Event Banners. We offer seamless printing up to 16 feet wide. Our large format printing capacity and myriad output devices, allow us to print your Retail Graphic jobs quickly and efficiently while being mindful of your budget. ICL Imaging's wide array of large format printing services includes Museum Graphics, Wall Murals and Custom Wallpaper that meet your expectations for quality, value, and on-time delivery - and we guarantee your satisfaction.

JV5-320 - Size Does Matter

What’s New at ICL Imaging

Big, Fast. The all new JV5-320. Size does matter!

Mimaki JV5-320, Delivering the highest quality Fabric Graphics with bright vivid colors.

What is it?

The JV5 is a 10 ft Dye-Sublimation Transfer Printer. It is suitable for printing High Quality Fabric Graphics for Trade Shows and Event Backdrops, Retail Graphics and Museum Displays.

What does this mean for you?

• Faster Fabric Graphics through High Speed Printing
• Photo Realistic image quality with 540 x1080 dpi variable dots
• Exquisite color reproduction with 16 bit rendering

If you would like to receive a free sample just email me at;

bsmith@icl-imaging.com

For more information on Fabric Graphics go to;

http://www.icl-imaging.com/products/fabric-graphics/

ICL Imaging, a nationally recognized leader in the field of large format printing, has been achieving outstanding creative results in printing large format graphics for more than 50 years.

Working with the latest printing and finishing technologies that are constantly evolving to meet contemporary design requirements, ICL’s highly experienced staff delivers outstanding results on time and on budget.

ICL Imaging has the widest selection of print media and mounting materials in New England and combined with our large format printing experience – you can count on ICL’s print solutions for your graphic challenges.

ICL Imaging - 51 Mellen St - Framingham, MA - 01702 - 508 872 3280

Why Do Blacks Print Differently?

Printers have little control over the colors and tones that will print from a pdf file. 

Typically you get what is in your file unless you ask for a global color correction.

If two files are set up differently to print black - the results will print differently. Large black background areas with a grey mix instead of black will print noticeably different.

Also if 2 different output devices are used to print the same file on 2 different types of material, say vinyl and foamcore, the results of black will still be significantly different.

Pdf’s from RGB artwork will also print differently than CMYK pdfs.  100% black will not always yield a rich black.  A mix of other colors will make the black look better.

Here is an explanation of 3 types of black.

Andrew Kelsall Design writes:

“Neutral Rich Black (also known as Rich Black) | C40 M30 Y30 K100 : This type of black is roughly comprised by the preceding color combination, but varies between designers’ personal preference.

Registration Black | C100 M100 Y100 K100 : This mix is comprised of the maximum amount of cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Flat Black | C0 M0 Y0 K100 : This black is just made up of 100% of the black channel, with no other ink in the mix. Also known as Standard black.”

The printer being used will also have an affect on the blacks depending on whether it is a 4/C or 6/C printer.  The material being printed can also have an effect too.

PDF’s saved differently or being saved using 2 different versions of Acrobat can print differently

Quick low-cost print jobs with no lead-time do not afford the luxury of printing proofs for checking these things prior to the final run.  Make sure you have set up your files correctly and communicate with your printer your final expectations.

All of these variables can affect the black color.  Contact ICL Imaging for more information on "How to Prepare Your Files"

·      How the PDF was saved

·      Are the black levels the same on all documents

·      Printing on Different media

·      Are they being printed as grayscale

·      Different Printers, Commercial Press, Ink Jet, Latex, Laser Printer

·      File set-up as 100% black, a grey mix or black with a color mix

·      Files saved differently

·      Reproduced from RGB artwork or CMYK

Large Format Specialty Projects

Specialty Projects by ICL Imaging

Burt's Bees Mobile Tour

A lot of what we do at ICL Imaging are Specialty Projects; like rolling out a national campaign for a large financial services firm or a major clothing retailer. 

Whether it’s wrapping a fleet of vehicles to printing and distributing menu boards across the country or branding spaces at a major sporting coliseum to covering walkways in airports - ICL does it all.

Let our Project Managers work for you by managing all the program details, from sourcing to post production, from multi-dimensional fabrication to museum quality graphics - our resources are here to help you.

Specialty Projects:

·      Airport Window Graphics

·    Branding Promotions

·      Mobile Tours

·      Museum Quality Graphics

·      Weekend National Roll-Outs

Contact ICL Imaging and let us show you how we can add value to your business.  

info@icl-imaging.com   -  51 Mellen Street  -  Framingham, MA  01702  -  Tel  800 660 3280

Large Format Printing & Solutions

Since 1956

ICL Imaging Presents Large Format Selections

Here are some of the Large Format Printing projects ICL Imaging has produced for our clients.

They include an array of graphic applications, such as;
Banner stands, Fabric Graphics, Trade Show Graphics, Retail Graphics,
Vehicle Graphics and more.

Please enjoy this short Animoto Video experience.

For more information on how ICL Imaging can help you, please contact us at info@icl-imaging.com

Large Format Printing Solutions since 1956

Color Management at ICL Imaging

Selecting PMS Colors in the 5000K View Booth

The Pantone Color Matching System is our standard color reference. To ensure that we produce your image correctly, use and reference the Pantone Color Matching System #’s when specifying colors.

