Insights and inputs from our team and around the web.
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- Written by: Ben Noebels
In today’s print market, the odds of receiving a set of plans or specs in PDF format are a given. PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, has become the primary file format used in the AEC market.
PDFs are used to distribute, view and print information. Commercial printers see PDF files every day, and are expected to be able to print exactly what the file shows. Despite this, the printer only has about a 50/50 chance the PDF will print the same as it appears on screen. Because all PDF files are not created equally, this creates a lot of problems for both the printer and the client.
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- Written by: Eddie Smith
Window graphics are a great way to get noticed, especially during the holidays. Festive and fun window decorations are sure to generate buzz, no matter what type of business your company is in. The appeal of window graphics is not just that they add color to your windows, it’s that they are a fun and unique way to grab your customer’s attention. They can be designed to coordinate with your company’s style and brand, communicating positively to your customers and promoting your business.
What better way to capitalize on high foot and vehicle traffic than with the hordes of shoppers that are sure to be frequenting malls and shopping centers this holiday season? Window graphics are the perfect way to get your message out there and let customers know what your holiday promotions, campaigns, and specials are.
The creative possibilities for holiday-specific window graphics are virtually endless. There are two main varieties to choose from when it comes to window graphics: static cling and window perf. These substrates help you achieve different results, both being effective in their own way.
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- Written by: Ira Bowman
Have you ever wondered what the word ‘reprographics’ means? If you’re like most in the AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) industry, you should not only know what this word means but you should know that you’ve depended on reprographics companies (such as Thomas Printworks) as a vital part of your business for generations.
For the record, ‘reprographics’ is a derivative of two words (reproduction and graphics) smashed together. Reprographics is literally the mechanical reproduction of an image. Reprographics is not only thriving, it is evolving. More technologies with a variety of inks and toners, combined with new substrates, are allowing reprographic firms to expand their offerings at an almost neck-breaking pace.
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- Written by: Chris Miller
In this day and age in the highly competitive retail and restaurant industries, engaging the customer is more difficult (and important) than ever. Attracting new customers and keeping existing customers coming through your doors are the only ways to ensure that sales and profits remain high and that loyalty is not lost to your competitors. So how, you ask, is the best or easiest way to do this?
Simply put, there are many different methods of getting a theme or message across that your store or restaurant is the place to be. Brands need to work with their marketing managers to understand what will work best for their customer demographic and cater to their wants and needs. This can include customized direct mail, flyers in the weekly newspaper, advertisements in magazines your customers read, etc. All these are great, but how can you really scream at your customer at the store level?
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
PhoenixMart is a 1.58 million square foot business-to-business sourcing center for manufacturers and distributors to showcase their products by providing a gateway for promoting American business to domestic and international markets. The complex features more than 2,000 manufacturers and categories including Home and Hotel, Industrial and Automotive, Electronics and Accessories, Food and Beverage, Office and Recreation, and Fashion and Variety.
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- Written by: Richard Lira
Printing on fabric has been around for centuries. However, it was not until the 20th century that digital textile printing was introduced. The process uses computer controlled lasers and high pressure jets to supply ink directly into the fabric. This allows for a very detailed finished product in a very short amount of time, complete with vibrant colors and a wide color gamut.
Materials and Finishing
There are various types of fabric materials used for digital printing today. Some of the most common fabrics include heavy and soft knit fabric, flag material, sheer, satin knit, poplin, ploy canvas, linen, duck mesh, power stretch and backlit.
Fabric projects can be finished in a number of ways depending on the final application and customer preferences. Pole pockets can be added for hanging banners. Hemmed edges provide a nicely finished look, and increase the durability of the material to prevent fraying. Grommets can be added for use with ropes to displaying the message across a broad area. The edges of the fabric can also be treated with silicone for inserting into framed hardware.
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- Written by: Kevin Hughes
Whether you have a large and expansive fleet of trucks or only a single van delivering your products and services, vehicle graphics are able to transform your vehicles into cost effective marketing assets powerful enough to drive business growth, boost sales, and deliver brand awareness. Vehicle graphics are a savvy choice for several reasons, including the low cost to reach millions, quality checks, and the versatility in products available.
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- Written by: Pat Gremillion
Schools and universities today are increasingly looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the pack. More now than ever, a secondary education (not to mention a superior high school education) is rightfully viewed as necessary to move forward in today's competitive job market. With the ample supply of prospective students longing for a promising education and parents trying to provide the best for their children, the ways in which schools market themselves are more important than ever. The quality of a school's appearance can be the difference between attracting prospective students and becoming dust in the wind.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
Contractors, builders, architects, engineers and designers alike benefit from the message effective construction site signs convey.
- Job Site Signs generate awareness and create interest for your properties. Full color signs can be printed on a variety of substrates, including vinyl, corrugated plastic or plywood. They are water and UV-resistant, making the signs durable in any weather condition.
