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5 Valentine’s Day Vehicle Graphics

by Mel Rodriguez on February 9, 2012

With V-Day just around the corner, let’s take a look at some vehicle wraps or vehicle graphics that really capture the spirit of this romantic holiday.

flowershop vehicle wraps

Flowers are pretty standard during Valentine’s Day. Of course, there are obvious exceptions such as when your partner is allergic to blooms or if he/she prefers other gifts like chocolates, personalized presents, and so on. But if your dearest is a big fan of posies, you might as well make the arrangement as special as you can. After all, V-Day comes but once in a year, which means that you can be as corny as you want and no one will judge you (well, harshly) for it.

chocolate vehicle graphics
Don’t you wish all vehicle graphics could be this sweet? Seriously, we wouldn’t mind wrapping delivery vans all day, especially if we get free chocolates all year. Now as far as Valentine’s Day is concerned, you might want to add chocolates to the flowers you’re planning to give your sweetheart on February 14. Don’t worry; the whole flowers and chocolates thing is not as overdone as some cynical people would like to say. Just remember, sweet treats + posies = V-Day win.

luxury vehicle graphics
Okay, so this vehicle wrap is pretty much obvious in terms of what you should give to your sweetie this Valentine’s day. Clue: it doesn’t have to be gold, as long as it is shiny and sparkly and comes in a velvet-lined box. By the way, the car body wrap featured above is actually a Mercedes Benz SL600 that has been decked with 300,000 gold trinkets and beads. It was designed by DAD, a Japanese automotive accessories company and displayed at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba two years ago.

surf vehicle graphics

Is there anything more romantic than flying to another country to celebrate Valentine’s Day? If you’re the type of guy or gal who loves grand gestures, then you’ll surely go for an impromptu trip to Hawaii or Mexico with your honey. Take note that it doesn’t have to be sun, sand, and surf, especially if that’s not your thing. Even a road trip to another city could be romantic as long as you don’t forget to turn up the sweetness and make your loved one feel even more loved.

spa vehicle graphics
Granted, the artwork needs improvement, at least for this particular van wrap. Still, with regards to celebrating V-Day, we think it’s a great idea to spend the day being pampered, more so if you’re right

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10 Truck Graphics That Will Make Your Day Part II

by Mel Rodriguez on February 9, 2012

If you were inspired by the first part of our post on awesome truck graphics, then you will certainly enjoy the examples below. We hope that these would prompt you to really consider truck wraps or truck graphics as a way to promote your products and services without compromising your marketing budget.

Pringles Truck Wrap

Whatever happened to “once you pop, you can’t stop?” Well, we guess fans of Pringles would have to be a bit careful when they’re munching on this Hot & Spicy variant if they don’t want their immediate vicinity to be reduced to ashes. Kidding aside, this truck wrap is probably one of the best we’ve seen in a long time.

Imodium Truck Wrap

We think it should be a rule for all vehicle graphics—not just truck graphics—to be as creative and as in your face funny as much as possible. Take this Imodium truck wrap. Not only is the joke clever but it does clear up any misunderstanding as to the drug’s indication. If for some reason (read: you’ve been living under a rock) you don’t know what Imodium is for, this truck wrap should clue you in right away.

Truck Wrap

Seeing this truck wrap just makes us want to pop a gum like it’s nobody’s business. Of course, it also makes us want to see what Polo, the mint with a hole, and Mentos, the freshmaker would look like if they are turned into massive truck graphics. We have a feeling that those would turn out to be just as amazing.

Truck Graphic

Okay, some quick facts for those who are not familiar with the brand Persil: (1) Persil is made by German company Henkel & Cie. (2) It is a laundry detergent. And (3) Unilever Corporation is in charge of distributing and marketing Persil in several countries. Maybe it’s Unilever’s creative team who was behind this truck wrap. In any case, it’s still a win for both Henkel & Cie and Unilever.

truck wrap

Here’s a truck wrap that we’re very proud to say is for a very good cause. We’re all for saving trees, which is why when Gruett Tree Company asked us to execute their truck graphics for them, we readily agreed. If you ever needed comprehensive tree care or tree trimming services and are an Orange County resident, we suggest you visit Gruett.com today.

