Is Your Art Good to Print?

In the large format print business we have the same issue every day. Customers come to us with a low res jpg or gif file, often something they took from their website, and ask us to blow it up and print it on a tablecloth or banner. Generally they have already been to a few printers already that told them, “Sorry, we need vector art!”

MVP Visuals can help with most issues so you don’t have to miss out on having your favorite image printed on your trade show table cover, carpet, banner or any other large format display.

Low res jpgs and gifs are called “raster or bitmap” files. These files are made of little pixels. Pixels are little dots (more like squares) like you see below. The quality of the image depends on the number of these pixels per inch (dpi – dots per inch) When a low res file is kept small it looks just fine. But when they are enlarged, each pixel gets blown up and gives the image a fuzzy (pixelating) look.

Vector files are made of paths (lines and anchor points) that are more like an engineering CAD Drawing. When this type of file is enlarged, each line is mathematically enlarged in exact proportion so there is no pixelating or distorting. This makes vector files ideal for printers.

Unless you have a high resolution a file (this is where there are many more dots per inch in the image file so each pixel doesn’t blow up to distort the image), we would need to recreate your image into vector format. If your image is a photograph then generally it will not recreate well into vector so we would need a hi res file. You can send us your photo and we can tell you.

Vector files are most frequently .ai, .eps or even .pdf. YOU CANNOT JUST SAVE A LOW RES JPG WITH AN .AI OR .EPS EXTENSION TO MAKE IT VECTOR. MVP Visuals offers vector recreation services and most files can be converted in 24 hours!

by Mary Dykas. MVP Visuals is a supplier of custom imprinted tablecloths, banners, tents, carpets and trade show displays.

MVP Visuals Gets Selected Once Again!

MVP Visuals will be producing more of Artist Dale Zheutlins work this fall. Last fall the New Rochelle Public selected the artwork of Dale Zheutlin to adding a finishing touch to the lobby “refresh project”. The colorful fabric banners have been installed in the lobby’s atrium, the result of a competition sponsored by the NRPLF and the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. The winning designs were submitted by artist Dale Zheutlin, and the fabric banners created from her designs were installed last week and produced by MVP Visuals.

Ms. Zheutlin’s banner design consists of three double-sided satin fabric banners, with six different “faces”; Ms. Zheutlin’s submissions“

Freedom” and “Community”, each consisting of three panels. Each of Ms. Zheutlin’s banners bears one of three different messages: “A library is a place to exchange ideas”,

“A library is a gathering place for seekers of knowledge” and “A library is a window on the world.”

“I am delighted that the banners were chosen to enhance the library experience,” says Zheutlin. “These banners explore how art,design, and craftsmanship intersect in the visual arts. My paintings’ transformation — from paint on paper, to a digital image,to a site-specific installation — celebrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques.”

Zheutlin says that libraries have become “so much more than a collection of books, but more a multi-faceted portal to human expression and knowledge.

MVP Visuals is a supplier of fabric banners, displays and trade show table covers.

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MVP supplies a wide range of custom printed materials for events and shows. Visit http://www.mvpvisuals.com to view our custom printed products such as: blade banners, light pole banners, canopy tents, table coverings, carpet, banners and flags and trade show table covers

Add Glitter and Shine on a Dime!

When it comes to trade shows and events you have two goals: look fabulous and keep within budget... Not Easy!! But there are some things you can do that are easy and won’t push you over budget.

You can add glitter and shine by adding low cost overlays to your standard tablecloths. Three fabrics can give your standard look some glitz and glamor! You can get a 54”x54” overlay for any of the fabrics below for about $15!

1) Tissue Lame: Lame is all glamor and shine. This gleaming metallic will make your low budget look like big time sophistication. You may not know that this beautiful metallic fabric is very affordable.

Lame is a combination of metallic yarns and synthetic fibers. The fabrics metallic yarns shimmer by catching and reflecting light. Silver and gold are the most popular colors check out the dazzling colors for a unique look. Great for accent bows! This is a difficult fabric to clean so only use this in situations where it won’t get grease on it.

2) Sparkling Organza: Sparkling organza fabric is a soft, sheer fabric which is perfect way to scatter a cloud of sparkles over your table. Sparkling Organza with its tiny metallic flecks can also be used for sheer curtains to bring starlight to your walls. The transparent fabric works well with mixing and matching colors the sheer colors. Organza is fabric is soft enough to tie and stiff enough to be used for bows.

3) Duchess Satin: This satin has a beautiful low luster sheen it has a soft hand and drapes. Duchess Satin has a soft sexy draping appeal and works both as an overlay or even as a full length tablecloth cloth accented by Organza overlay. Duchess Satin is 100% Brushed polyester and is machine washable and easy to care for and comes in a wide assortment of colors.

