Search This Blog

Saturday, November 10, 2007

MVPVisuals.com - Print Options For Your Custom Printed Tablecloths

MVPVisuals.com - If you ever needed custom printed tablecloths for an event, you know that there can be big difference in price based on the artwork you want to print. If you knew more about the print process you might have either changed the artwork or the colors around so you can take advantage of a more economical method. Here is what you should know to help design a tablecloth to achieve your look and meet your budget.


SCREEN PRINTED TABLECLOTHS- Screen printing a tablecloth is perfect for simple prints with few colors and the more you order the lower the unit price so it is perfect for when you are ordering multiples.
Screen print is generally priced by the number of colors, size of logo and number of times the logo will be printed.


If your print has 1, 2 or 3 spot colors it will probably be most cost effective to screen print (you must find a printer set up to print small volumes). Unless you are ordering a volume (over 50) screen printing generally is not cost effective for designs with over 4 spot colors or designs with photographic type images. Digital print would be best in those cases. For screen printed tablecloths you will need to supply your printer with vector artwork (.ai or .eps file).



SCREEN PRINT FEATURES:-


  • Most economical for spot color prints especially for high volume prints.
  • Can be printed on any color fabric.
  • Bold print because the ink actually lies on top of the fabric.
  • Can mix ink to match your specific pantone color.

DIGITALLY PRINTED TABLECLOTHS – If you have a 4 color process image, a photographic type image or an image with lots of colors and fades, digital print is your answer. Digital print is generally priced per square foot of print. With digital printing you can use either vector files (.ai or .eps ) or high resolution raster art files (jpg or tiff).

Digital printing must be done on white fabric so if you wanted to have a 4 color process logo printed on a blue tablecloth, the blue color would actually have to be printed. As you can imagine, this can get very expensive because the price is calculated per square foot.

If you want a 4 color process logo on a color fabric tablecloth you can save money on digitally printing by printing the font panel only. You can digitally print the font panel and use plain fabric (any color the fabrics come in) for the remaining 3 sides. For example, if you wanted to have a 4 color process print on a red tablecloth, you would have to print your image and the background of red on the front panel. It is important to keep in mind that you are trying to match the digitally printed red background on the front panel to a dyed red fabric on the remaining 3 sides. It may not be an exact match.


DIGITAL PRINT FEATURES:


  • Most expensive print option.
  • Can use almost any type of artwork (high resolution raster art or vector art)
  • Colors are not as bold as in screen print because the fabric absorbs some of the ink.

  • Digital print is generally a CMYK mix so the colors are “built” right on the fabric.
  • For this reason digital prints cannot insure that the colors will match your pantone color exactly.

APPLIQUE PRINT – Appliqué’s are perfect for when you would like to have a 4 color process logo on a fabric color other than white. Appliqué’s allow you to have a graphic digitally printed on a small piece of fabric, cut out and then it applied (sewn or with heat activated adhesive) to the tablecloth. This way you can use any color tablecloth.



APPLIQUE PRINT FEATURES:

  • Most cost effective way to print a 4 color process logo.
  • Can use almost any type of artwork (high resolution raster art or vector art)
  • Colors are not as bold as in screen print because the fabric absorbs some of the ink
  • The appliqué cut will have to be a simple cut. Generally intricate cut outs will not work.

Your printer will be able to make a recommendation for the best print method for your tablecloth. The best way to save time and money is to give them a call before you do the design so your art dept can make the design fit both the look you are trying to achieve and the budget you are working with.


Written by Mary Dykas, . MVP Visuals is a supplier of event materials such as tents, tablecloths, banner blades, pennants strings, flags, and more.mary@mvpvisuals.com 800 980-MVP1

Friday, November 2, 2007

MVPVisuals.com -True Dye Print Gives Stained Glass Effect


MVPVisuals.com - The State University of NY at Brockport wanted to mimic historic stained glass windows in fabric to hang in their library.

MVP Visuals supplier of custom printed displays, was asked to create fabric banners for their Drake Memorial Library printed in a way that would give the effect similar to stained glass.
.
To achieve the effect of stained glass, MVP Visuals used a single piece of satin. Printing on both sides of a single sheet of satin would allow the light to illuminate the graphic as it does with actual stained glass.
.
Using a True Dye print method on both sides of the satin would make sure the double sided print had 100% color penetration. View actual banners at mvpvisuals.com
The original photographs taken of the stained glass windows were used for the artwork for the print however the photographs did not capture the vibrant color of the stained glass. Color corrections were done to enhance the colors as well as lighten up the blurred dark spots that muddied the facial images.

The true dye method is used when perfect print penetration is needed. Both sides of the same piece of fabric are dye sub printed with careful registration. True dye gives the most vivid color and detail over other digital print methods. True Dye double sided print works particularly well with photographic images.

MVP also supplied the silver banner arm hardware which was aluminum with adjustable wall bracket and matching acorn tip.

The result was a stunning effect and the banners are now adorning the halls of the library.

MVP Visuals is a supplier of custom printed trade show and event supplies for corporations, sports teams, municipalities, schools, hospitals, and many others.
For more information on the full line of E-Z UP ® Tents go to www.mvpvisuals.com or call (800) 980-MVP1 (6871)