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Paint or Vinyl? Do You Really Know Your Car Wraps?

by Mel Rodriguez on January 30, 2012

For fans of vehicle wraps, the biggest advantages of car wraps (for example) over custom paint jobs include cost savings, easier installation/removal, and faster production even of complex designs. This is not to say however, that vehicle wrapping enthusiasts do not or will not appreciate an excellent paint job. In fact, for some people, it is sometimes very hard to distinguish between paint and vinyl. Now we have some cool images of cars below that are either wrapped or painted. We invite you to test your knowledge of vehicle wraps and custom car paint finishes and see if you really have an eye for car details.

Alan Aldridge Mini

mini cooper vehicle graphics

PAINT. MIRROR.CO.UK, The Daily Mirror’s online edition, featured a story on a Mini that was exhibited at London’s Design Museum. Painted by Alan Aldridge an English artist, graphic designer, and illustrator who is also known for designing album covers for The Beatles and Rolling Stones, the trippy Mini is a one-off, said to be a reproduction of Aldridge’s work on a 1965 Sunday Times cover.

Camouflage Ferrari 458

ferrari car wraps

CAR WRAP. Done by German car wrapping shop Cam-Shaft, this camouflage vinyl wrap for a Ferrari 458 Italia was painstakingly designed with a unique matte-brown shade to match the interior of the client’s vehicle.

Glow-in-the Dark Terminator MR2

glow in the dark vehicle graphics glow in the dark car wraps

PAINT. This Terminator-inspired MR2 uses glow-in-the-dark paint. Now we just have to say for the record, that even if we are the biggest vehicle wrapping fans this side of the universe, we can’t help but be awed by this custom paint job. Definitely way cooler than those self-adhesive stars that we used to stick to our bedroom ceiling years and years and years ago.

BMW M3 GT2 Art Car

CAR WRAP. Jeff Koons, a highly controversial American artist known for his polarizing body of work, (you either think his work is “pioneering and of major art-historical importance” or “kitsch: crass and based on cynical self-merchandising”)[1] created the 17th BMW Art Car. Koons used a 3D CAD program to simulate the application of the design to the car, which was then rendered in 2D so that it can be printed on vinyl and applied by hand. The result? A kaleidoscopic range of colors, finished in hard edge with hundreds of overlaying stripes that convey both energy and velocity![2]

Now that wasn’t so hard, right? Well, before we end this post, let us treat you to one more bonus question to see if you really know your car wraps. Tell us in the comments section if the car below is wrapped or painted. First one to get the answer right will get a special shoutout on our Twitter page!

black Bentley

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10 Truck Graphics That Will Make Your Day Part I

by Mel Rodriguez on January 26, 2012

Truck graphics or truck wraps need no introduction. If you ever needed an effective and affordable way to advertise your products and services, truck graphics are it. With such a huge canvass to work with, you are only limited by your imagination and of course, the capabilities of your chosen vehicle wrapping company. If you are currently deciding on a design for your planned truck graphics project, here are some examples to provide you some inspiration:

truck graphics for Bionade
Our good friend, Mr. Wikipedia tells us that Bionade is a range of organic fermented and carbonated beverages manufactured by a brewery in Germany owned by Dieter Leipold. The beverage featured in the truck graphic is the herbal version which is said to contain natural herb-aromas.

truck graphics for Kit Kat
If this were made of real chocolate, we are quite sure it would not last a day on the road. And we are not just talking about the heat melting the gooey goodness off this baby. For advertisers who are keen on making a positive impression, this is definitely one way to do it right.

bats truck wraps

We have always been fans of optical illusions and this truck graphic hits all the right spots in our book. From the upside down car to the flying bats, we certainly wouldn’t mind driving close to this truck and getting a better look at the wrap.

truck graphics for Rimowa

If you ever needed something under lock and key, this would be an excellent way to do it. Yes, we know it’s just a truck graphic, but from afar and even up close, our hands are just itching to get our most treasured belongings and find a way to get them inside that particular truck.

truck graphics for Pantene
Kudos to Pantene for featuring gorgeous hair with nary a hint of split ends. To be honest, we are dying to see the other side of the truck, just to check if there are differences or if the same glorious hair is showcased. (Readers, please don’t forget to send us a picture of this truck from another view so we can satisfy our curiosity. TIA!)

We’ve got more in store for you so keep checking back for the next installment of this post. We promise you’ll get a truckload of inspiration so that your own truck wrap project will be nothing but a roaring success.

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Wrapping Up the Holidays: Christmas-themed Vehicle Graphics

by Mel Rodriguez on December 21, 2011

Don’t listen to the kid who just wants his two front teeth for Christmas. He just needs to be patient and those babies will come a-growing, maybe even before he hits the third grade. What you can do, however, is to check out the awesome Christmas-themed vehicle graphics below. Perhaps, they’ll provide you some inspiration as to how to deck your car or van or truck, maybe not will boughs of holly, but with some jingle bell rockin’ vehicle wraps.