ICL Imaging recommends the North American Prepress 2 color setting that consists of an Adobe RGB (1998) icc color profile for all RGB images and the U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 icc color profile for all CMYK elements.

Images should be converted to these icc color profiles and saved with embedded profiles.

Make sure that the color type is set to Spot Color and not Process Color.

NOTE:  In order for you to achieve predictable color from your monitor to print, it is very important to have it properly calibrated.

It is also very important to establish the identical color settings for all applications used in the workflow.

Exact color matching of products can only be achieved by supplying samples of them to us.  We routinely match to clothing, shoes, hand-bags and art work provided.

Our standard viewing for all reflective color is our 5000K view booth.  For back-lit transparencies we use an industry standard light box with a cool white fluorescent light source.

All of our proofs are printed on the actual material using the output device that will produce your final graphics.

Exhibit by Bluehive

Color effects beyond our control are the actual lighting conditions found in the final viewing environment.  If you know what that light source is, let us know and we will do our best to factor it in to our color correcting.

In extreme cases we have actually gone on site with a ring around of color tests and made corrections in that environment.  This can be costly however and is used only in certain situations.



NOTE:  Different output printing devices and materials, such as vinyl, paper and fabric can produce the same image differently.  Our experienced staff will work with you to pick the right combination of print media and machine to meet your large format printing expectations.

Finally, we always welcome clients who would like to visit ICL Imaging and review color directly with our color technician.  Please contact us for an appointment before hand.   csr@icl-imaging.com

Large Format Printing & Solutions Since 1956

ICL Imaging Tips: Finishing Options for Banners

Finishing Options for Banners from ICL Imaging

Depending on the end use of your banner and how it will be displayed, there are a few different techniques used to finish banner edges. Listed below are some of the more commonly used finishing options.

Outdoor Vinyl Banner

Hemming: The edge of the banner is turned over on itself and then sewn over with thread, to strengthen the edge of the banner. This can be done with fabric and vinyl banners. Rope can also be sewn into the edge seam if the end product will be tied to an object.

Fabric Banner

Grommets: A reinforced metal ring that is fastened through the hem of the banner. The grommet is one of the most versatile ways to finish a banner, as nearly anything can be used to fasten the banner if it can pass through the grommet. Our grommets come in various sizes in black, silver or brass

Pole Sleeves: Also called “pole-hems” or “pole pockets”. These are similar to a hem, but extra material is added to the fold, to create a sleeve through which a pole can later be inserted. Be sure to specify the pole diameter size. A good rule of thumb to use is that the pocket size should be 2 times the pole size.

Sheer-cutting: For some banners you can simply cut the edges of the banner with a razor knife and a straight-edge, to give the banner a clean look. Using a hot knife can stop the material from fraying. Finishing with a heat knife is standard on all of our banners unless otherwise specified.

Large Format Vinyl Banner

Backing or Interliner: Some banners are given a backing or interliner in order to make the banner more opaque. If a banner has an image on both sides, an interliner is added to prevent light from passing through either side. A backing is placed on a single-sided banner to make the fabric’s color more vibrant and to add more body to the banner.

Wind slits: Outdoor banners that will be subject to high winds or the environment for extended periods of time, need extra finishing. Wind slits should be cut into the face of the vinyl to allow air to pass through the banner. A nylon webbing reinforcement is also sewn into the hem of the banner. ICL Imaging always uses reinforced vinyl for all of our outdoor banners.

For information on our banners and other products visit our website, www.icl-imaging.com

Fabric Graphics from ICL Imaging, Large Format Printers

Today Fabric Graphics are available in more sizes, materials and finishing options then ever before.

ICL Imaging Previews Fabric Banner

ICL Imaging is committed to producing the finest fabric graphics, fabric banners and fabric table covers.

Power Stretch 4607

Our recent acquisition of the Mimaki JV 33-160 compliments our Roland, Falcon and HP XL 1500 dye-sub output.

The aqueous based dye sublimation inks are environmentally friendly which supports our commitment to green initiatives.

Tension Fabric Structure

Fabric Graphic choices are limitless.  Currently ICL Imaging is stocking 20 of the most popular dye sub and direct to print fabric materials available.   The lightest is our Ultra Sheer 9000 at 1.5 oz per square yard.
This textured sheer has a transparent look and can be used to display feminine apparel and cosmetic products.

Our Flash 335, weighing in at 9.9 oz per square yard, is our most heaviest fabric.  This unique weave and textured finish, provides a canvas appearance and is direct printed up to 10 feet wide.  It has been used for retail exhibits and displays as well as fine art reproduction projects.

ICL Imaging's most popular material is the Heavy Knit 4480, at 120 printable inches wide and weight of 9.5 oz's.  This fabric graphic material can be used for tradeshow and event banners, tension fabric structures, pop-up fabric structures and a host of other uses.  Its wrinkle resistance and moderate opaqueness - make it one of our most popular products.

Contact ICL Imaging today at 800-660-3280 for pricing and samples or email us at:  info@icl-imaging.com

Hanging Fabric Structure

Fabric Backdrop

ICL Imaging, Large Format Printing since 1956.

