How to Measure for Your Graphics

This article will help you to measure the available space for your graphics. There are several things to keep in mind when you measure.

1. Measure the total area you wish to cover, not the total space available. For example, if you're ordering a window graphic for a 30"w x 72"h window, but you only want the graphic to be 24"h, give us the smaller dimension rather than the total window size.

2. Error on the small side. If you have a 30"w window, don't use the full 30". Your graphic will look much better if it's slightly smaller than your window, rather than being too big. In this example, we would suggest ordering a 27" - 28"w graphic to keep it from looking too crowded.

3. Look for obstructions. Is there a door handle in the way? Maybe an existing decal? If you have something in the way of your graphic, you can't consider that area to be "available space." Take obstructions into account when ordering your graphic as we will not know where the obstructions will be on your specific window, vehicle, etc.

Here we have highlighted the areas representing the "available space." These are the open areas on this vehicle that the customer wanted their graphics to go in. Notice on the right door that the available space is much smaller to account for the license plate area. Also notice on the left door that the available area is also limited by the existing badges from Chevrolet. Also notice the graphics don't go completely from edge-toedge of the available space to avoid a crowded look to the graphics.

Beware the Bargain!

Being in the sign business for as long as we have, we have come across quite a few different materials over the years. We have seen many companies offering seemingly "too good to be true" prices for their signs. How are they able to sell their signs for such a low price? Let's first start with a little background on the different types of vinyl available.

At Sign-A-Rama Des Plaines, we offer two different grades of vinyl. We offer "intermediate" and "premium". "Intermediate" vinyl is rated as a five-year outdoor material. We only recommend "intermediate" vinyl for indoor applications and short-term outdoor applications. "Premium" vinyl is rated as a seven-year outdoor material. This grade of vinyl should be used on all long term outdoor applications, especially vehicle and window graphics.

Now here comes the kicker... these aren't the only two grades of vinyl out there. There are several quality grades much lower than what we call "intermediate" vinyl. There is three-year outdoor vinyl, two-year outdoor vinyl and even one-year outdoor vinyl. Yes, these grades of vinyl are less expensive, but the quality and durability is much lower as well. The process used to create these types of vinyl makes them much more likely to shrink, crack and fade. We choose not to carry these materials because we feel that quality should not be sacrificed.

Be aware of what grade of vinyl your sign company is using. Many sign companies feel the same way we do when it comes to quality, but that doesn't mean they all do. If you find one of those "too good to be true" prices, find out what kind of vinyl they are using. Ask what the manufacturers rating is for outdoor use. If you get prices from more than one company, make sure they're quoting you for the same thing. Make sure one isn't trying to give you inferior material in order to save money. That's what these grades of material are... inferior. They will shrink. They will crack. They will fade. Bad looking signs reflect poorly on your business.

Caveat emptor.

Sign-A-Rama Des Plaines

Here is an example of a competitor's sign made with inferior vinyl. You can see the peeling edges on the lettering. The background color is also very faded.






Here is a close-up of the lettering... or what's left of it. You can see the dark areas around the letters showing where the vinyl used to be. This vinyl has shrunken severely and the color is running off the letters onto the faded background.