Christmas van wraps

Created by AST Signs, a UK-based business signage and vehicle wrapping company, this van wrap is for ‘Cash for Kids,’ described as “the umbrella brand for Bauer Radio’s network of independently registered, local charities which operate across 20 local areas within the UK.”

Christmas bus wraps

Though this festive vehicle wrap lasted for only a month, it did accomplish its job of sending a “Happy Christmas” greeting to Dublin Bus’ customers.

Christmas vehicle wraps

In 2009, Disney came out with an ingenious idea to promote A Christmas Carol. Yes, that movie with Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge. Featuring graphic artwork, historical artifacts, interviews with actors, and a whole lot more, the Christmas Carol Express chugged across the country to dole out some good ol’ holiday cheer.

Christmas car wraps

Looking good enough to be opened on Christmas morning, this vehicle wrap is created by Coastline Graphics, a company based in Suffolk, England.

holiday bus wraps

Featured in the York Region Transit \ Viva forum, this bus wrap features a giant candy cane, the gingerbread family, one snowman and a colorful candy house; it is called the 2010 Holiday Bus.

Santa bus wraps

A cool bus wrap for a cause, Winnipeg Transit’ Santa Bus collects cash donations for the Christmas Cheer Board. As you may know, the Christmas Cheer Board was established in 1919 by Winnipeg churches to provide toys and Christmas Hampers for the orphans and widows of soldiers lost during WWI. Today, the Cheer Board sends holiday cheer to families receiving Provincial Assistance, as well as many of the working poor.

As we say here in Arete Digital Imaging, “if it has wheels, we can wrap it.” If you’re not yet done wrapping your presents, you still have a few days before Christmas. Here’s to wrapping up the holidays with your family and friends! Hope you have a good one!

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Car Graphics for Christmas

by Francis Lucas on December 9, 2011

ADI car graphics

Car graphics can make a car enthusiast happier this Christmas.

How long has it been since your car’s last color change? Five years? Ten years? Never? If you’re having second thoughts because a paint job is expensive, you have another affordable and high-resolution alternative: vinyl car graphics.

Car graphics and vehicle wraps are printed on sheets of cast or calendered vinyl. Cast vinyl is a premium material that conforms easily to your car’s surface and is best for long-term use as it can last up to five years. Calendered vinyl, on the other hand, is less expensive than cast because it is less durable and is used for short-term vehicle wraps (between three months to one year).

If you’re a car enthusiast and are looking to give yourself a gift this Christmas, here are the main reasons why you should consider installing car graphics:

  • You’ve read it at the beginning but it won’t hurt to say it again: vinyl is definitely more affordable than paint. If you’ve always wanted a classic black finish for your car, a high-quality matte black vinyl car wrap only costs a fraction of the price of a custom matte black paint job. Car graphics or a full wrap will protect the paint job of a brand new car, which helps you maintain its resell value. Don’t keep a classic car inside the garage because it’s meant to be driven. Wrap it in vinyl to keep it in mint condition.
  • Besides the price, the main difference between paint jobs and vinyl car graphics is removability. This lets you preserve the original paint on your car, while allowing you to display your sense of style, however flamboyant or simple it may be. Experiment with different graphics such as flames, mythical creatures or tribal tattoos. With car graphics, you know that you can remove them anytime regardless of how often your mood changes. You’ll know that it’s time to remove or change a vehicle wrap when it begins to lose some of its luster.
  • The finish of vinyl is consistent. Vinyl is available in many new different colors and textures, including carbon fiber (black, brown, gold, pearl white, silver, white), gloss, matte, metallic, smoke, and woodgrain. Vinyl wraps also allow you to achieve certain looks that you can’t do with paint.
  • Since car graphics and wraps are removable, you don’t violate the terms of agreement for a leased car. You can simply remove full or partial vehicle wraps before returning the vehicle to the dealership.
  • Painting your vehicle puts it out of commission for two weeks. Wrapping your car only takes two days. And if you own a company, you can definitely advertise your product or service using vehicle wraps.
  • Size doesn’t matter. Whether you’re driving a Ford Fiesta or a Hummer H1, if it has wheels, the folks at Arete Digital Imaging can wrap it. Contact Aretedi today for a free consultation and a no obligation price quote.