Green Sustainable Printing Practices

ICL Imaging, Large Format Printers, of Framingham, MA created our "Green Initiatives" 5 years ago.
We felt it was and is important for us to operate our company in an environmentally sustainable manner.  In order to do so we created our "Green Initiatives and Sustainable Printing Practices."

The foundation for which these practices developed from included; Sustainable Products, Internal Resource Conservation, Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling and External Resource Conservation.  By conserving energy and water consumption - we reduced our carbon emissions, and wastes - and by offering earth friendly sustainable printing products we helped to preserve our natural resources.

Our sustainable large format printing products include Eco-Celtic fabric that is made from 100% recycled materials and printed with Aqueous Based Inks.  Other products include Paper, Bio-Boards, Bio-Banners and Eco-Inks.

ICL's internal resource conservation included purchasing UV Printing equipment with less VOC's that solvent printers and new Latex printing technology.  New equipment has reduced our water consumption by more than 30%.

We donate unprinted vinyl waste to the Avon-Walkathon for making their own banners.
Our work schedules are staggered to reduce traffic congestion and our Account Executives can work remotely to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
All wooden pallets, cardboard, white papers, soda cans, and toner cartridges are recycled.

The Former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, said it best what it means to be sustainable ".....meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Rethink your carbon footprint - we're committed on reducing ours.  Working together responsibly we can reduce our harmful footprints.

We would love to hear from you.
To learn more about ICL Imaging's sustainable printing practices and how you can help conserve energy, please visit our website:  www.icl-imaging.com

Car Wraps Drive Sales

ICL Imaging, Large Format Printers, in Framingham, MA loves to print Car Wraps.

ICL Bus Wrap for Lawrence & Memorial

Car Wraps are a great way to decorate your vehicle, advertise your business or help brand your product or service.

The trick is to design your Car Wrap properly.  Think of a moving billboard.  Now think of a moving billboard that has windows, doors, handles, contours, taillights, headlights, space gaps between doors and side panels.

You need to take into account all of that when preparing your Car Wrap design - otherwise your type may be distorted or even cut off.  Think of placing telephone numbers and web sites in areas that will not be distorted by the physicalitys of the cars surface.

ICL Vehicle Graphics for Clarke

Make sure your letters are large enough to read when standing 10 feet away.  Consider having your website printed backwards for your front hood so when vehicles in front of you look into their rearview mirror they can read it.  Think of using alot of space between sets of words and use short phrases or keywords that describe your business.

When the vehicle is parked it can make a nice stationary billboard, so use colorful graphics to attract the eye.

ICL Vehicle Wrap for Old Sturbridge Village

Our technicians at ICL Imaging are experts in preparing files or reviewing your files for vehicle graphics.  Their trained eye can spot potential problems.  And with the use of files of vehicle design templates at our disposal we can adjust the design to fit the vehicle perfectly.

In some cases having text printed on cut-vinyl letters and applied over the vehicle vinyl can help control the placement better to avoid being disturbed by the car or trucks mirrors, door cracks and other like things.

Feel free to contact us, ICL Imaging, and speak to one of our Technical Sales Reps for more information on how to prepare your files for vehicle wraps.  Often a site-inspection is required to precisely measure the vehicle so we can avoid these pitfalls.

So get your car or truck wrapped today and get noticed everywhere you go.

Contact ICL Imaging
800 660 3280
www.icl-imaging.com

Vehicle Wraps by ICL Imaging

ICL Imaging, Large Format Printers Produces Vehicle Wraps

Bus Wrap

We have over 10,000 vehicle templates available.

Things you should know about vehicle wraps.  Measure carefully.  Vehicles are 3 dimensional and have curves and sloping lines.  Precise measurements will save you a headache when it comes time for installation.

Make sure your files are set up with extra bleed on all sides.  The vehicle panels will be overlapped when installed, so the amount of bleed you add is important.  Generally 1/2" all around is ok.

How long will your graphics be on the vehicle?  Short term promotions can be printed on a less expensive material to save you money.  This material does not conform to severe contours however.

Clarkes Van Wrap

Longer term graphics are printed on a more expensive cast adhesive vinyl and will last for several years when over-laminated and installed properly.

Proper installation is important for the success of the graphics lifespan.  The vehicle must be clean and free of wax for a proper bonding.  Air channels in the media will also help trapped air bubbles under the adhesive vinyl to escape.

Temperature is very important as well.  Graphics can not be applied when surface temperatures go below 55 degrees F.  Working with an installer who has an indoor bay is important in this area.

Design is another consideration when producing vehicle graphics.  Vehicles are usually moving fast and not sitting still.  Make sure your text is legible when the vehicle is moving down the highway.  Also be careful where you place smaller text, like phone #'s, websites etc.  Vehicles have surface areas that can interrupt your design like; door hinges, door latches, licensce plates etc.

Have a good discussion with your printer and designer together.  Vehicle templates will show you where many of these problems can occur.  Make sure your designer is using the right one too.

Contact ICL Imaging for more information.

Lindt Truck Wrap