- Fence Wraps can create a visual barrier to conceal construction clutter while simultaneously promoting your business or the structure being built. With full color graphics you can transform an ordinary chain link fence into a work of art.
- Safety Signs are required by law to warn of all dangers, notify hard hat areas and specify particular hazards. Make sure your jobsite is adequately covered.
Give Thomas Printworks a call today and we’ll help you brand and beautify your construction site. Quick turnaround times and installation are available.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
Movies and TV shows constantly use bus advertisement as a pinpoint for a joke or ironic object in a scene, but all of that is possible with the help of vehicle wraps. You can achieve the same affect that a funny bus advertisement yields with the help of vehicle wraps at Thomas Reprographics.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
Trade shows are the prime place to make connections and market with other people to discuss how you can help someone achieve a certain goal. But before you can pitch them on your product or service, they need to approach your booth. With awesome trade show graphics, you’ll not only get their attention, but you’ll be more likely to get their business!
An article posted on LeraBlog.com discussed the advantages of having cool-looking trade show graphics.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
When you're getting ready to use printed graphics such as window clings, banners, or even restaurant menus, the first thing you should think about is visual appeal. A key to creating visually stimulating printed graphics is to have easy-to-read typefaces that can be read from a distance as well as look good.
OrphicPixel.com posted a great article about choosing a typeface that can be read easily at a distance, giving you the optimal advertising that you're going for.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
Custom building wraps are an awesome way to catch people's attention as they're walking or driving down the street. While there are many ways you can use a custom building wrap, we found a few unique examples that really caught our eye.
Check out these custom building wraps featured in an article on SmashingHub.com
Let Thomas Reprographics make your wildest building wrap visions come to life. Give us a call at 1-800-877-3776 today and we'll help you begin the process of designing and printing your wrap.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
The average American commuter spends 38 hours per year in traffic (Source). During those hours, you're likely to be doing at least one of three things: listening to the radio and dodging commercials, talking on the phone about how awful waiting in traffic is, or trying to find something interesting about the car in front of you. At Thomas, we can help you promote your business for all 38 hours of traffic you sit in each year with the help of vehicle wraps.
Does it really work? Yes! Take a look at this example from HealthcareSuccess.com of how a fleet of home health care vehicles increased their referrals without having to go out and do a ton of extra work.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
Summer has just begun, and that means families and communities will be out enjoying different activities together. What better way to dine than at a hip food truck at a local park or urban area? Food trucks are popping up across the nation, and they're getting more spruced up now than ever. Let Thomas Reprographics help you bring your food truck to life with food truck vehicle wraps!
An article from Locally.fm gives a few tips on how to make your food truck stand out among the rest, and we can definitely help make that happen with food truck vehicle wraps.
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- Written by: Super User
It happens to everyone — you open your mail box, find one (or several) brochures advertising something you're completely uninterested in, and end up with a trashcan full of crumpled brochures and brochure printing is only effective when the brochure falls into the hands of your target audience.
If you are interested in advertising your business through brochure printing, you may or may not already know that the key to successful marketing is learning who your audience is and where you can find them. When printing or sending out any advertising materials be sure to ask yourself those key questions.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
The outside of your building can be just as important as the inside. Having visually appealing decor is great once you've drawn in customers, but what brings them in? You can't always rely on a pretty building or a prime location, which is where banner printing comes in handy.
Thomas Reprographics is a nationwide company that brings banner printing to companies all over the U.S. Banners bring multiple benefits to companies to help them draw in customers. Here are a few reasons why banners can benefit you.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
When the federal menu-labeling law goes into effect this year, restaurants with 20 or more locations will need to provide calorie counts on menus and menuboards. Experts say the calorie shuffle presents a good opportunity for restaurants to reevaluate their menu strategy and menuboard design, two elements that, if done right, should soften any blow from the labeling mandate.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Woods
As a marketer, are you looking for novel ways to convey your message? Bright graphics and media messages on the ground are starting to catch the eye of more advertisers and consumers than ever. According to Tim Greene, director of wide-format market research at InfoTrends, the North American market for floor graphics will grow at a rate of nearly 12 percent through 2015. With the variety of media options available for floor graphics now, consumers have many opportunities for ground-level projects. Graphics can be installed on pretty much any floor service, from concrete and vinyl to carpet; outdoor or indoor applications. Make sure your provider is using an anti-skid material and you can really floor your clients! Give a Thomas Reprographics specialist a call, and we can give you several options to consider to begin advertising on the ground-level!
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- Written by: Super User
Business owners nationwide are discovering that car wraps and vehicle graphics are the best way to reach customers quickly, effectively and economically. Compared to traditional forms of advertising — outdoor signs, television, print and radio — vehicle advertising can reach more consumers at a lower Cost per thousand impressions (CPM) than any other form of outdoor advertising.
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