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5 Funny Vehicle Wraps

by Francis Lucas on November 25, 2011

Installing vehicle wraps is an art. Vehicle graphics like bus wraps, car wraps, truck wraps, and van wraps, when properly executed, are effective marketing tools. But just like any other design endeavor, there are hits and misses. Most vehicle wraps turn out “safe.” There are vehicle wraps that are injected with a little bit more creative juice. A few are outrageous and some are downright funny. Here are five vehicle wraps that are bound to tickle your funny bone:

  1. AIM Electrical and Plumbing Service

    services van wraps
    Sometimes, a good sense of humor can attract the attention of a prospective customer, particularly if you’re in an overcrowded services industry.

  2. Budget Funeral Services

    funeral services van wraps
    Death is not a happy subject so the owner of this van wrap definitely gets top marks for this cheeky but funny ad.

  3. National Geographic Shark Bus
    bus wraps for National Geographic
    Now you see her, now you don’t. One of National Geographic’s bus wraps provides a great optical illusion. Man-eating shark on a man-eating bus.

  4. Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car
    car wraps for racing teams
    The name of this drag racing car says it all.

  5. Jesus Monster Truck

    This certainly is a creative way to deliver a message of faith.  This monster truck went on tour in 2003 and was designed by the mysterious ‘Reverend Paul’ – if online records are to be believed.

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How to Install Black Carbon Fiber and Matte Black Car Wraps

by Francis Lucas on November 24, 2011

“Black is back” is just another way of saying that black has never left. Technically the absence of all colors and light, black is considered as a powerful color. Though often associated with death, evil, and mourning, black also exudes authority, distinction, elegance, mystery, power, sophistication, stability, and strength.

Season after season, fashion experts declare a certain color or trend as the “new black” in recognition of black’s universal appeal, sophistication, and staying power (think tuxedoes and little black dresses). Black belts are symbols of expertise in most disciplines of martial arts. Authority figures like judges, priests, and referees wear black. Status symbols like expensive gadgets (Blackberrys, iPads, iPhones, and iPods) and limousines come in black.

If you want your car to radiate the elegance and luxuriousness of a classic black limousine, you have two choices: an expensive custom paint job or a custom black car wrap. If you go for the latter, you can choose between carbon fiber vinyl and matte vinyl car wraps.

Carbon fiber vinyl film gives your car the same stylish look of a high-end race car, which uses carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), at a fraction of the cost. The sleek black carbon fiber vinyl has a 3D texture that reflects light, with the highlights of the pattern changing depending on the viewing angle. Matte black vinyl, on the other hand, is a smooth vinyl wrap that provides the appearance of rough graphite. It does not glare under any type of lighting.

If you’re thinking of turning your car into a black beauty, you’ll need to learn how to apply carbon fiber vinyl or matte vinyl on metal surfaces. Here are a few tips that will help you get started:

  1. Keep your working area dirt- and dust-free. Clean the surface thoroughly with detergent and rinse with water. Surfaces that will be wrapped with carbon fiber vinyl usually need to be cleaned with a surface preparation system. Wear protective gloves and use kitchen sponge to apply the cleaner. Dry the surface with a heat gun.
  2. Prepare the carbon fiber vinyl or matte vinyl. Pull out the roll of vinyl and cut enough material to cover the surface. Enough means you have some allowance to ensure that the cut is not too small. This will help you avoid wasting precious vinyl.
  3. After cutting the vinyl to fit the surface that will be wrapped, peel off the protective side or adhesive cover starting from the back edge. Ask someone to help if you can’t peel it off by yourself.
  4. Center the piece over the surface being wrapped and apply the vinyl. Use a plastic burnisher or another tool to smooth out any bubbles. A heat gun will help you smooth out the vinyl and fit it to any curves.
  5. Use a crafting knife to cut off excess vinyl. Force all the vinyl edges down after trimming. Smooth down and heat all of the edges once the excess vinyl is removed and the surface has been wrapped.