MVP Visuals is a supplier of event and Trade show table covers.
by: Mary Dykas http://www.mvpvisuals.com

5 Myths about your Trade Show Table Covers

5 MYTHS ABOUT YOUR TRADE SHOW TABLE COVERS

Full Color Prints are more expensive than screen printing:

MYTH: Not any more! Years ago full color printing was very expensive but today the technology has improved where full color prints are more economical than ever and often more economical that screen printing 1 color prints! Companies are now able to advertise with full color high resolution product photos on their trade show table covers promoting their products. Full color front panel printed 6’ tablecloths are $159 ($141 for 1 c prints) and 6’ Full printed table wraps are $120! Full coverage all over prints which are table covers that are printed on the entire table covers are as low as $240.

Printed tablecloths must be dry cleaned:

MYTH: The chemicals used in dry cleaning are not good for printed table covers and spandex table covers. The best is the lowest cost option of just cold water wash with a low temp tumble dry!

I need to buy multiple tablecloths to fit various trade show tables:

MYTH: Trade shows can bring you to different venues with a variety of table sizes. There are products out on the market today that offer tablecloths that they call “adjustable” but actually are just 6’ drape style trade show table covers that end up being too short on the sides and back when used on an 8’ table. That’s not adjustable! MVP Visuals offers truly adjustable options. First, we offer a truly adjustable trade show table cover that has Velcro™ under the table top and allow the table cover to achieve a fitted look when used on a 6’ table and open up to a drape style when used on an 8’ table. Secondly, we offer new table wraps. Table wraps work just like skirting with a full bleed print. The printed tablecloth will wrap around the table using skirt clips so now your tablecloth will fit any size table!

Screen Print lasts longer the Dye Sub Print:

MYTH: Dye sub full color print process is actually dyed into the fabric. Screen printing process stays on top of the fabric. Screen printing inks have improved and are more flexible so are now less likely to crack but dye sub prints never crack because it is actually dyed into the fabric so lasts longer.

I can’t get my tablecloth printed because I only have low res artwork:

MYTH: Graphic software has improved to the point where most logos and be recreated into vector format so you can get your logo recreated into vector format which is the best for printing quickly and at a low cost.

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MVP supplies a wide range of custom printed materials for events and trade shows. Visit http://www.mvpvisuals.com to view our custom printed products such as: blade banners, light pole banners, canopy tents, table coverings, carpet, banners and flags.

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

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.

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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.

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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)

How to Save on Your Event Tents

Custom printed canopy tents are immensely popular both for events and trade shows. A custom printed tent is an excellent branding opportunity but you may be spending too much! Here are a few tips to save money on your next canopy tent order:

First lets discuss the print process. Tents can be screen printed or digitally printed. Because digital printing is a more expensive process than screen printing I’ll keep this subject out of this discussion on “saving money”. Let’s talk screen print.


A screen print is actually taking ink and pulling it over a screen with film of your logo on it. For spot color screen print you need to create a new screen for every color. That means if you have a 2-color logo, you will have 2 screens to create. Once the screen is built the cost of running the ink over the screen is small in comparison to the cost of building the screen. If you have a 2 color logo and you want to print a large logo and a small version of the same logo you will still need to build another set of screens for the small version of your logo. Now you see that there are 4 screens to build so it is most economical when possible to use the same logo at the same size in as many locations as possible.

Now that you understand the print process, you’ll understand these tips better:

1) Have a simple version of your logo that is just 1 or 2 colors. From a distance the crowd cannot see the subtle fades and drop shadows in your logo art anyway so why waste your marketing budget on things that won’t be seen.

2) Select a canopy fabric color that is the same as one of the colors in your logo. If your logo is a blue star with a red moon it the middle of it then you can go from a two-color print to a one-color print by selecting a red canopy top and only printing the blue star and then “drop out” to the red canopy fabric for the red moon.

3) If you are going to be using the canopy mostly indoors or just a few times a year tell your supplier. There are different levels of steel strength and aluminum and the assumption will be that you need the tent for consistent outdoor use.

4) If you know you will be using more than one tent over the course of the year then buy them at the same time so you can have them printed all at the same time. The savings is significant!

5) Since you have your screens already made, take advantage of it and have your vendor use them for your tablecloths or banner blades or railing / barriers - now you are really saving money!

6) Most importantly, ORDER EARLY. Avoid rush charges and overnight fees by ordering your tents 3 weeks or more before you need them. The UPS overnight fees are outrageous on even small packages, you can image what they are on a 70 lb. packaged tent.

I hope you find these money saving tips of interest and that they help to make your next event a huge success!


Written by Mary Dykas, President of MVP Visuals a supplier of custom printed promotional displays including the worldwide best selling EZ Up tents! Call 800-980-6871 or visit http://www.mvpvisuals.com - Custom printed tents - Custom printed tablecloths