If you’re not too confident with your wrapping skills, you can always go to a large format printing and graphic design company that specializes in car wraps and vehicle graphics. Here are some examples of black carbon fiber and matte black car wraps:

ADI Carbon Fiber Bentley

black car wraps

Audi Avant Wagon

Arete custom car wraps

SchwabenFolia Wiesmann MF5 V10 Roadster Matte Black Foil Wrap

Black Bat

 Porsche Panamera Matte Black Vinyl Wrap

Porsche black car wrap

Audi R8 Matte Black Car Wrap

Audi R8

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Aston Martin Vantage

Ferrari 458 Italia Nighthawk Black Wrap

Ferrari 458 Italia Nighthawk

Mercedes SL65 Matte Black Wrap

Mercedes SL65 Matte Black Wrap

Rolls-Royce Carbon Fiber Wrap

Rolls Royce Black Carbon Fiber Wrap

Ford Mustang GT Matte Black Wrap

Mustang GT black vinyl wrap

Jenson Button’s Matte Black Nissan GT-R

Jenson Button's GTR

Matte Black Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

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Van Wraps: 5 Surefire Strategies to Attract More Customers

by Writers' Pool on November 22, 2011

ADI van wraps for Wendy'sVehicle wraps are one of the most innovative ways to promote your business and are fast becoming an affordable form of advertising. With the typical American spending an average of 20 hours a week inside their automobiles, advertising on car wraps enjoys a captive audience, creating widespread awareness and reaching a new set of eyes every day.

Whether on the road or parked in a parking lot, van wraps are on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. Once you have made the decision to invest in van wraps, you’ll want to ensure that your vehicle graphics attract the most number of customers possible. Vehicle graphics make your car, truck, or van a rolling billboard for your company. Here are five strategies to guarantee you get the most return on your investment.

1. Keep it simple. When it comes to van wraps, less is definitely more. You have a mere two to three seconds to create a lasting impression, and hopefully cause a driver to slow down to take a second look at your van graphics. Avoid including too much text. Try to stick to the most important information: your company name, your phone number, your website and a powerful tag line.

2. Be smart and know your ideal customer. It’s impossible to attract everyone, so focus on the customer you want to notice your van wraps. Choose vehicle graphics that are powerful and will appeal to their individual emotions. For example, if you are trying to appeal to kids or teenagers, choose bright colors and graphics that have a whimsical feel. Or if you are aiming at a more sophisticated crowd, lean towards crisp lines and elegant design elements, conveying professionalism.

3. Include an intriguing tag line. As mentioned above, your potential customer has about three seconds to read something on your vehicle. This is why it’s a good idea to have a tag line or slogan. Make sure it reflects your business’s image while still conveying what it is you offer or provide. Choose something that gives it some pizzazz, setting you apart from your competition, and compelling them to take a second glance.

4. Pay attention to the layout. The human eye will naturally go to the graphic first and then flow to the right. Therefore, make sure important information, such as your website, is positioned to the right of the graphic. All vital information should be clear, legible and in a readable font.

5. Take advantage of the sweet spots. Your vehicle’s rear window and the sides over the rear wheels are the most effective viewing areas on the road. It is very difficult to look at vehicle graphics while driving beside them. Therefore, try to position such items as your company phone number and website in these areas.

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Vehicle Wraps for a Cause

by Writers' Pool on November 18, 2011

Wrapping a vehicle with flashy and catchy advertising is somewhat common today. In most highly populated areas you will see vehicle graphics, particularly wrapped buses, trucks and vans and even smaller cars covered in colorful advertising. Vehicle wraps have advantages for the businesses that employ the concept and are certainly eye catching. The mobility of ads on vehicles brings the message to a larger and more diverse local audience better than almost all other media available.

Likewise, when the message is one that is delivered for a cause, it can be highly effective in generating interest for both the cause and the business using their space to display it. Seeing car or truck graphics that were specially designed for a cause can really start the wheels turning in the mind of the viewer. Their focus is diverted from the day to day driving they are involved in, to thinking of something deeper, something that will hopefully spark an interest in them at that moment that they will pursue later. They may not have been personally touched by the particular cause, or don’t know someone who can benefit from it, but the reminder of the pressing needs of others may spring them into some action that they might not have taken otherwise.

Non-Profit Vehicle WrapsFor someone who is closer to the cause, seeing the displayed reminder may not be necessary, but it comes across like a fresh message to keep the hope up, or to somehow get more involved. The wrapping of a commercial vehicle for a cause can change the perception of the company that is sponsoring it. For example, seeing a bus or van with a business logo and the pink colors of breast cancer awareness may just change the attitude of the viewer towards the company that has taken their message, and subjugated it somewhat to the message of the cause. This duality is not obvious but delivers a subtle message about the business along with the message of the cause.

A charity event that is displayed on a dry cleaning van, or an airport shuttle showing a message on autism bring a level of humanity to the vehicle display that would normally be showing only an informative self-serving advertisement. By subduing the advertising and displaying the message of a cause, the company shows a heart and another level of community involvement. The dual purpose of this method is positive and can be rewarding in more ways than one.

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